The post-stock Era: From generic imagery to standout visuals

Here are our tips for creating standout visuals that truly differentiate your brand: 

Use motion to engage viewers

Motion – from subtle animations to interactive elements – can add depth, guide navigation, and encourage exploration. It should enhance the user experience, not distract from it. Avoid over-engineered effects that slow performance or obscure your visual identity.

Keep visual assets fresh

Photography, video, and advertising visuals shape first impressions. Refreshing them regularly keeps your brand relevant, showcases new campaigns, and improves SEO. On social media, consistent visual updates signal vitality and engagement.

Showcase brand-specific imagery

Original photography, employee portraits, and event visuals communicate personality and values in ways stock photos cannot. These images tell authentic stories that connect with audiences on a deeper level, reinforcing brand purpose.

Build a cohesive visual identity

Consistency in logos, colours, typography, and iconography strengthens brand recognition, trust, and credibility. A unified visual approach ties campaigns together and helps audiences form lasting impressions of your brand.

Visual storytelling as a differentiator

By replacing generic stock images with authentic, custom visuals, you can create a compelling brand story that captivates audiences and elevates your position in competitive markets.

In essence, to truly stand out, brands must move beyond generic stock photos and embrace original, brand-specific visuals that tell authentic stories, engage viewers, and build lasting emotional connections.

Need a visual language that speaks to your audiences? 

Connect with one of brand specialists: Duncan Shaw in New York, Greg Hobden in London or Aliena Lai in Hong Kong to find out how.