Stock Photography or Custom Photography in Digital Production
Throughout the digital production process, there are many different decisions to make – one of which is choosing between stock or custom photography.
Both digital photography options have their own advantages, as well as drawbacks. As you weigh your options, there will be various factors to keep in mind. Let’s break down some of the pros and cons of stock photography vs. custom photography for websites, advertising, and other digital production projects.
Stock Photos vs. Custom Photography for Digital Production
Trying to decide if stock or custom photos are better for your project? Here are some benefits that each can offer – you might find that some are more useful to you than others.
Stock photography is usually more affordable.
Generally, stock photos will be more budget-friendly as opposed to custom photography. Rather than hiring a photographer, then paying for their time and the rights to your photos, you can cut costs by using stock photos. Because stock photos have already been created and made available for use, they are designed to be accessible to an infinite number of users (and priced accordingly).
Stock photography tends to be convenient and easy to access.
Stock photos easily fit into your budget and a busy project timeline. Within minutes, you can find a wide variety of images on popular stock photography websites, such as Shutterstock or iStock. Just a few clicks later, you can set up an account and download the image for use. In comparison, custom photos will take much longer: you’ll need to find a photographer, set up a shoot, then wait for the post-processing work to be completed before you’ll have the photos in hand.
Custom photography is far more flexible.
Do you have very specific image needs? Or maybe you’re working on a project with a unique vision. If so, the flexibility of custom photos might be a major advantage. Stock photo websites have large libraries, but there are some limitations. So, if you’re searching for highly specific images – for example, something with your product in action – then stock photos probably won’t cut it. But with custom photography, you can perfect every last detail of each image to flawlessly fit your goals.
Custom photography provides you with 100% original content.
The biggest perk to custom photography is that you’ll be able to provide your audience with completely unique content. In other words, your images don’t exist anywhere outside your project and content – not on competitors’ websites, other advertising materials, or anywhere in the digital landscape.
So, you can be confident that your brand is being represented with precision and originality. Also, if you’re looking for ways to take your branding to the next level, custom photography will allow you to infuse every image with a sense of character and personality that your audience won’t see anywhere else.
Learn More About Digital Media Production as a Career Option
Digital media production is a vast and rapidly-expanding field, and it’s certainly not going to be slowing down anytime soon. With a diverse range of interesting career opportunities, the media industry makes it turn your creativity and passion into a full-time career – no matter where your interests lie!
At the BeOnAir Network of Media Schools, with campuses in Chicago, Miami, Colorado, and Ohio, our recently-launched Digital Media Production program provides a comprehensive perspective on careers media in the digital age. Program students range from recent graduates to professionals interested in changing or elevating their careers, and potential career tracks include advertising, web design, audio, and video production, and many more.
Get more information about how you can pursue a future career in digital production when you contact us today!
Featured Image: Redpixel.PL / Shutterstock