Sometimes you need a photo of your real work. Sometimes you need an illustration of an idea. Knowing the difference helps you choose between original photography, licensed stock, and AI-generated visuals without confusing the people you want to reach.
Use real images when reality matters
Team portraits, property details, completed projects, and product features should accurately represent the business or item. An invented scene may look impressive but create the wrong expectation. Keep truthful documentary images separate from concepts, mockups, and clearly labeled visualizations.
Choose stock for supporting context
Licensed stock can work for general themes and background storytelling. Check the license, restrictions, and any relevant rights involving people, brands, or property. Avoid selecting a generic stock person in a way that implies they are your employee, advisor, or customer.
Use AI with a specific purpose
AI can help create conceptual illustrations and original visual directions, but review the output closely for errors and misleading details. Check the tool’s current usage terms rather than assuming every output has the same permissions. Describe an image honestly when it could otherwise be mistaken for evidence of real work.
Your next steps
- Decide whether the visual must document reality.
- Check the asset license or generation terms.
- Review details and implied claims carefully.
- Resize and optimize the approved image for the page.
For further guidance, see Unsplash’s license information.
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