Want to make your website stand out while keeping it professional? A great way to do this is by mixing stock photography with your personal branding photos. It’s a clever way to create a polished, unique look without needing a huge gallery of your own images. Here’s how you can pull it off:
Know Your Brand’s Vibe
Before you dive into picking stock photos, get clear on what your brand is all about. Are you going for a bold, fun, or calm vibe? Keep this in mind so your photos – both stock and personal – tell the same story. If you’re planning a personal branding photo shoot, you’ll need to be able to communicate your brand vibe with your brand photographer, also.
Pick Stock Photos that Feel Real
Stock photos don’t have to feel stiff or generic. Take the time to find images that match your brand’s energy. Choose photos that look authentic and resonate with your audience. A great stock photo should blend seamlessly with your personal ones. Below are images I’ve gotten from styled stock agencies that have a similar esthetic. Of course, if your brand is moodier or if you use a bright purple and gold as your brand colors, for example, your stock images should look totally different to fit in with your personal brand images. Combining stock photos with brand photography is a delicate balance!
Have a Custom Stock Photo
Have your brand photographer create one or two hard working “custom stock” images during your shoot that you can crop or rotate to give you multiple looks. This is one of my very favorite images to create during a brand shoot! Many times it’s a flatlay (top down view) with your hands and identifying objects. Here is a custom stock image I created for Devra, who is a marketing consultant in the auto industry. You can see Devra’s hands, her colorful office supplies, automotive trade journals and even her personalized calendar. This same image is cropped differently and can be used in many different ways across her website and her social media channels. (If you want to see this image in action on her website, here it is).
Keep It Consistent
The key to making stock photos and personal brand photos look great together is consistency. Pay attention to lighting, colors, and tones. They should complement each other, not clash! Try this: find some stock images and actually add them to your brand photo library and see if they look similar in color and style to your custom brand photos before using them. A cohesive look keeps everything professional and polished.
Make Sure It’s Balanced!
Don’t overdo it on the stock photos! Use your personal branding photos in key spots like your homepage or “About Me” section to create connection. You’ll also make a big impact if you have your personal brand images on your Services or “Work With Me” pages. In fact, I love photographing my entrepreneurs with their own “clients” for these pages so their readers can see themselves working with them. Sprinkle in stock images where needed, but make sure the personal touch remains strong.
By blending stock photos with brand photography, you’ll create a website that’s visually engaging, professional, and uniquely yours!
