Brand Photography and Imagery: Choosing a Style
How to define an imagery style that feels like you, with or without a photography budget.
Imagery fills more of your website than your logo does. A defined style stops it looking like everyone else's.
Options
- Photography: real people and product. Most credible.
- Illustration: flexible and ownable.
- 3D and graphics: useful for abstract products.
- Product UI: often the best image a software company has.
Defining a style
Decide on lighting, colour treatment, composition and subject. Collect ten examples that fit and ten that do not.
On a budget
- One day with a good photographer yields months of content.
- Treat stock images consistently with a colour grade or crop style.
- Avoid the most recognisable stock scenes.
Licences
Check usage rights for every image. GOV.UK explains copyright for images.
Document it
Add an imagery section to your guidelines with examples.
Consistency wins
A modest set of images used consistently looks more professional than a large mixed library.
For our shortlist of agencies, see Top 10 Startup Branding Agencies in the UK at https://startupbrandingagency.co.uk/.
