I’m always on the hunt for free stock photo sites. I use them in my day job for social media elements, I use them on Instagram, and I use them here on the blog. Since I don’t have unlimited (or any) funds to purchase stock photography, I often find myself googling and researching what sites are out there and available.
I know this might sound like a mortal sin as a photographer, but my photography mainly centers around families. Not the types of photos you’d want to use to promote a blog post.
These sites keep popping up and it’s really great to see so many offering royalty-free images for people to use. And there are some pretty incredible photos out there. Sometimes I wonder why they’re offering them for free, and not charging for them!
Here are my favorite ones, for your viewing pleasure.
PC: Pexels
UNSPLASH
Unsplash has been a long time favorite of mine. I remember using it back when they didn’t have a search feature and you would just have to scroll endlessly through their gorgeous high-res photos to find what you’re looking for. Now, they have categories and the ability to search. I can almost always find what I’m looking for on here.
All photos can be used for free, both for commercial and non-commercial purposes. While credit is not necessary, it’s always appreciated, especially when using in places you give the credit.
PEXELS
The cool thing about Pexels is that when you search for an image, it pulls from a bunch of other free photo sites, not just their own. It’s kind of one-stop shopping. Their photos are also high-res and completely free and you don’t need to credit or ask permissions to use them.
RESHOT
I recently stumbled upon on Reshot, and I have to say, they have some great stuff. Some of the sites, you’ll start to see a lot of the same ones, but this one certainly had some different images to choose from. Their goal is to offer “non-stock” photos, things you won’t see used everywhere else. I
PIXABAY
Pixabay and Pexels have similar images, but I’ve always found myself using Pixabay more. They have a gigantic library of imagery, along with illustrations, video and vector graphics. It’s also searchable, and they have great categories to peruse.
GRATISOGRAPHY
Gratisography prides themselves on having “the world’s quirkiest collection of free high-res photos.” So, if you’re looking for quirky, offbeat, different than what you’re seeing, and creative, this is your site.
MMT STOCK
Another site I recently came across is MMT Stock. What I like the most about their images is that they have a lot of collections featuring work, tech, blogging, and things that could be used when talking about blogging and writing. They also have some beautiful landscapes and nature shots.
STYLED STOCK
I LOVE Styled Stock‘s photos. I haven’t used many of them, but I stumbled on this a few months ago doing research for something else and just love the aestethic. If you like clean, crisp images with a touch of feminine and flair, this site is for you.
If you’re like me, and don’t have time to set up a white-washed area for photos, but love the white aesthetic, these are also for you.
If you google Free Stock Photography, I’m sure there are at least 20 more websites, if not more, to add to this list. These are just some of the ones that I’ve used and recommend.
What sites do you use for stock photography? I always love to learn about new places!
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