Photography is a powerful part of your business story. It shapes how people see your brand, how they connect with it, and whether they trust it. In today’s competitive landscape, that first impression, often visual, really matters. And while stock photos might seem like a quick fix, they can do more harm than good.

Let’s look at why relying on stock photography could be working against your business, and what you can do to make your brand truly stand out.

1. People can spot fake emotions a mile away

Ever seen those over-the-top smiles or overly dramatic poses in stock photos? So has your audience. When you're trying to build real trust—especially when showcasing how people engage with your products or services—those artificial expressions can feel insincere and quite frankly, these people don’t work for you so why should you clients trust you?

Real customers want to see real experiences. Using generic stock images strips the authenticity from your message and makes your brand feel distant or disingenuous. It’s the brutal truth

Not only are they not your staff, does your office look like this? Is this the type of business you want to look like?

Some might think that for financial services, office supplies, IT companies; does it matter?

Yes. If 75% of shoppers rely on real product photographs then why wouldn’t this also mean that 75% of people looking for services want to buy from real businesses?

2. Fictional offices and fake staff won’t build trust

A slick stock image of a skyscraper boardroom might look great—but what happens when a client visits your actual space and it looks nothing like the photos?

Authentic brand photography shows you, your team, your environment—the real human side of your business. That transparency builds trust and confidence in a way a staged image never could.

3. Abstract visuals = abstract messaging

Robots shaking hands? Clouds with arrows? It’s a no from us. Abstract stock photos might look modern, but they rarely help your audience understand who you are or what you do.

Good brand photography tells a clear, visual story about your business. It captures your values, your personality, and your purpose. Abstract concepts just leave people confused—or worse, uninterested.

4. Stock photos are designed to be generic

Stock photographers shoot for mass appeal. That means their images are designed to suit anyone—but not you. The result? Generic visuals that don’t reflect your brand’s unique voice, values, or offering.

Your brand and business deserves to feel specific and intentional. Custom photography ensures your visuals speak directly to your audience—and no one else’s.

5. You might be showing products that aren’t even yours

This one’s big. If you’re using stock photos to represent your products, you might be unintentionally misrepresenting what you actually sell. That creates confusion and can damage customer trust.

Instead, showcase your actual products in a way that’s accurate, engaging, and visually appealing. This builds recognition, familiarity, and—most importantly—honesty.

6. Stock images aren’t always appropriate

While stock images have gotten better in terms of quality, they aren’t always the right images for you. I see it time and time again like the shoes above… it’s abstract so it fits with the look but it doesn’t fit with the message, or what you really sell/do. Sometimes it’s probably better to not have anything rather than something that just doesn’t work.

7. Inconsistency kills confidence

You want to build a strong, cohesive brand identity across all your platforms. But stock photos come with usage limitations and style mismatches, making it hard to maintain consistency in your visuals.

Custom brand photography gives you a cohesive, flexible library of images that align with your colours, tone, and message—ready to use across your website, social media, print, and more.

Imagine if I used stock images (oops, I did this entire blog!)

Yeah yeah, I used them here… but only to prove a point! But seriously, if my entire gallery was filled with stock images and then you hire me, get your gallery and… It’s NOTHING like what you’ve seen. It’s the same if you sell a service, or a product, and someone turns up to your office or the product is delivered and …. it’s not what they saw or no one from the website images is in the office…

Trust… that’s gone. Now they’re starting fresh right in front of you, and that’s now all on you to pick that client up off the floor while they’re considering if they trust you and now not listening to what you have to say.

And while the quality is great and I could find one for each purpose - they just don’t… fit well. Images aren’t just for looking good, they’re for authenticity, showing off what you do and what you sell.

So, how do you avoid the stock photo trap?

Simple. Keep it real.

I work with businesses to create authentic, professional imagery that actually represents who you are. You don’t need a huge budget… just the willingness to show up as yourself. And when I say you don’t need the budget, I mean it, I have packages to get you on your feet and your business rolling, you don’t need a wedding sized album of photos at your disposal (even I can’t keep up with having that many!)

Here’s how you can start:

Hire a professional: Someone who understands your business and can capture it with clarity and creativity. (ideally me but of course I’m bias!)
Partner with a photographer: If you’re on a tight budget, consider a collaboration that benefits you both—cross-promotion, testimonials, or even product swaps.
Do It Yourself: It’s easier said than done but there are something you can do yourself. If you have a chat with me I’m not going to just sell you what I do, I can give you a few tips to help you out for free/low cost.

Final thought:

Stock photos might seem convenient, but they rarely communicate what makes you different. Real images build real trust—and that’s where brand loyalty starts.

If you’re ready to ditch the clichés and show the world what your business is really about, I’d love to help.

Let’s create something real.

info@nathanobrienphotography.co.uk

07501893506

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7 Reasons Why Stock Photos Could Be Hurting Your Business (And What To Do Instead)