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Jake Ni 2 min read
“Question: Should I use stock photos or real photos?”
Answer:
In general, you want to use real photos as much as possible, and ideally they should be professional-quality photos. The reason is simple: people have seen too many stock images. Overused stock photos often feel generic and impersonal. They can make a website look like it is trying too hard or like it is disconnected from the actual business.
Even if the real photos are not perfect, they still often communicate more authenticity than a library of generic stock photos. A simple phone photo of your real team, real office, or real work can sometimes say more than a polished but obviously fake-looking stock image.
That said, stock photos can still serve a purpose, especially when a business is just starting and does not yet have its own image library. In those cases, the important rule is to use copyright-safe stock images rather than pulling random photos from Google image results. Those stock images can act as placeholders until the business is ready to replace them.
The long-term recommendation is to begin with safe, relevant stock images if necessary, then transition to real and preferably professional photos over time. The more real your website feels, the more trust you are likely to build with visitors.
Summary:
The answer strongly favors real photos over stock photos because real images create a more authentic and trustworthy experience. The speaker points out that users are tired of seeing recycled, generic stock imagery, and that even imperfect real photos can feel more meaningful than polished but impersonal alternatives. At the same time, he recognizes that new businesses may not always have real photos available, so copyright-safe stock images can be used temporarily. The long-term recommendation is to treat stock images as placeholders and gradually replace them with genuine, preferably professional photos. The key takeaway is that authenticity matters, and visual authenticity can improve trust, connection, and the overall effectiveness of the website.