I’ve done several posts about creating graphics for your blog. I spoke about things like how to use Canva, how to use Inspect Element, and even gave a list of design resources to use! Today, I wanted to have a super brief chat about something more specific.
What the heck to use as the image of your featured images and social media cards (such as Bloglovin’).
What do I use? Stock photos – and there ain’t nothin’ wrong with that (to me).
The stigma of stock photos
When I started blogging, I read several times “don’t use stock photos” because they’re “unoriginal”, “other people use them”, and “you can take better photos yourself”. And you know what I did? I laughed at that advice and used them anyways.
Some of us don’t have the skill, time, or gear to take our own photos. I know I don’t. Sure, I could use the photos I take from Instagram, but those aren’t all that great either and sometimes they just wouldn’t fit the theme of my posts. This is why I think using stock photos is 100% okay.
Sure, I’ve seen the same stock photos floating around, but it honestly does not bother me when I see multiple blogs with the same photo as their featured image background. I mean, really, why would it? I’m not reading their blog for their featured images, but for their posts content.
The pros outweigh the cons
If the only con is that someone else might also be using the same photo, fine. Because here are the pros:
- They save you time because you don’t have to take, upload, or edit your own photos
- They save you money* because you don’t need to buy some fancy camera (I realize not all people have a fancy camera, but still)
- There is more variety to match post themes (especially if you’re not creative – like me – to create setups that aren’t always book related)
- You don’t have to be a professional to have professional looking photos
- Not everyone will use it the same way you do, so it can still be original in that sense (for example, I use a pink overlay to match my theme)
*There are some stock services that charge you for photos. I’ve never used those, though.
I think those pros are definitely worth it. So, here are…
Some awesome sources for stock photos
» Pixabay – This site has tons to choose from. The trick is to search different terms, not just “books”. Think of what might fit the theme of your post and roll with it till you find something you like.
» PicJumbo – This basically works the same way as Pixabay. Just broaden your search to have lots of variety.
» Picography – Picography has more urban and nature photos, but those could make for some really pretty backgrounds!
» Gratisography – This is filled with some weird ones. They don’t add new photos all that often, but they are strange enough to be pretty darn unique.
A few more:
Unsplash | Morguefile | New Old Stock (antique photos) | Pexels
Do you use stock photos? What are some of your favorite sources?
If you don’t, why OR will you start?
21 Comments
Stock Photos are a LIFESAVER. I’ve read so many posts saying take your own, but for all those reasons you listed above, I don’t (I’m so bad at taking pics 😛 ) I’ve used Pixabay since forever and have never stopped. I just fell in love with it’s high quality photos and easy to navigate website! I will check out the others though! An Amazing Post!
SAME. I honestly don’t see the harm in using stock photos at all. I rarely see the same photos being used. I mainly use Pixabay, just because it’s easiest, but the other ones are pretty good too. Especially if you’re looking for something a little different, a few of the sources have a very specific style 🙂
I use stock photos a lot more than I used to – and there has been dramatic improvement in the sites out there than in the past. My fave site is Unsplash.
Tanya Patrice
Girlxoxo.com
Yeah, stock photos can make a huge difference!
I don’t use stockphotos, but I don’t have anything against people who do! It’s best to use SOME sort of photo in your posts and provide catchy visuals than to have to go without, right?!
Exactly! I think both are perfectly fine. Props to you for taking your own, though! 😀
I definitely agree! I think using stock photos is definitely okay! Especially if you can edit the photo to make it less stock-photo-ery. to be honest, I never really notice if the photo is stock or not unless it’s just a randomly placed image in the blog post. If it has text written over it like a lot of people do for their feature images, then I barely notice that it’s a stock photo. I usually don’t even notice if I’ve seen it around on someone else blog.
I love using stock photos! And I always like the look of a feature image with a photo in the background 😀
Jordon @ Simply Adrift
Exactly! Who uses a stock photo in the middle of a post? No one! lol It looks totally different once you put your blog post title on it and all that. I don’t even notice either. Or I just don’t care if I do subconsciously notice.
I agree with you on this one! There is absolutely nothing wrong with using stock photos, in fact I used them frequently when I had my own blog. Ain’t nobody got time to set up a lame flatlay and spend hundreds – and possibly even thousands – on cameras and lighting equipment.
The irony is that I DO take photos for bookstagram – I just don’t like them enough for my blog hahah xD AND ITS SO MUCH WORK. To have to send them to my computer and edit so they don’t look all ruined because of the ratio/size changes. I also don’t have a fancy camera haha
I use stock photos, and will continue using them. It brings life to my blog posts 😉 My fav source is UNSPLASH and Pixabay.
They’re so handy! 😀
Thank you for these resources! I also use stock photos but I’m always looking for new sites I don’t know about 😀
Tracy @ Cornerfolds
You’re welcome! 😀
I’ve just never worried about the stigma of stock photos. I don’t have the time or energy to take my own. So it’s kind of like, either I can put all my effort into trying to take photos that will still be terrible lol, or I can put my effort into blogging and just use stock photos. It’s not like using stock photos is going to bring ruin to anyone’s blog, you know? And like you said, you can do a quick edit to make them a little different and make so they’re recognizeable for your site, things like color overlays, fonts, shapes, etc. I’m so glad there are so many stock photos out there! I pretty much just use pixabay and unsplash. Pixabay does seem to have the most selection.
Exactly! There’s no harm in them really. I tried using my own when I started but I just HATED it. I quickly switched to stock and I’m happy I ignored the advice. It looks so much prettier now 🙂
YES to this post!! I never understood the hate either! I mean, first, there are SO many out there, what are the chances that EVERYONE will be using the same ones? Slim to none, let’s be real. And yes to time! AND money. I don’t have much of either, so I need to save where and when I can! Also, thanks SO much for all the helpful links! I knew of a few of these, but I love finding new ones, especially the older looking ones, I find vintage stuff harder to find, so thanks for that!
Right?! I think I’ve seen someone use the same one as me like twice? I don’t see the big deal in it at all! Especially once you add fonts or overlays! Also, you’re welcome! I really love that one vintage site. I don’t use any of them really, but still cool to look at 🙂
YESS. I never cared nor understood the stigma for stock photos. My photography skill is just sucks and I don’t have time to take pictures so why not use stock photos? They’re there and available for us to use. Thanks for the recs too, I can’t wait to check them out!
Exactly! And they’re different once you put your own touch to them 🙂 You’re welcome!
Hello,
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