There is an excellent article over at fortymedia that points out the top 10 major stock photography cliches.

Check it out here.

Now, as someone who has to deal with business websites. Especially the hosting area. I am quite intimate with each and every one of these cliches. It has to be said that, the original sites to use these really were brilliant. They all convey a point to the reader in one abstract way or another. That is why they are so cliche in the first place.

But now we are at this point where they are just over used and tired. But the question is, do we as business people continue to use them because they convert well (and they do), or do we stop using them because our peers laugh when they see them.

Just a side note, you’ll notice that the image used in the forty media masthead is striking, effective, and above all unique. (Note that today, it is what I assume to be arlington national cemetary. Great way to respect memorial day but be sure to check back tomorrow for the usual fare.) Too bad we can’t all be so creative, becuase I know I’ll probably end up coming back to the same cliches in the next site I have a hand in launching.