Avoid Cliche Office-Scene Photos: Five Tips for Picking Images
What both of these types of imagery have in common is that
they are forced—not authentic.
To find more dynamic and realistic office-setting photos,
marketers should follow the following five tips.
1. Don't be afraid of color
Unless you're operating in the world of finance, business
attire in modern workplaces is becoming more and more casual.
When choosing images, move beyond
the classic blues, blacks, and grays to find exciting colors and patterns that
help you stand out from the competition.
Bright colors can add some fun and whimsy to office scenes
that would otherwise be static and bland. And be sure the models' clothing is
modern. Bold colors won't be effective if they're styles from the late 1990s.
2. Reject forced smiles
For stock image users, it's hard to avoid the typical cheesy
smiles ingrained in typical office-setting photos. Try to avoid images in which
the models are laughing or smiling too hard in relation to the setting. For
example, if a group is in a meeting and listening to a manager in a conference
room, then they shouldn't have a look of complete rapture.
A natural subdued smile is fine (you don't want frowning
models), but be sure there is authenticity to your images. A forced smile
brings with it associations to a hard-sell by a fake-smile salesperson.
The models should be showing genuine eye contact, as
well—either with other people in the image or out to the viewer's eyes.
3. Go beyond the typical look
Assume your creative needs a group-meeting office scene.
Avoid the typical stock photo of a male manager in a suit addressing a group of
subordinates in a glass-enclosed conference room. Instead, find a more dynamic
and natural scene such as people talking face-to-face in small groups or
talking over coffee.
You also want to avoid the typical props that are found in
countless office stock photos. People dressed in a generic suits holding fancy
pens or brand new laptops don't look like modern workers; they resemble props.
So either avoid pictures with standard props (briefcases, laptops, tablets) or
include them... but in a natural way. Tablets should have smudges and bright
cases. Laptops might be adorned with stickers and could be missing a key.
The goal is to present realism so the viewer can better
related to the images and the corresponding messaging.
4. Embrace people of all ages
Stock photos often include only models in their mid-twenties
to early thirties, and completely ignore people over 60. For example, think
about the typical model for a call center scene: usually, a very attractive
woman in her twenties with a headset; she does not look at all like the typical
employee.
Photos with a wider range of model ages and ethnicities add
authenticity to your content without looking forced. To showcase the modern
workforce, pick people age 20-70 who are charismatic and trustworthy-looking.
5. Pick dynamic images
Natural poses always look better than staged scenes with
models seemingly stuck in place. If you can imagine that the photographer
yelled "freeze," then it's not a natural photo. The very best photos
capture people as they're walking and engaging in real conversations. You want
photos that evoke singular moments that are filled with action and a sense of
purpose, not staged interactions between obvious strangers.
The modern business can't be illustrated by a picture of two
people shaking hands while grinning ear-to-ear. Traditional stock photos of
people with lightbulbs above their head or ones blatantly showing
"success" or "teamwork" often convey the opposite feelings.
Follow these five expert tips to pick interesting
stock photos that can present your office as a modern and engaging workplace,
and you'll have won the audience for your product.
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