A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words or At Least $1.44

Summary

The author, frustrated with the repetition of free stock photos on Medium, has decided to invest in a premium stock photography subscription to enhance their articles with unique and beautiful images, despite the cost.

Abstract

After writing on Medium for over two years, the author has grown weary of encountering the same stock photos used across different stories, primarily due to the platform's integration with Unsplash. The author, who has a passion for great photography and once aspired to a career in graphic design, believes that Medium should offer more diverse photo options. Although the author does not earn enough through Medium to justify a subscription to a premium stock photo service, they have made the decision to purchase a one-month subscription for 25 images at $36, considering it a worthwhile investment for the inclusion of high-quality images in their work, even if it takes a couple of months to recoup the expense.

Opinions

The author is dissatisfied with the limited selection of free stock photos available through Medium's integration with Unsplash.
They value the impact of unique and high-quality images in storytelling and believe the investment in premium photography is justified for the aesthetic appeal it brings to their articles.
The author suggests that Medium should expand its photo options to better serve its writers and readers.
Despite the financial constraint, the author prioritizes the use of premium images, indicating a commitment to the quality of their content on the platform.

I’m tired of using free stock photos

That’s it! After writing on this platform for over two years, I’m starting to see way too many repeat photos on stories. Part of the problem is the easy integration with Unsplash. I’ve even written in another article that Medium needs to add more options.

Great photography has always been an unfulfilled passion of mine. I was supposed to go to school for graphic design to create killer magazine ads, but that’s a topic for another day.

Unfortunately, I don’t make enough on Medium to justify having a paid subscription to a premium stock photography website. I finally broke down this week and got a subscription that I’ll use for one month — 25 images for $36.

It may take me two months to break even, but it’s worth it for beautiful images.