Day: February 4, 2026

Best Practices for Responsible Stock Photography Documentation

When considering using stockphotography in your marketing projects, lean into the authenticity that helps shape Michigan Tech’s brand. The UMC Studio Team has put together a guide for when to use (and not use) stock photography.

When choosing to use stock photography for marketing projects (e.g., blogs, emails, print, PDFs, social media, websites), it is the department’s responsibility to take a few additional steps to ensure images are used appropriately and documented properly. These best practices help protect the university, support long-term content management, and make it easier to address questions about image usage in the future.

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

At Michigan Tech, our strongest visual asset is our people. Our students, faculty, researchers, and campus environments tell a story that no stock image can fully replicate. While stock photography can be a helpful tool, it should never replace authentic visuals when real, relevant Michigan Tech imagery is available.

This guide is meant to help you decide when stock images make sense, how to choose them well, and why authenticity matters so much to our brand.