When creating a new website or adding pages to an existing one, words can only take you so far.

A appropriate picture that fits in neatly with your content and has the right subject can often give your page that extra punch it needs to really draw your visitors in. That being said, the two obvious options you have when picking photos are: photos you've taken yourself or had a photographer take, or stock photography - that is, generic photos taken by a photographer and licensed repeatedly to anyone willing to pay the set price.

Both of these options have their benefits and drawbacks. For example, stock photography has become very affordable over the last few years, with prices dropping as low as a few dollars per image. However, when buying stock photos, you aren't actually buying the image itself, but the right to use it. There are almost always complicated documents you should review to ensure you aren't using the image in violation of the terms set forth when you purchase your license.

Another potential pitfall of stock photography is the potential for overuse or inappropriate use that can result in your page looking very canned and generic. However, if you are developing your site with a professional graphic designer, you can typically trust their opinion to ensure you don't over do it.

When it comes to custom photography, the main drawback is that it always requires a significant investment of time or money to get it done. Either you spend the money required to hire a professional photographer, or you must invest the time to learn how to take proper pictures yourself.

If you can overcome the cost / time barrier, you will almost always end up with a better result. Your photos will all be unique, so no one will come to your site and have a moment of deja vu because they've seen a particular image before. In addition, with custom photography, you can ensure that each picture fits the page it's on exactly, and you can often work your brand and logo into photos.

So, while custom photography is almost always better, stock photography can be an acceptable alternative if you don't have the time or resources to get custom photography put together.