Where, Oh Where, Can You Find Some Images?
Written by Maryellen Lazzaro on October 6, 2015
Whether you are creating a newsletter, brochure or blog entry, no one likes to read too many pages of just text. But images cost money, lots of money if you hire a professional photographer or turn to expensive stockhouses. We’ve got some tips to help you unearth interesting images for a lot less (and sometimes for free!):
• Check your archives, both digital and hard copy. Often in the bottom drawer of the file cabinet in the office’s back room, you can find site shots when the ribbon was cut on a new wing or nice head shots when staff was newly hired.
• If you aren’t in these departments, ask Public Relations or Marketing or Community Relations if they have photos that pertain to your subject matter.
• Ask the department itself that you’re highlighting if they have photos on hand. For instance, we find that the Therapeutic Recreation department of many long-term skilled nursing facilities have tons of images from all their fun happenings. Maybe not all are perfect shots or at the highest resolution (and, while you’re at it, you can show them how to set their camera to the highest resolution), but a collage of many of these smaller ones can capture something authentic and wonderful for the right project.
• Does your story involve equipment of some kind? Manufacturers are always happy to share professional, quality digital images of their wares for your use. Just call up their Public Relations or Marketing department.
• Think all stockhouses are expensive? Think again! Here are some of my favorites that are more reasonably priced ones or even FREE: Pixabay is a repository for public domain pictures. It’s a FREE source for royalty-free stock photos and copyright-free vector graphics. You can use any Pixabay image without attribution in digital and printed form, even for commercial applications. I have also found great images for as low as $5-$10 at Shutterstock and Canstockphoto.
• Gooogle the type of images you’re seeking. If you find an image you like, contact the source to see if you can use their image free of charge if you credit the source.
• If you are going to purchase from a stockhouse, stick with royalty-free images that once purchased can be used again and again without incurring additional fees.
• Absolutely want a photographer? Consider asking a nearby university or art school’s photography department for recommendations of talented student photographers who may be happy to work for reduced fees if they can get a photo credit.
> If you need design consultation of any kind, give Lazzaro Designs a call or shoot us an email.
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