Monday, April 14, 2014

15 *GENUINELY* free stock image sources

Putting this list together because a search for "free stock photos" always turns up a load of sites that are mainly or entirely payware/premium, or you only get a couple of free images per month.

Bear in mind that even where credits aren't required, they're usually still appreciated.

Totally 100% free photos

Unsplash.com
Beautiful, artistic high-res images that are totally free to use. Lots of nature shots and roads, but a few objects and people as well. Perfect for the cover of that novel you always meant to write.

Wikimedia Commons
20 million images free for reuse, and you can add your own.

Imagebase.net
"Absolutely free photos" (and they are) with helpful categories to get you started.

Unprofound.com
Has a helpful "search by colour" feature.

PicJumbo.com
High quality, artistic images, also accepts submissions.


Free photos but beware the premium pics ads

Pixabay.com
A wide range of free stock photos and illustrations: if you upload ten of your own photos (may as well do something with all those scenic holiday shots languishing on your hard drive) you won't see any adverts for paid sites.

Freerangestock.com
This has an enormous amount of free images, with the usual premium photos bar.

Morguefile.com
Big range of totally free photos, also has tabs to premium sites.

Stockvault.net
Scroll down because the top hits are premium ones.

RGBstock.com
Huge amount of free images between premium bars.


Free photos that require attribution

Flickr: Creative Commons
These images do have various licenses but are free to use in many circumstances.

500px.com: Creative Commons
Huge range of creative commons pics with various licence levels.

Google Images
Click Search Tools -> Usage Rights -> Labeled for reuse (or the usage of your choice), as Google is an Aggregator the exact rights of these images may vary.

Freeimages.com/Stock.Xchng
Wide range of photos, some require credits.

IM Free
Also has website templates, good range of artistic images.