Diverse stock images for website and social media
My clients desire to inject equitable policies into their organization, from leaving well policies to bereavement policies. Often, I am also asked about diverse stock images to be used on websites and social media, as well as accessible policies and practices like alt text, so the same organizations can fully lean in to representing the intention of their diversity and equity policies.
When it comes to stock images that represent diversity, I am always quick to share the following with clients, and I’m excited to share them with you as well:
Nappy Co. collections offer “beautiful photos of Black and Brown people, for free. For commercial and personal use.” There are collections such as “Women at Work”, “The Perfect Holiday”, “All Hands” and more. Note: the All Hands collection images are available as PSDs so you can utilize them as mockups to add your organization’s branding or products, on the device screens. Nappy Co.
Disabled and Here’s Affect the Verb collection has beautiful images as well as helpful information about identity-first language for captions and alt text. From their website: “We ask that you be thoughtful in how you put our collection images to use. With captions, we prefer identity-first language, as in ‘disabled person’ rather than ‘person with a disability’.”
This photo was taken by Tojo Andrianarivo, with make-up artistry from Lana Shapiro.
AllGo: Plus size bodies are challenging to find in stock photos, but AllGo has create a beautiful set of free stock photos, shot by Michael Poley of Poley Creative. The photo collection can be downloaded via Unsplash.
Disability:IN offers a select number of disability inclusive stock photos, in an effort to empower organizations to achieve disability inclusion and equality. From their website, “we encourage corporations to use this in recruitment material, marketing material, internal and external communications, etc.” Disability:IN
Jopwell has another beautiful collection of stock images featuring Black and Brown folks in the workplace. Their images are free to use, with appropriate attribution and credit. The Jopwell Collection
Gender Spectrum provides a stunning collection of free photos. They “hope to encourage richer portrayals of trans and non-binary personhood: These images do not define members of these communities only by their gender identities, but as people with careers, relationships, talents, passions, and home lives.” Photos taken by Zackary Drucker and Alyza Enriquez.
Canva offers a diverse set of images when you upgrade to the Canva Pro account. Additionally, Canva acquired Smart Mockups which offers a selection of images that represent diversity for showcasing products and branding. From an article discussing the partnership between Canva and Smart Mockups:
“We want our users to see themselves in the mockups they create. Our aim is to showcase different ethnicities, cultures, and countries, because every part of the world has its own distinct expression. Smartmockups recruits photographers from some of our most popular global markets including India, the Philippines, and Brazil, who help create the inclusive and representative content we’re striving for.” Smart Mockups
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
CreateHER Stock Photos (free subscription, with paid images available)
Another helpful resource is the Inclusive Photos Guide from the CDC (yes, that CDC!)
Looking for illustrations that can be customized for your needs? Look no further than Blush Designs! So fun and creative!
COLLECTIONS FOR PURCHASE:
Getty’s Show Us collection
TO WRAP THINGS UP:
When thinking about what “diversity” means to your organization, consider be mindful of choosing stock images that represent a full spectrum of race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disabilities, body type, and more.