Where to source Instagram content

Creating Instagram content all the time can be really difficult – not to mention time-consuming and/or expensive! So, naturally, you’re going to want to curate Instagram content from different sources. This episode, we’re looking at some good places to source and curate Instagram content from (plus the pitfalls to watch out for!)

 

 

 

The best stock photo websites for Instagram

• Unsplash
• Styled Stock Society
• Creative Market
• Haute Stock
• Pexels
• Death to the Stock Photo
• Burst

See more of my recommended small business marketing tools.

Where to source Instagram content from

Whilst I usually recommend you create at least some of your own content, I understand that, for a lot of businesses, creating their own content can be a real struggle. Inside this blog post, I'm going to look at some places you can curate Instagram content from.

The best stock photo websites for Instagram

The majority of our client curated Instagram content comes from stock photo websites these days. They're usually quite high resolution and you can avoid any nasty copyright or licensing issues, which can arise if you use photos from other sources without permission. There are also some really good free stock photo websites (like Unplash and Pexels) and some amazing paid ones, like Styled Stock Society.

The downside to using free stock photos for Instagram content is that they have often been done to death. You can spot them a mile away – but there are still lots of gems to be found out there.

Curating content from other Instagram accounts

You have to be careful here because simply adding a credit to your post doesn't stop it from being a copyright infringement.

In practice, “everyone does it” – but all it takes is one person to decide they want to make an example out of you. So, to cover your bum, just reach out and ask for permission first.

Also, make sure that the credit is visible and not hidden in the hashtags or in the first comment. The content creator went to the trouble to take that photo and edit it, so the least you can do is be respectful, thank them and show them that you appreciate their hard work.

Sourcing Instagram content from Creative Market

If you're looking for cool Instagram graphics and templates, Creative Market is my go-to. Most of the templates here are in Photoshop or Illustrator format, but there are more and more popping up in Canva format, so just make sure you double check that they're in the right format for you.

Some of the templates are even worth learning how to use Photoshop for! There are some really cool animated ones and some really awesome quote templates. If you're looking for the simpler alternative, definitely check out the Canva templates.

I put together a list of the best Instagram templates in 2018.

Creating Instagram content in Canva

Canva's social media templates are pretty decent considering that they're free. You can even create your own graphics, just with their built-in shapes and their patterns. I recommend updating the fonts and the colours of any of their templates to match your brand look and feel, rather than just going with the default colours and font – or else you'll look like every other brand out there and your Instagram feed just won't be consistent with your brand.

I also shared some Canva Instagram templates here.

Canva is super easy to use and if you listen to my podcast much, you'll know I often rave about it. So check that one out.

Get a brand photoshoot for Instagram

Honestly, I think a branding shoot done is one of the biggest things you can do to elevate your business instantly. It shows people that you're professional and that you take it seriously.

A brand photoshoot doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg either. If you're on a budget, you could reach out to someone who's just starting out or to a uni student, and see what their rate is, as they'll probably be cheaper.

My first photo shoot was actually a skill-swap, where I helped her out with her website and she took and edited some photos for me. So, there are plenty of options out there if you on a budget!

A good branding shoot will give you high0quality content that you can use for ages and nobody else will have the same photos. The photos don't all have to be of yourself, either. They could be of your office space or your desk – even just flatlays of products shot in your style.

I know it's probably not your number one priority if you're just starting out, but it should be something you consider.

Should you source Instagram images from Pinterest?

Sourcing an image from Pinterest and adding a credit that says “via Pinterest” (or something along those lines) is actually a copyright infringement. Similarly to sourcing Instagram images, you should be asking for permission from the owner of the image. That's not the person who re-pinned it – it's the source the image originally came from.

The problem with Pinterest is that it can be a little tricky tracking down the original source sometimes. We've stopped sourcing client images from Pinterest for this reason, but it's up to you whether you choose to or not.

You might also like: Free Instagram hashtag cheat sheet

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