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Stock imagery has become a huge part of the design process for graphic designers. The old adage is true that an image equals a thousand words.
Finding just the right image can reinforce the message you're trying to send on behalf of your clients. One of the biggest decisions a designer can make is choosing the right image. It can be tough to sort through all of the images that will work and won't work in a given design piece.
In this article we’ll take a look at some tips for choosing the perfect stock imagery for your project.
1. Lay Out the Content First
I know you'll be tempted to hop onto Adobe Stock and start looking around for images first — that’s the fun part, after all — but this may get you into trouble. You never really understand how much content you have or how much space you really have to work with until you get a real look at how much content you have to fit on a page.
Begin arranging and grouping elements until you have an arrangement you're happy with. This is a good starting point before you go searching for images because you'll have a better idea of what you'll really need, and actually use. How many times have you chosen a stock photo, downloaded it, and then you just couldn't get the content to fit?
2. Plan the Image's Destination
The placement of the image can make all the difference when it comes to choosing a type of image. If you have design elements or text around the edge of where the photo will be placed, you'll want to pick an image that has plenty of breathing room built in. The last thing you'll want is to have a crowded design.
Also, if there is an object or a person in the image, make sure that there is plenty of space around the edges of the image. This will give you room to scale and crop the image without having to worry about everything fitting in the design.
The example image above could be scaled, without losing the subject. It could be cropped, depending on the subject, only showing them from the waist up, still giving the impression they are in a tropical setting.
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