If you’ve ever worked a job where you were required to make content (or honestly, even if you didn’t) you probably recognize a stock photo from miles away. The way the images show a sterile, generic situation with conventionally pretty actors that stick up their thumb or shake each others hand in a broadly applicable business environment. Subjects like ‘sustainable growth’ are illustrated by a pile of coins with a hopeful sprout of a small green plant growing out of it. 

Useful of course when you don’t have the time or skills to take amazing pictures yourself or just want a convenient database of visuals to bring your channels to life. The downside is that most of the pictures lack a sort of authenticity. Which is unsurprising since the whole purpose of stock photos is to fit as many different situations, industries and brands to be successful. 

Yet a cool counter-initiative fittingly called ‘Death to Stock’ has arisen to bring back authenticity to stock photos. Instead of focusing on broad appeal they prefer raw, creative and stylish images that are more likely to stand out (especially among Generation Z). Might just be worth a consideration if your brand visuals are up for a refresh.