It would be fair to say that the majority of website projects tend to take twice as long as you first expect them to.  Two of the main offenders for holding up website projects are : copy – the text on each of your web pages, and images – pictures and images throughout your site.  

This week we look at the various options for getting your hands on great images for your website to help you overcome this common roadblock.  

There are three main ways to secure images for use on your site.  Most sites would use a combination of all three to get the pics needed.  Here are the pros and cons of each.

Option 1. Buy stock images.

There are a number of websites which offer a huge range of photos, animations and videos.  Through these sites, you can purchase images for use on your website or other marketing material for between $10 and $50 per image, depending on its size and quality.

The most popular stock image sites are: www.istockphoto.com and www.shutterstock.com.  Use their search feature to narrow the field of thousands of photos. 

Pros.

• Accessible, professional quality images.
• Cost effective if you only need a handful of images.
• Very wide range of photos to choose from.
• Quick source of photos – find a photo, purchase it, get it up on your site in minutes.

Cons. 

• Anyone can buy and use the same image – I swear I have seen the same image of a ‘grey-haired gentleman’ used by 3 different players in the finance industry. 
• Can be really cheesy – how many photos do we really need to see of someone working on a laptop in a field of lush green grass?
• Few Australian photos – the big photo sites are catering for a mostly American audience.
• Can be expensive if you need a lot of photos.

Option 2.  Take your own images

Staging a photoshoot does sound like an expensive affair, however, if you are well organised, have a clear idea of the photos you need ahead of time and can access a reasonably-priced photographer – it may work out cheaper, AND you’ll get a ton of photos to work with. 

If you can, find a photographer who is willing to package up all the photos taken on disc and provide them to you on a royalty free basis.  

Pros.

• Complete flexibility over the types of shots, content, etc.
• If you secure a good deal, you’ll have loads of photos to use for your website and other marketing material.
• Great way to feature your staff, your products, your outlets on your site.
• If you need a lot of images for your site, a photoshoot can be more cost-effective.

Cons.

• Some corporate photographers charge exorbitant rates, so shop around.  Always ask to see their portfolio.   Remember, a wedding photographer’s skills may not translate to a corporate setting.
• Will take time to find and book a photographer, get everyone organised and get edited images back from the photographer – allow 2-3 weeks.

Option 3.  Team up with your partners

The final option, is generally the least popular but the simplest – reach out to your suppliers, your networks and any other business contacts to see if they have any suitable images on file you can use. 

If you are a reseller of a product, the parent company will often have a library of images for promotional purposes – varying from product photos to screenshots.   If you are going to use images supplied by a third party, be sure to seek their written permission first and ensure that they have full rights to give you the OK to use it.

Pros.

• Wholesellers and distributors often have libraries of promotional images for use. 

There’s no harm in asking!

• Great way of getting images for little or no cost .

Cons.

• May be used by your competitors or other businesses selling that same product / brand.

Next week we’ll look at tips for overcoming the second culprit in stalling website launches, writers block.