Contrary to what you’ve heard, it’s okay to use styled stock photography for your new wedding planner business. I’m giving you permission to use them! Yep, you heard me right, go ahead and use them. In fact, if anyone gives you a hard time, you just forward this article to them and blame it on me. I’m saying, yes, use them, because I know how important it is to have pretty, enticing pictures for your new company.
Styled Stock Photography
Don’t worry about the haters out there. Haters will hate. So long as you use them properly, you don’t need to feel guilty about using them. Watch my six rules for using stock photos video at the end of the post to understand the correct way to use them in your content. The truth is, your website will be judged! It will be judged hard by potential clients. If you want to move your business forward quickly but have a limited inventory of photos, you may want to consider purchasing stock photos for your new business. Here are my three reasons why you should use styled shock photography:
1. They keep you on brand
I feel like a broken record lately but, I swear, it always comes back to your branding. Until you build up a nice portfolio, stock photos keep you on brand. You want your brand to tell a consistent story through your website as well as your social media sites. You want those images to look like they all come from the some photographer. This way your prospects don’t get whiplash trying to make sense of your content. When your brand looks cohesive, you’re able to create a far better emotional connection with potential clients. And because of this, creating a cohesive brand right from the beginning is one of the best things you can do for your company.
2. They attract your ideal client
The whole reason we create a cohesive brand is so that we can attract our ideal client. Knowing who this person is, is one of the first steps in the branding process. Go ahead and download our free client avatar worksheet for guidance on creating an ideal client profile. Once you know who they are and what they like, it’s a lot easier to market to them. For example, if your ideal client loves lush floral, then buying stock photos of gorgeous flowers is a good choice. If they like natural light photography, then purchasing moody photos would not be ideal. You want them to linger as long as possible on your site so that a strong connection can be made. This happens by appealing to their likes and desires visually. If you really want to get your brand in order, check out the Branding Workbook. This is a great resource for new planners wanting to make a lasting impression right from the start.
Make sure the photos you use fit these requirements:
- Visual appeal
- Quality aesthetics
- High resolution
- Match the taste of your ideal client
- A variety of people enjoying the day and wedding details
- Matching tone and photography style
3. They give you content for social media
Stock photos allow you to create diverse and engaging content for social media. If you only have one event to share with your audience, they are probably going to get bored pretty quickly. This doesn’t make for a great start. The competition on Instagram is fierce—let’s be honest—and for you to make an impression on potential clients, you have to step up your game.
Conclusion
Professional pictures will always get more engagement than camera phone pics—just a little FYI. Your images are fighting to be seen by your ideal client in a saturated marketing of wedding planners. Stock photos can give you a level playing field if you have a limited portfolio. Watch our video to learn how to use stock images properly.
