So last month I get this email from a nice rep at Fotolia.com asking me to review their product.  I’m not usually the type to review something I’m FORCED to use but it just so happened that I was looking for a new Stock Photography Website when the email came along and guess what?!? Fotolia.com is a Stock Photography Website!  Basically it’s a site where designers (like isabella) and bloggers (like moi) can get images and use them however we want.  You can get anything from low resolution images (for web) to high resolution ones (for print).  They have pics, illustrations and even videos.
Anyway, perfect timing.

 

So I go ahead and start using it.
I was immediately liking that my sign in was such a breeze, mind you, my login and password were already created for me by the owner of the website but still, none of this “fill out a million and one useless questions” stuff.  Note to anyone starting a web site,  it should ALWAYS be that easy. Ok, not really the point though.

First praise about Fotolia.com.  It’s a credit membership process.  That means no monthly plan crap.  Finally a company that gets how much I hate committing to monthly contracts.   For someone that’s just starting out in the freelance biz, like moi, Fotolia.com’s by-credit system is perfect. Basically you buy your credits, use them when you want and make the client pay. haaaaalllelujasssh.
 

That means no images (or $$$) go to waste if you don’t need stock photography for a month or two.  You pay when you use. That’s it, that’s all, and no, there isn’t a catch.
Next praise. You ready?  Fotolia lets you download “COMP” images for your layouts. 

So basically you can download an image for FREE, create your design with it, show it to your client and if he digs it (which he will) THEN you purchase the image. Again, no wasting cash.  When you buy an image you know you’re going to use it.


And most importantly they have THOUSANDS of great pics, illustrations and videos to choose from. Ya that’s a whole lot of variety.

 

Now, let’s talk about the look of the web site (we’re all into design after all).  I gotta be honest the first time I got to the homepage I  was kinda thinking “hum this isn’t the most good looking site out there” but that wasn’t a big deal cuz what I really liked (and what’s most important) is that it’s user friendly.

The log in and sign up is right there, you can’t miss it.  The buy credits is also in your face.  The subscription, the selection of image process, what pic do you want in what size?  Everything is really pretty straight forward.  I didn’t get lost or confused once, which is pretty rare!  I didn’t go through the whole “purchasing credit process” to be able to describe to you how it went but only because I didn’t have the need to buy an image yet but if I do I will definitely try one of Fotolia’s. And maybe i’ll tell you about it too when I do.

It’s free to create an account so I recommend you check it out, browse through, maybe download a pic or two.  There’s no commitment remember ;) so why not!

I plan on using Fotolia.com as my new Stock Photography website.   The only thing I would change ( if I could) is the actual look of the web site, and hey! Fotolia, I know a good designer *cough* Isabella *cough*.

Anyway, let me know what you guys think!
t.
xx

 

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