Using Stock Photography and Illustration

Many graphic design projects require photography and illustration, and often the best way to acquire it is through a stock website. Purchasing royalty free photos and artwork often costs much less than hiring someone to create an original work, and can be done instantly. Commissioning an original work is still very valuable... getting something that no one else has that is perfectly tailored to your needs can make or break a project. However, when budget and time are constrained, the stock sites come to the rescue. There are many to choose from, all offering large collections at a variety of prices. Here are a few of my favorites, each at a different cost level:

• iStockphoto - iStockphoto is an excellent stock photo site where members generate the content, which includes photography, illustrations, video and flash files.
• Shutterstock - Shutterstock is a subscription only stock site, offering a large collection of photos and illustrations at reasonable monthly rates.
• Veer - Veer is a high-end stock site offering quality images and typefaces through a clear, user-friendly website. Images are available from a large selection of stock providers, including Comstock, Photodisc and Digital Vision.