Contact Us | About Us | Portfolio | Services | Hosting | Domain Name Registration | Internet Marketing | Web Design Library | (Article) Library Site Map | SiteMap | Home Page
Web Design Information

How to Chose Stock Photography for your Web Site


So you've decided to take the plunge. You know that stock photography is an effective tool for your web business, but where do you start and how do you choose the stock photo that's right for you. Here are some tips to get you started so that you are happy with your choice.

1. Decide where you want to purchase your stock photography. There are large agencies and small independent photographers. While the agencies will have more to chose from and sometimes lower prices an independent photographer will offer more personalized service and opportunities for you to have custom work done, if that is what you need.

2. Don't go in expecting to find an exact image that is in your head, a large agency or an independent photographer will not have the man in a blue suit, holding a cell phone, next to the white blinds nor will they have the beach landscape with the green and white striped chair. You need to have a clear idea in your head of the message that you want to convey and search for an image that creates the message that you want. (If you want something specific you'll have to pay for a photographer to shoot to your specifications.)

3. Make use of a free comp image to try out the image and make sure that it fits with your project or web design. Most stock agencies offer some sort of free comp image for position only so that you can make sure that you like what you're going to buy. Please use this option, if available, and make sure that the image is going to convey the message that you want it to.

4. Pay for what you need. Don't pay for a 300 dpi image for a web design, and don't buy a 72 dpi image for something you intend to print. Make sure that the agency or independent photographer offers at least a printable and a web version of every photo. Buy only the size image that you need for your job.

5. How much do you want to pay and for how long to you want to use the image? This comes down to royalty free or rights managed. If you don't want the chance of your competitor using the same image or you plan to use the image on or for a product you may want to look at rights managed. This will cost you more but it will lessen the chance of your competitor using the same image. Keep in mind that if you're using the image for an extended period of time you will have to pay for the use of the image every year or so. If you don't feel that your competitor using the same image is a threat or you dont have the money for rights managed photos look into royalty free photography. This product is also great if you're planning to use the images for an extended period of time.

I hope these tips help to get you started in choosing stock photography for your web site, business, or product. Remember to shop around and look for what you need. Also if an agency or photographer doesn't have what you need ask, you may be surprised how helpful they can be even for specific requests. If you have some specific questions please visit my Photography Forum at: http://kellypaalphotography.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/index.php and post your question there.

About The Author

Copyright 2004 Kelly Paal

Kelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.


MORE RESOURCES:

StuckOn

How web design affects SEO
StuckOn
Is your web design a bit like a Monet painting? You know, looks great from a distance, but when you get to examine it a little too closely, its different ...



1&1 Internet Introduces Hosting Packages with Free Professional Web Design ...
TMCnet
Existing 1&1 customers are able to download both professional web design solutions for a special price, directly from their 1&1 Control Panel. ...

and more »


Impact Media (blog)

BSolve IT Leading The Way for Northampton Web Design and SEO
Prfire (press release)
Specialising in all things internet from web design to search engine optimisation and search engine submissions, BSolve IT have established themselves as ...
Firms Urged to Capitalise on Their On-line Presence by SEO SpecialistsAllmediascotland
Outsource SEO services from a SEO Companylonad News
SEO friendly website designMarket Press Release (press release)

all 56 news articles »


New Pro Feature! Easily Embed Facebook 'Like' buttons in Tabsite
PRLog.Org (press release)
About Digital Hill Multimedia: We are a professional web design company offering comprehensive web services including: Custom Web Design, Web Application ...



Create Squeeze Pages That Convert at Over 50% – Web Design For Internet ...
B2B News
His latest project, Web Design For Internet Marketers, was released earlier today and he said it is selling out fast. We asked James to tell us a little ...
Web Design For Internet Marketers Released To Public; Bonus & ReviewAdvanced American Media Project

all 2 news articles »


Florida Web Design - Power Play Marketing
I-Newswire.com (press release)
Power Play Marketing (powerplaymarkting.com), a Florida web design company, is happy to offer its services to businesses looking to fill their website needs ...



Web Design Company Kellen Interactive Provides 'Perso-Nav-ity' to Client ...
PR Newswire (press release)
This website content strategy blends in nicely with the web design to demonstrate that mission." For example, were you looking into how a blog might ...

and more »


Triad Web Design Named on Inc. 500, is the Fastest-Growing Web Design Company ...
PR Newswire (press release)
28 /PRNewswire/ -- Triad Web Design, a professional services organization that provides web design, web marketing & search engine optimization consulting ...

and more »


Facebook And Twitter - Social Media Optimization By InfintechDesigns
Release-news.com (press release)
Infintech Designs is a New Orleans web design company that specializes in cutting edge web development, web design, SEM and SEO services in Louisiana. ...

and more »


How Significant SEO Web Design Services are For You?
SBWire (press release)
This site offers a series of SEO and SEO web design services, your site will become one of the most popular sites that there is. ...
Quality Web Solutions Announces Redesigning of its WebsitePRLog.Org (press release)
SEO Outsourcing Company India and Web Solution IndiaLive-PR.com (press release)

all 4 news articles »

Google News

Contact Us | About Us | Portfolio | Services | Hosting | Domain Name Registration | Internet Marketing | Web Design Library | (Article) Library Site Map | SiteMap | Home Page
home | site map
© 2006