Stocksy: better stock photos? | How About Orange

February 20, 2014

Stocksy: better stock photos?


Designers and bloggers in need of realistic stock images, have you checked out Stocksy yet? I looked it up after seeing an ad in HOW. I use Getty and iStockPhoto (owned by Getty) constantly as sources of images for clients, but finding realistic-looking photos can be a challenge. Plus they're criticized for paying photographers next to nothing. Stocksy apparently pays 50% of the purchase price back to the artist who made the photo— an improvement, offers relatively inexpensive pricing to those of us buying, and the images seem much more authentic. I suppose they'll have their share of women laughing alone with salad, but maybe the women are more likely to look like your neighbor or the owner of the hipster knitting shop down the street instead of a phony model.* The search function isn't as sophisticated as the Getty sites and the image library is smaller, but I'm going to start shopping here.

*Getty's Lean In collection is a huge leap forward in depicting women; check that out, too.

15 comments:

Grandma G said...

I always laugh when I eat my salad alone! 'Course there's nobody around to prove (or dispute) it....

Mum

Jessica Jones said...

When was the last time you ate salad? Unless you figured out how to make a hot dish or crock pot version...

Katja | Shift Ctrl Art said...

I can so relate to this. The photos are so type-casted and people are smiling weirdly in practically all situations. Oh and ALL white coated people have stethoscopes around their necks too. So annoying when you try to find a dentist shot :)

Grandma G said...

Last night, as a matter of fact! But I didn't laugh when I ate it because I wasn't alone. ;-P

You think I don't eat salads?! Hey, girl... I've grown up! I eat salads quite often. So there. And NOT from the crockpot. Mine last night even had spinach in it!

Mum

Rose Clearfield said...

Thanks for the great resource!

Jessica Jones said...

Katja, I KNOW! I last week I needed medical professionals using a computer, and they're all wearing those stupid stethoscopes! Just a coat, please! Is that so hard?

Mum, I'm impressed. That sounds fancy.

Sharon said...

Those salad shots are SOOO funny! Thanks for the info about Stocksy!

Vanessa said...

Stocksy has some beautiful shots! Much more tasteful than other stock photo sites I've used in the past. Can you recommend any free stock photo/vector/illustration resources please? Thanks!

1-1-Interne said...

100% awesome! Love the look

Unknown said...

Great find! This is definitely useful. Thank you for sharing!

Jessica Jones said...

Vanessa, check out Morgue File, Graphic Burger, and Freebiesbug. Also pick "graphic design" in my "Browse by topic" drop down and scroll through those posts. Lots of resources for textures, background images, fonts, vector ornaments, etc.

Elleby said...

I agree! I have been using Stocksy a few months and love it. Fingers crossed they don't get bought out by one of the big conglomerate stock sites!

Kamilla Vinther said...

Great tip! I've already bookmarked that one!

With most of the stock photos looking fake and old, I tend to shoot my own photography for a job. The wrong images can really hurt a pretty looking piece of print or webdesign.

Tharvey said...

Here's how I eat my salad ~ http://www.pinterest.com/pin/117656608988777939/
They even got the sea shells right.

Jessica Jones said...

Fabulous. I like the idea of eating in underwear. I sometimes spill on my lap, so if I am not wearing pants, it will cut down on my laundry chores.