Authenticity First: When—and When Not—to Use Stock Photography

At Michigan Tech, our strongest visible asset is our folks. Our college students, school, researchers, and campus environments inform a narrative that no inventory picture can totally replicate. While inventory images could be a useful software, it ought to by no means change genuine visuals when actual, related Michigan Tech imagery is obtainable.

This information is supposed that can assist you determine when inventory photos make sense, how to decide on them properly, and why authenticity issues a lot to our brand.

Start With What We Already Have

Before trying to find inventory, examine whether or not Michigan Tech already has images that matches your wants. Our PhotoShelter library consists of a variety of campus life, teachers, analysis, occasions, and seasonal imagery that displays our actual group and areas.

To get the very best outcomes, ensure you log in earlier than you begin looking. Logging in provides you entry to the complete, inside assortment and ensures you’re seeing all photos which might be accepted for University use. You may evaluation our Photo Database Instructions for extra assist in navigating our library.

Using our personal images and videography helps keep a constant, credible look throughout the University. It additionally ensures potential college students, households, and companions are seeing the actual Tech, not a generic model of campus life that might belong to any establishment.

If you’re undecided the place to seek out what you want in PhotoShelter, attain out to the Studio Team at University Marketing and Communications. We will help discover photos you could not know exist or join you with a photographer if new content material is required.

When Stock Images Make Sense

Stock images could be a good resolution when:

• you might be illustrating a broad, conceptual concept, reminiscent of summary know-how, knowledge, or basic enterprise themes,
• the content material is informational and never meant to signify Michigan Tech immediately, reminiscent of background textures or diagrams, or
• a particular picture could be impractical or inconceivable to seize, reminiscent of extremely specialised tools or generalized trade situations.

In these circumstances, inventory ought to assist the message in a transparent approach with out trying to signify our campus, college students, or school.

How to Choose Stock That Feels Credible

Not all inventory photos are created equal. When you do use inventory, search for visuals that really feel pure, understated, and human. Avoid photos that look overly staged, exaggerated, or too polished. These typically learn as “fake” to viewers and might quietly harm model belief.

Ask your self a number of easy questions:

• Does this appear like an actual second?
• Would this picture really feel misplaced subsequent to our campus images?
• Does it assist the story, or distract from it?

The finest inventory photos mix in. They don’t name consideration to themselves.

If you select to make use of inventory images in your advertising work, don’t neglect to observe finest practices for accountable inventory images documentation.

Reasons to Avoid AI-Generated Imagery for Campus and Students

AI-generated photos have gotten extra widespread, however they current actual dangers when used to signify Michigan Tech. Images that look just like our campus, our college students, or our school rooms—however will not be actual—may be deceptive to audiences and damaging to our credibility.

Prospective college students and households count on to see the actual expertise, not a simulated one. If they uncover {that a} “student” or “lab” is AI-generated, it may well harm belief and replicate poorly on the University’s authenticity and transparency.

AI imagery could also be applicable for summary ideas, design parts, or illustrative backgrounds, but it surely ought to by no means be used to painting folks, locations, or experiences as if they’re a part of Michigan Tech.

Our Visual Standard

Every picture we share displays on the University as a complete. When doubtful, choose authenticity. Use our campus, our folks, and our areas each time doable. When inventory is required, choose it fastidiously and responsibly so it helps our story.

If you ever need a second opinion or assist sourcing the proper visuals, UMC is right here to companion with you. Email umc@mtu.edu.