Why we stopped using stock photos on client sites

Stock photos are the visual equivalent of saying you are passionate about excellence. They check the box and say nothing. We stopped using them on client sites about two years ago, and the change in how those sites feel has been larger than any other single decision we have made on the design side.

The argument against stock is not that the photos are bad. Many of them are technically beautiful. The argument is that every visitor has seen them, and they know they are stock the moment they see them. That is one small trust hit per photo, and it adds up fast.

What we do instead

For most small business clients we either show real shots of their work, their team, or their space, or we lean on illustration when there is nothing to photograph yet. Both feel honest. Stock does not.