Why Custom Styled Stock photography when there are so many free stock images available?

Free stock images can be a great solution when you are starting out. Here are 3 reasons custom stock photography is important to grow your brand.

1. Communication. Images and video communicate more quickly and easily than text does. Many of our potential clients and customers will draw conclusions from our images and video more quickly than they will our written words, so it is important that we are communicating authentic to our brand and desired overall brand experience.
2. Trust. People are more likely to purchase from or work with people and brands that they know and trust. Showing your face, your personality, and your process is important to grow trust. Obviously, free stock photos can’t showcase YOU or your unique personality.
3. Brand story. Custom images and video tell the story of your business or brand. The ultimate goal of telling your brand story is to connect with those you are trying to serve with your services or products. So consider making your brand story revolve around how your product or service will help make their life better and achieve their goals.

I was honored to help Katie create that for her brand, Ribbon & Ink. Katie has already been able to implement her Creative Branding Portraits and Custom Styled Stock Photography across her:

• website
• blog
• emails
• social media posts & stories
• freebie resources

Check out Ribbon & Ink‘s Custom Styled Stock images! Ribbon & Ink is a Maryland based company offering brand and web design strategy for small creative businesses located anywhere in the US. If you are a creative small business owner needing to move on from a DIY brand to something more professional or a business that has been around for years but needing support to scale up, I encourage you to check out the free resources that she has available on her website, as well as her services to see if Ribbon & Ink is the right fit for your needs.

Check out what Katie had to say about her custom styled stock photography:

“These photos are GOLD for my brand. I needed authentic, original photos with an aesthetic true to me. Stock just isn’t going to cut it.” – Katie of Ribbon & Ink.

Stay tuned for part 3 of Katie’s project to feature her Brand Personality Video!

View other Creative Branding Portrait blog posts.

Are you a creative small business owner needing high quality and professional images or video to grow your business & brand? Contact me today! Located in Westminster, MD & available for travel.