You’ve probably heard the phrase “a picture is worth 1,000 words”, so make sure your photos stand out on your website in order to attract new customers. Avoid stock photography when selecting images for your website. Stock images are often cheap and easy to find.

Between running a business and everyday life, 

Although it can seem difficult to find the time and effort to hire a professional photographer, we are in the midst of a digital revolution. Visual content is becoming more important than ever. These standards are so high that businesses still using stock photography will not be able to compete.

If you take a look at science, 

It is not surprising that visuals are more appealing than text. Visual information is processed 60 times faster than text. These statistics show that visuals are the best way to market if you look at these stats:

• Ninety percent (90%) of information sent to the brain comes from the eyes.

• Every minute, seven hundred YouTube videos are shared via Twitter.

• A picture is more appealing than 1,000 words for forty percent of people.

• Pinterest generates more traffic than YouTube, Google+, and LinkedIn all together.

• Facebook photos get more interaction than text, video, and links.

These facts are enough to show that images are crucial. The public is constantly exposed to images throughout the day and they are now looking for quality. According to 46%, a website’s design can be the first indicator of a company’s credibility. You could lose many customers if your website design lacks high-quality images.

You can ditch stock photos and use high-quality visual content to your website and other channels. Although this may seem daunting, there are many easy ways to improve the photography on your website and impress all your customers. If you aren’t an experienced creator of visual content, it can be hard to know where to start. Here are some tips to get you started.

Make Your Visuals Real

Customers like to see brands as more than a logo and name. Don’t be afraid of showing your employees some personality and warmth in your photos. Your real employees should be included in your photos. You can also capture them in candid moments in the office. Photos that appear staged or stock photos will be a red flag and should be avoided.

You should always get permission to use your employees in photos. You should include them in the process or ask them to take some photos. Everyone can bring a new perspective and see the office differently.

If your photos do include your employees, it’s important to update your photos often. You don’t want images of employees who haven’t been with your company for years to be featured on your website. Your best content tool is your employees, so make sure to use their smiling faces in all your marketing materials. Customers will appreciate seeing a more personal side to your brand.

Is Always Better 

Stock images are very affordable, and sometimes even free. It’s important to remember, however, that cheaper doesn’t always mean better. While you may want to reduce costs where possible, as a business owner you also need to know when to invest. The marketing budget is often the first thing to go when you are running your business.

Poor images can cost you more in the long-term. Customers respond to visuals, as the above study has demonstrated. Your business will benefit from investing in high quality images. While free is nice every now and again, it won’t bring you good results. It’s crucial to see the big picture in order to determine how investing in images can benefit your bottom line.

Get to Work with the Pros

Professional work is sometimes the best option. Particularly if you own a restaurant or shop that has many product images, it is important to find someone who can use high-quality equipment to present your products in the best way possible. An iPhone is not the best tool for taking photos of food to create a menu.

Professional photographers can be well worth the high price. A professional photographer will offer more than quality lighting and lenses. Experiential pros will help you understand your marketing goals and make recommendations for how to capture them on camera. A photographer can help you tell a compelling visual story that will be loved by your customers.

It’s a smart idea to have professional hair and makeup done if you are going with someone. Although this will incur an additional cost, the benefits of great photos are immense.

Make it your DIY Project

There are many options for those who want to create more high-quality images, but don’t have the money for professional photographers. Technology has come a long way enough that stock photos are no longer necessary. Both Android and iPhone have high-quality cameras, which should be able to take basic images. As long as the photo is authentic, it doesn’t need to be professionally taken. These photos are still better than stock images.

You can make content production a company-wide project if you are short on time. To see who produces the best photos, hold a contest in photography. The whole team can get involved to create more content and foster a bonding experience.

Do Your Research

There are countless photography resources available online. Although it may take a little longer, you can find tons of articles, videos, and other free resources on YouTube and Google that will help you create great images.

These resources are so amazing that professional work might be obsolete if you take the time to properly train yourself. You can learn everything about lighting and lenses from the comfort of your own couch. You will see better visuals if you take advantage of the internet’s many resources.

Stock images are no longer enough to impress customers. Images are now an integral part of a website. It all comes down to creating authentic visuals.

Using technology, creating content on your website is easy and affordable. Your business will reap the benefits of investing in high-quality images for your website.