Use the Right Copyright Photos to Tell Your Story

The world of business is an incredibly competitive place. Finding impactful and copyright photos for your brand can be a challenging task. From ensuring your images reflect your brand to finding visuals that effectively support your on-site content, sourcing the right images is easier said than done.

In today’s post, we’re throwing the spotlight on image sourcing. We take a look at how the use of images can boost your branding and the best ways to find appropriate visuals for your business. Most importantly we will be navigating the complex world of copyright photos.

Building your brandshoes-1011596_1920

Using visuals to build your brand has any number of benefits. Adding imagery to your arsenal means you can support your written content. You can encourage audience interaction and ensure you stand out from the crowd. One of the difficulties many businesses face is finding suitable images which accurately reflect their brand. Whether it’s blog posts or promotional printed materials, sourcing images that suit your content can be difficult. But understanding your business and your audience is the first step towards achieving success through the art of imagery.

Whatever your industry, it’s likely that social media plays a part in your marketing strategy. And if you’re not active online, why not? Now’s the time to take action. From posting product promotions to tweeting when a new blog post goes live, social media platforms offer unlimited reach.  Your audience is more likely to recognize and engage with images that are reflective of your brand.

Remember – images can evoke emotion. So think about how you want your audience to feel and then harness colors, fonts, and styles to encourage these emotions. Your choice of channels is as important as your target audience. So make sure the content and visuals fit the platform.

Sourcing copyright photos

In a world so heavily influenced by social media, it isn’t always black and white when it comes to image copyright. Newspapers often use eye-witness photographic evidence in their reports. The photographer isn’t always credited – even though they should be. If you’re concerned about using images you’ve discovered on other people’s social media accounts, the best thing to do is avoid them. If you do decide to use an image from someone’s Twitter, Facebook or Instagram account, always credit the owner of the image. This will protect your business from any future implications and potential fees.

The dictionary definition of copyright is “the exclusive and assignable legal right, given to the originator for a fixed number of years, to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary, artistic, or musical material.” Whether you find images on Twitter, Flickr or through a quick Google search, failing to give attribution to the owner can be costly.  not only in financial terms but also with regards to your reputation.

Some sites, like Shutterstock brand their images with watermarks in an attempt to prevent them being used elsewhere – and these are to be avoided. Whichever platform you’re targeting, finding the best images for your business will take time. Whether you decide to buy your business photos or use a public domain image library like Pixabay, factor in plenty of time to find the best images for your business.

Remember: if you’re in doubt about the copyright guidelines of an image, don’t use it. Try and find an image with clearer guidelines. You can always source copyright  photos, or better still, take your own.

Why tell when you can show?

copyright photos

When it comes to branding your business, visual appeal plays a significant role in securing and nurturing your professional relationships. From your printed materials to your website, every aspect of your branding should be reflective of your voice and business values – and done right, brand design can drive engagement with your business. With figures showing that Twitter posts including visuals see up to a 35% boost in retweets, it’s important to be visually savvy across all of your channels.

Thanks to technology’s rapid advancement, you no longer need to be a photography expert to be able to take high-quality snaps for your business. With built-in cameras and photographic apps making your smartphone a suitable substitute for a DSLR, you can take photos on the move – meaning you’ll never miss an opportunity to add to your image library.

If you want to experiment with creating custom visuals, websites like Canva allow users to alter copyright photos (as long as the guidelines state you can edit them) or photographs you have taken yourself. From banners and posters to infographics and supportive visuals for your blog content, you can find your design inspiration online and use it to influence your own bespoke images.

Remember: your branding reflects your business, so keep in mind that cohesion is key to creating a brand that’s recognizable – don’t be afraid to get creative!

The takeaway

  1. Build your brand, your way: when it comes to building and growing a brand, there is no ‘one size fits all’ formula. Don’t be afraid to go bold with branding
  2. Get socially savvy: whether it’s Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, make sure your business is active on social media and support your posts with images
  3. Source images the right way: use copyright free images where possible and when required, always credit the owner
  4. Show, don’t tell: whether it’s printed promotional materials or online content, boost engagement with your brand by complementing content with impactful images and dynamic designs
  5. Experiment: you don’t need to be a professional photographer to capture an eye-catching image. Try your hand behind the lens and experiment with different angles, colours and locations to get great images that reflect your business

Harnessing the power of digital imagery and honing in on the aesthetic appeal of your brand is guaranteed to boost business – providing you with a portfolio of images that convey your company culture and giving your customers or clients a brand they can believe in.

1 thought on “Use the Right Copyright Photos to Tell Your Story”

  1. Great post! I think that pictures do paint a picture of who you are. Keep up the good work and I wish you all the best.-Chris Thompson

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