>
SOCIAL
Go-To Stock Photo Websites For Your Beauty Business By Sarah Garner
Ever looked at a business and wondered where on earth they get the time to take all of these amazing photos? Chances are they’re actually stock photos. Convincing and compelling imagery is integral when telling your brand story, especially online, and whilst we recommend professional photography (werk it, guuurl) for all businesses, sometimes it’s just not possible. This is where stock photos come in. The most common type of stock photo is a royalty-free one which are a low-cost option when you’d like to make a big visual impact. The “free” in royalty-free doesn’t always mean no cost but instead, means you can use the image without needing to pay additional royalties to its artist. Let’s set the scene. You may find the perfect photo of a facial being performed to utilise in your next treatment menu, *yaaas!*. A royaltyfree image would give you the option to pay a one-off fee to utilise an image without additional ongoing payment.
Using that same image for a brochure or insalon display is good to go because whilst that touchpoint may make you money, the customer is not purchasing something with the image on it (just the good vibes it’s given them). Copyright and royalty-free are two very different concepts so it’s important to know the difference when building up your content collection. When you purchase a royalty-free image, you do not own the copyright to it. The copyright still stands with the creator themselves; they have simply given you the opportunity to utilise their creation without ongoing costs.
Now, we’re going to spill the stock photo tea. Sometimes, the lines are verrry blurry when it comes to how you can use different imagery and want to equip you with the 411. The owners and artists of the images you use have rights over where and how their creations are republished so it’s important to know if you’ve got the right licence for what you want to achieve.
Is it free or paid? All photos on Pexels are free to use.
For example, downloading a royalty-free image from a site such as Unsplash and using it for commercial purposes, like printing it on merch to sell, would be a big no-no. The creator would have the right to pursue an infringement of copyright (eek!).
What photos can I expect? The photos available on Pexels transcend us to an ultra-curated Insta feed or a high-fashion editorial. You’ll find plenty of gorgeous neutral tones, flatlay images, skincare snaps and a diverse cast of models.
70
Beauty Biz Year 14 Issue 3
Now that we’ve covered the rules of stock photos, let’s explore some of our go-to sites to curate and create.
Pexels (www.pexels.com)
Be real with me, is it easy to use? Oh yes, very! What’s amazing about Pexels is that you can download the original file or the size you’re chasing! Talk about customisation. What type of license is available? Pexels has purchased the licensing of their photos so you don’t have to pay anything for them or attribute the creator. Whilst they encourage you to get creative with their images, they request that you do not resell the image (such as on another stock photo), use the image as a false endorsement of your product or use the image to sell a physical product without altering it first.
Unsplash (www.unsplash.com) Is it free or paid? All photos on Unsplash are free to use. What photos can I expect? Unsplash has over 2 million high resolution images for you to discover. We’ve explored everything from artsy textures and landscapes to model shots and flatlays. Be real with me, is it easy to use? We’ll admit, you can get lost down a rabbit hole on Unsplash! Keep your search terms generic to widen your image scope. Their collections
