The problem with stock photos
Hey, that picture is perfect for my <blog post, book cover, promo spot, whatever>! And bonus, it’s free of charge! Let’s download it now.
Not everything that glisters is gold, nor is everything online free of charge or without consequence.
“But the site says these photos are free to use!” That may be. Some places have actually free photos. Some sites, though, have stolen photos. Just be careful, yeah?
Legalities aside, a significant problem with most stock photo sites is in the demographics offered. Young, white, thin, able-bodied, cisgender, heterosexual… Fat people are visible only for slimming ads (to borrow the British expression) or with miserable miens. Nonbinary people are invisible.
Enter Body Liberation Stock. Photographer and body liberationist Lindley Ashline has dedicated her career to ensuring marginalized people have their time to shine in front of the camera.
Traditional stock photography sites offer images that almost always feature young, thin, white, able-bodied people. Does that really reflect the dizzyingly diverse array of people we see around us every day — or your customers?
More people are demanding better from the companies they interact with. Use this opportunity to stand out in any market and reach entirely new demographics by representing the real bodies and lives of your customers.
What does that look like? Here are a few links:
Explore Body Liberation Photos and all the resources it offers. Support your clients, your readers, your fans, by using ethical, representational stock photos. I’ll be glad you did. 💜
