My Top 5 Websites for High-Quality Stock Photos for Coaches and Consultants
We all want that elevated and professional feel to our website.
You know, the luxurious, high-quality touch that just exudes professionalism and expertise…
But what’s the secret to a polished look?
Your images!
The beauty of having a business in this day and age is that there are countless resources available for us to source stock images that immediately elevate our small businesses to look as though we have the backing of a corporate team.
Whether you’re just starting your business or have been serving clients over the last three or four years, stock images can help you build a cohesive look and trustworthy feel for a fraction of the costs.
But as we saw in the previous article, Are Your Website’s Stock Photos Costing You Clients? 3 Reasons Why, there’s a delicate balance in selecting and implementing stock photos on your website.
Because your brand imagery is such an essential piece in your overall branding – right alongside your logo – selecting them should be done with strategy and intention.
The photos you choose are a direct reflection of your brand and can influence how potential clients perceive your business.
By selecting the right high-quality stock photos, you create a professional and elevated website that showcases your expertise and establishes trust with your audience.
You achieve this by selecting images that align with your branding, brand personality, and brand identity, such as your colors, fonts, and design elements. This level of brand consistency builds recognition and reinforces your brand messaging.
So, with that said, you might be wondering, “Well, where can I find these amazing stock photos you’re talking about?”
In this article, we'll delve into my top five websites for finding compelling stock images for your coaching or consulting website.
We'll also cover why choosing the right images is important and tips for integrating them into your site.
And stay tuned for a bonus, my free guide to strategies you can implement right now to instantly elevate your website.
Let's get started!
How to choose stock photos that align with your brand identity
When showcasing your coaching and consulting business online, selecting the right photos can make all the difference. Not only do they help create an inviting and engaging website, but they also convey a message about your brand and its personality.
To ensure your website's images align with your brand, consider these key factors first. With these guidelines, you can confidently choose stock images that attract the right audience.
START BY UNDERSTANDING YOUR IDEAL CLIENT.
What imagery resonates with them? Consider using photos of people similar to your ideal client engaging in the activity of your business.
Think about the journey you’ll take your client’s on once they work with you. Where are they now in their business, and where do they hope to go? Consider how you can use your stock photos to tell that story.
Check out this article here to get started: How to Develop an Authentic and Compelling Brand Story
DEFINE YOUR BRAND’S VISUAL STYLE.
To choose images that align with your brand, it's crucial to define your brand's visual style.
Think about the colors, fonts, and design elements that represent your brand, and use them as a guide when selecting your stock photos. Consider the mood and tone you want to convey, and choose images that support that message.
And I recommend avoiding mages that are too generic or cliche, as they can detract from your brand's unique personality. If you don’t feel an emotion from the photo, chances are your client won’t either!
When you thoughtfully select the right high-quality stock photos, you create a website that not only looks amazing but also effectively communicates your brand's values and expertise.
Tips for using stock photos effectively on your website
Next, you’ll need to know how to use stock images effectively so they work for you rather than against you.
Choosing the wrong images can backfire quickly if not selected and placed intentionally.
And please, don't add photos to your site just because they look nice!
I’m tempted every time, but you and I must stay focused. Make sure you’re selecting photos that serve a purpose and support your website in telling your brand story.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. SELECT ONLY HIGH-QUALITY PHOTOS:
This means selecting high-resolution images with high-quality content. Choose images that are clear, crisp, and well-lit. Blurry, low-resolution images can damage the credibility of your website and impact your reputation.
2. OPTIMIZE IMAGES FOR WEB:
Large image files can slow down your website's loading speed. In some cases, stock photo websites will allow you to download images in various sizes for print and web. Be sure to select photos less than 500KB. You can also optimize your images for web by compressing them without sacrificing quality.
3. DON'T OVERUSE IMAGES:
While images can enhance your website's visual appeal, overusing them can make it look cluttered and overwhelming. Use images strategically to support your content and tell your story.
For example, as you lay out your copy, break up the text with a compelling image that conveys the emotion of the message. This associates a visual with the words to further connect with your ideal clients.
4. USE ALT TEXT AND CAPTIONS:
Alt text and captions are great for SEO and accessibility. Make sure to include relevant alt text and captions that describe the image accurately.
PRO TIP: For extra SEO traffic, name your images with keywords for your business. Consider what your ideal client would search to find that particular image.
For example, you could title your image [Your Name_City Your Title for Your Client_the Image content].
So a picture of a coach sitting behind a desk could be labeled [Janie Smith_New York based Health Coach for Women Entrepreneurs_Woman Sitting at Desk].
Okay, so to the fun part – where to find great stock photos.
My top 5 websites for compelling high-quality stock photos
1. Pexels
Pexels is my top go-to website for free, high-quality stock images. All images are uploaded by creators and are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license - meaning you can use them for any purpose, including commercial use, without asking for permission or attribution.
They have a variety of images that are searchable by topic, color, and keyword. And what I love most about Pexels is how fresh and modern the images feel. No cliche, stuffy, or outdated images here. The photos feel candid and natural, which is excellent for integrating seamlessly with your headshots.
2. Unsplash
Unsplash is a great resource with a wide range of free high-resolution and professional photos available for personal and commercial use. You can browse by category or search by keyword, and the images are all free of watermarks or attribution requirements.
Unsplash photos also have a similar fresh and modern feel to them, so be sure to search both to capture a variety of images and content for your site.
3. Adobe Stock
Adobe Stock has a great collection of over 200 million high-quality images, graphics, illustrations, audio, and videos that can be licensed for commercial or personal creative projects.
As a designer, Adobe Stock is integrated with Creative Cloud applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, making it easy to search for and license content without leaving my workflow.
In addition to photos, graphics, and videos, Adobe Stock offers 3D models, social media templates, and editorial content. They are truly a one-stop shop!
With Adobe Stock, you can license content on a per-project basis or through a subscription plan that gives you access to a certain number of monthly downloads. But it is worth it to have professional, high-quality photos and videos at your fingertips.
4. iStock by Getty Images
I’ve been using iStock by Getty Images since my very first design project back in 2010. They offer an extensive collection of over 200 million high-quality royalty-free images, illustrations, and video clips. This makes it a go-to platform for designers, marketers, content creators, and small businesses who need professional visuals to elevate their projects.
I also really like their search function, which allows me to quickly find the perfect media for my client projects by filtering by keyword, and image type, to name a few.
And like Adobe Stock, iStock offers flexible pricing options depending on your needs and budget, which makes it a no-brainer choice for professional-grade images. Even after all these years, they’re a reliable and convenient resource for anyone needing high-quality stock media.
5. Haute Stock
This is one of my favorite sources for stock photos and the secret resource behind my blog images – Haute Stock!
“Haute Stock is the premium stock photography subscription that offers an elevated experience to women entrepreneurs through carefully curated, beautifully produced, editorial quality images and design assets that will help build their brands and take their businesses to the next level.”
They make it easy to market my business online, and it pays for itself. Their subscription service provides so much value — thousands of stock photos & videos, pre-made social media graphics, Canva templates, and design assets to help create a cohesive brand.
Haute Stock shares new collections and marketing resources every week, saving me time and money on brand photo shoots and videographers. If you’re ready to have access to gorgeous, curated, editorial-quality images, join me and click here to save 15% on your subscription!
No more boring, cliche stock photos here!
I can’t stress enough the importance of high-quality stock images.
These images enhance your website's visual appeal and help establish your expertise and professionalism.
The right images can make all the difference in attracting and retaining clients. So, start exploring these resources and create a website that reflects your brand personality.
Free Guide: 5 Strategies to Instantly Elevate Your Website
When it comes to finding high-quality stock images for your coaching and consulting business, thankfully, there are plenty of great options out there.
In addition to the tips and resources we've covered in this article, I’ve created a guide with my top five designer secrets to instantly elevate your website.
You’ll discover techniques and tools to instantly elevate your website and help you build an online presence to attract your ideal clients. We’ll dive into how to optimize and effectively use all areas of your website, including web design, imagery, and branding.
Creating a website that stands out from the competition and resonates with your ideal clients doesn’t have to be a daunting and time-consuming task. Take your website up a notch and set yourself apart with these five strategies.
So, try them out and see how they can help take your website and business to the next level.
FREE GUIDE
5 Strategies to Instantly Elevate Your Website
5 designer secrets you can implement right now to instantly elevate your website and attract your dream clients.
A FRIENDLY NOTE:
I use each of the tools above as an individual and am in no way associated with these companies. I love them so much that I recommend them for your business as you continue to grow.
So that you know, some of the links are affiliate links meaning I’ll receive a small compensation if you decide to sign-up and try them out. (But trust me, you’ll want to shout them from the rooftops too!) Thanks!
