Where To Find Stock Photography
Lots of businesses use stock photography. You see it on social media, on websites, and in advertising—the problem is when you *know* it's stock photography. Thankfully, there are so many great places to find stock photos that don't feel like stock photos.
Depending on your needs, you may want to use a free or paid stock photography service. Both have their benefits! The main perk of free stock photography is obviously that it’s free! Plus, when you’re just starting your business, these images are a great way to create a beautiful website or feed without having to invest in photography. As you grow, you may be looking for more custom images. That’s where paid stock photography comes in!
We’ve pulled together a list of sites we turn to for stock imagery, both free and paid:
FREE
Almost anything can be found on Unsplash, including textures and backgrounds. UnSplash has their own licensing under Creative Commons Zero, so you can download and edit all of their photos without permission or attribution.
There are high quality photos and videos shared directly by contributors on Pexels. That means you can download the photos and videos for personal and commercial use, and there’s no need for attribution.
This site offers a variety of photos, from food to landscapes. There are even mockups for business cards and photos for commercial use! The creator asks you to credit by linking back to the site, but no formal attributions are needed.
Pixabay uses the same licensing as UnSplash, so once again there is no need for credit when you use their media. They also have an amazing search function that lets you filter by media type, orientation, color, or dimensions.
PAID
Female entrepreneurs are the target audience of this site, and if you sign up for their email list you’ll receive a bundle of free stock photos! They also add new photos to the site monthly, so there’s always something fresh and new.
If planning out your social media strategy is tricky for you, Social Squares is a great resource. Not only do you get access to photography, you also get monthly marketing training when you become a member.
Stocklane takes stock photography to a new level with their high-end, editorial style photos. This is a great option for lifestyle bloggers or entrepreneurs.
Not only does this site offer stunning images, they also have pre-made social media templates. Another bonus? You’ll also be able to access tutorials on how to edit the photos you download.
