Cheap Photo Strategy Backfires On Business

Tonight at a business networking event I met a graphic designer who told me she had recently designed a trade show booth for a client. Although she firmly advised her client to hire a photographer to make unique images or use rights-managed images, the client insisted on going with some bargain-priced *micro-stock images. I think you know the rest of the story.  The client was very upset when he discovered that another booth at the show had the very same photograph in their display. Hey buddy, what did you expect? I knew it was a matter of time before I heard a story exactly like this one from a first-person source. Good thing both competitors didn’t buy display ad space in a trade magazine using the same photograph, ya think?

Moral of the story: You get what you pay for.

*Micro-stock images are sold for a few dollars each to anyone who will pay, with un-restricted usage.

Photo unrelated to the commentary. I just like it.

The old factory and office buildings on South Street in downtown Boston still display an early 20th century look with their strong, brick facades and carved ornaments.