If you’re still using that stock photo—yes, the one with the grinning couple holding keys in front of a generic house—it’s time for an upgrade.

We’ve all been there. Scrolling endlessly through stock photo libraries, settling for images that are… fine. Not great. Not you.

Here’s the thing: Your visuals are more than just “pictures.” They’re invitations. They’re stories. They’re what make someone stop scrolling and think, “Hold up, this person gets me.”

So, what’s the fix?

You need a custom, curated on-brand stock image gallery that feels like you—simple, cohesive, and scroll-stopping—without the headache. And we’re doing it all in Canva.

Let’s go.

Step 1: Nail Your Brand Aesthetic

Before you can curate photos that feel on point, you need to know what you’re looking for.

If you’re not 100% sure what your brand aesthetic is yet, take my free brand style quiz. It’ll give you a starting point—Boho? Minimalist? Bold and modern?—so you’re not typing “vibe-y photos” into Canva and hoping for the best.

Once you’ve got your aesthetic, it’s time to dive in.

Step 2: Search Like You Mean It

Here’s where most people go wrong: they type a generic term like “house” or “office” into Canva’s search bar and get bombarded with… meh.

Instead, here’s how to search smarter:

1. START WITH YOUR BRAND STYLE.
Type in something specific—“boho interior,” “minimalist flat lay,” “neutral workspace.” (Pro tip: If you find a photo you love, click the three dots and check out the photographer’s name. Canva will show you their other photos with the same look and feel. Game-changer.)

2. USE CANVA’S KEYWORDS.
Under each photo, Canva gives you related tags like “bohemian,” “chic,” or “modern neutral.” Use those to dig deeper.

3. ADD “AESTHETIC” TO YOUR SEARCH.
Seriously. It’s magic. “Boho aesthetic” will give you curated, polished photos instead of the cringey stuff.

Step 3: Search By Your Brand Colors

This is where you level up. If you’re on Canva Pro, you can filter photos by your brand colors. Here’s how:

• Copy your hex code (that’s the fancy code for your exact brand color).
• Head to the Filter option, paste it in, and hit apply.
• Then refine your search—“boho interior,” “neutral flat lay”—to see photos that actually match your palette.

Hot Tip: If your exact brand color isn’t pulling up much, move the slider slightly lighter or darker. Sometimes you just need to cheat a little to get what you need.

Step 4: Organize It Like a Pro

Once you’ve found the photos that feel so you, it’s time to organize.

1. Click the three dots on a photo and add it to a folder.
2. Name it something easy to find—like “Stock Photos” or “On-Brand Images.”
3. Bonus points for creating subfolders like “Lifestyle,” “Interiors,” or “Flat Lays.”

Why? Because the next time you’re designing a post, an email, or a slide deck, your images will be right there. No hunting. No stress. Just ready-to-go visuals that look like you have your act together (even on a Monday).

The Final Step: Check Your Vibe

Here’s the part most people skip: Look at your gallery as a whole.

Do the photos feel cohesive? Do they tell a story? If your audience saw them together, would they get the vibe you’re going for?

If something feels off, swap it out. It’s like editing a photo—sometimes a little tweak is all you need.

And That’s It: Your On-Brand Stock Image Gallery, Done.

No more overused stock photos. No more aimless scrolling. Just a curated, intentional photo library that feels like you—ready whenever you need it.

And the best part?
It’s simple. It’s fast. And it’ll instantly make your brand look polished, cohesive, and, let’s be honest, a little fancy.

P.S. Want more trainings like this? Join the Marque Collective Waitlist HERE!