I was looking at a carousel that my colleagues posted to our CC LinkedIn page a while ago (digression: you should follow our LinkedIn page, if you don’t already). The post was about sourcing imagery that accompanies your written content. 

And the upshot was that original images will work better alongside your copy than stock images, while stock images are usually better quality than AI images. (And can be slightly improved with AI, although that’s another post.) 

When I say “original images”, I generally mean images that you’ve created and own. For example, that could mean your team shooting videos or taking photos with their phones or calling in a professional photographer to help tell a story – and, importantly, signing over ownership rights to you. We have some clients who like that approach. 

But there is another angle to this, about how to use AI. And LinkedIn again is in play. 

AI images in the wild 

You might have noticed the increase in people and brands using AI images for their social posts, especially on LinkedIn. 

We get it – it’s easy and fun. But most of the images aren’t great. See: 

The alternative  

Instead, if you’re in a position where you can’t use original imagery (which should be your preference), and you’re using stock photos or video, AI can help you source the best options. For one thing, popular stock image banks are increasing the use of AI in the searches you make. 

Most of us who create content know the example where you nail a v1.0 of a difficult post in 25 minutes, but you’re still struggling to find the right image to go with it after another 25 minutes. 

What  Eve Michell  and Daine Lindsay said in that carousel still stands: “When your audience recognises you through your imagery, you’ve made a connection. That connection builds trust.” 

Just don’t use AI to replace more appropriate images. Use it first to help you find the right images. It’s another case of AI being at its best helping rather than replacing.