Image matters: how to source photos and stay on budget
There’s nothing worse than thinking up the perfect Facebook post, but struggling to source photos to go with it. And trust us, skipping out on images isn’t a smart move. Facebook posts with images earn 2.3 times more engagement than those without images.
The problem is, sourcing photos that are relevant, on-brand and appealing isn’t easy. So we thought we’d help you out by compiling a list of go-to image resources. If you’re constantly struggling to source photos for your blog, social media posts and more, bookmark this post!
5 ways to source photos:
1. Stock photos
Stock photos have earned a bad rap over the years, and not without cause.
However, as more stock photo sites pop up, the options are only getting better and better. On a budget? Try free sites like Unsplash or Pexels. If you have a few bucks to spare, check out iStock. They have a huge variety, which makes it easy to find what you need.
And if you’re sick of typical stock photos, try Death to Stock. Buy a membership, and you’ll gain access to beautiful, authentic stock photos, and you’ll be supporting artists and photographers.
2. DIY
If you’ve got time on your hands, but not a big photo/graphics budget, try the DIY route:
- Check out Later’s Instagram feed for creative social media video and photo ideas.
- Canva or Pixelied have tons of beautiful templates for creating all sorts of marketing materials.
- Research iPhone photography tips, then set up your own photoshoot. Try taking a few snaps of your team members (with their permission, of course) while you’re at it! Your target audience will enjoy getting to know the brilliant minds behind your business. And adding a little humanity to your social media feed never hurts.
3. User-generated content
Want to build your community and get social media content in return? That’s what user-generated content (UGC) is for.
Encourage your followers to tag your business in photos that showcase what your brand is all about. Then, ask for permission to repost their photos! Loyal followers will jump at the chance to be featured on your feed.
If you sell glasses, ask your followers to post shots of those glasses. If you work in tourism, request travel photos. Have fun with it!
You can also encourage your team to take photos and submit them to your social media manager. That way, you can add a little behind-the-scenes content to your social media feeds, blog and website.
4. Hire a photographer
If you really want on-brand, beautiful images, it’s time to invest in a photographer. You can scout local photogs on Instagram, or reach out to your contacts for recommendations. Support a local business and score tons of photos you can use for years to come? Now that’s a win-win.
5. Work with a graphic designer
If your team lacks design chops, you might need to call in a professional. Again, you can find designers on social media, or you can even try sites like Fivrr (if you need to conserve funds). Your designer will create graphics tailored exactly to your needs and preferences. And the best designers know how to take your vision and make it even better.
Try out these tips, and your photo library will be full of great content in no time!
But if you need more content tips, check out these posts:
- Never run out of social media content ideas again
- 3 tips for creating kick-ass videos
- 3 secrets to starting a paid subscription newsletter
- 6 questions you must ask before creating an online course
- Create 3 months’ worth of blog and social content ideas ASAP