Medium Tips
Stock Photos We’re All Guilty of Overusing
Can We All Agree To Stop Doing This?
--
I’m as guilty as every other person who chooses overused stock photos for their content. My excuse? I’m a writer, and the creativity is in the words, not the images, so I let it slide (which, of course, is just plain stupid).
I know better, but when I want an image that complements my writing, I often default to the same old ideas, not allowing my mind to stretch a bit. Writing an article about copywriting? It’s the good old “hands on the keyboard” for me. Talking about money matters? That’s easy too — “people holding a handful of cash.” And success? Well, there’s nothing like a person jumping in the air with a beautiful sunrise or sunset in the background.
These are tired images, though; the internet and our social media channels are flooded with them daily. Every time I see one I’ve seen a thousand times before, I cringe a little. I’m annoyed with seeing them everywhere and even more annoyed with myself when I see one I’ve used within my own work.
I think it’s high time we all take a deep breath and resolve to do better — be more creative in our photo selections. To get started, here’s my list of the most cringe-worthy types of stock photos that, in my opinion, should be retired.
