Using stock images for mock-ups?

Question

When making a design (as a freelancer), how do I handle stock images? Do you buy the stock image(s)? Or do you find an image via Google or whatever and later replace it with a similar stock image? I'm wondering because sometimes stock images can be expensive and you have no guarantee that your final design will use the image. So do you just take the risk?

Answer 1

You can start by asking your client if they have a budget for stock photography. If so, you can include watermarked stock images in your design. Once the images are approved, buy them and include the billable cost on your invoice.

If there is not a budget for stock photography, you can seek free stock images instead. Popular resources include Wikimedia Commons and Unsplash.com. Thanks, and I hope this helps!