We live in a very visual society now and its visual content rather than words that grab that initial attraction. So you are going to need great images for your branding, website and socials etc.
When you are starting out you don’t need to hire an expensive photographer or use a shaky creation from your iPhone. there are loads of great resources out there for you to use and many of them are free or for the price of a cup of coffee.
Here’s a list of sources where you can find free, copyright-free images for your business:
- Unsplash – https://unsplash.com/
- A popular platform offering a vast collection of high-quality images contributed by photographers from around the world. Images can be used for commercial purposes without attribution.
- Pexels- https://www.pexels.com/
- Offers a large selection of free stock photos and videos provided by talented creators. All content can be used for commercial and non-commercial purposes without attribution.
- Pixabay – https://pixabay.com/
- Features over a million free images, illustrations, and vector graphics. All images are released under the Pixabay License, making them safe for commercial use, with no attribution required.
- Burst by Shopify – https://www.shopify.com/stock-photos
- A free stock photo platform curated specifically for entrepreneurs. It offers a wide variety of high-quality images, including business-related themes.
- Freepik – https://www.freepik.com/popular-photos
- Offers free vector images, illustrations, icons, and photos. While many resources require attribution, they also offer a subscription for access to premium content without attribution.
- StockSnap.io – https://stocksnap.io/
- A website that allows you to browse and download high-resolution images, all licensed under Creative Commons CC0, which means you can use them for free for commercial purposes.
- Flickr Creative Commons – https://www.flickr.com/
- While Flickr contains a mix of copyright-protected and Creative Commons-licensed images, you can filter your search to find images that are free to use, with varying conditions (some require attribution).
- Canva – https://www.canva.com/
- Canva provides a library of free images and templates that you can use for your marketing materials. While not all images are free, a significant portion is available without charge.
- Reshot – https://www.reshot.com/
- A community-driven platform offering a wide selection of handpicked stock photos that are free to use for personal and commercial projects without attribution.
- ISO Republic – https://isorepublic.com/
- Provides a collection of high-quality photography for personal or commercial use. The images can be downloaded and used without attribution.
- Foodiesfeed – https://www.foodiesfeed.com/
- A great source for free food-related images. Perfect if your small business is in the food industry and you need appealing pictures for your website or marketing.
- Skitterphoto – https://skitterphoto.com/
- Features a wide range of free stock photos taken by a team of photographers. All images can be used for both personal and commercial purposes.
- Picjumbo – https://picjumbo.com/
- Offers a diverse selection of free stock photos, mainly focused on themes like food, nature, and technology. You can use the images for commercial projects without attribution.
- SplitShire – https://www.splitshire.com/
- A compilation of beautiful, high-quality images created by photographer Daniel Nanescu. All images are free to use for personal and commercial projects without attribution.
- NegativeSpace – https://negativespace.co/
- Provides high-resolution photos that are free to use. The collection is continuously updated, and all images can be utilized for personal or commercial purposes without the need for attribution.
Important Notes:
- Always check the licensing information for each image before use, as policies may change.
- While attribution may not be required for many sources, you can give credit to the photographers to help support their work.
Explore these resources to find stunning images that will enhance your business’s branding and marketing efforts!
Paid for Sources:
Here’s a list of sources where you can purchase high-quality images for your small business:
- Shutterstock – https://www.shutterstock.com/
- Offers a vast library of millions of high-quality stock photos, illustrations, and videos. Flexible subscription plans and image packs are available for different needs.
- Adobe Stock – https://stock.adobe.com/uk/photos
- Provides access to millions of free and premium high-quality images, videos, and templates. Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud applications streamlines the design process.
- iStock by Getty Images – https://www.istockphoto.com/
- Features a diverse collection of stock photos, vectors, and illustrations. Offers flexible pricing options, including credit packs and subscriptions.
- 123RF – https://www.123rf.com/
- A popular resource for stock photos, vectors, and audio clips with a vast array of images. They offer pay-per-download options, as well as subscription plans.
- Dreamstime – https://www.dreamstime.com/
- Offers a large selection of royalty-free images and stock photography. You can choose from various pricing plans based on your budget and the number of images needed.
- Depositphotos – https://depositphotos.com/
- subscription service that offers millions of stock photos, vector images, and videos. They provide a flexible pricing model, including monthly subscriptions and on-demand image packs.
- PhotoDune – https://photodune.net/
- of the Envato Market, it offers thousands of stock images available for purchase at affordable prices. Ideal for finding unique and diverse imagery for your projects.
- Bigstock – https://www.bigstockphoto.com/
- A stock photo site offering a comprehensive library of high-quality images and videos. They have flexible subscription options for businesses of all sizes.
- Canva Pro- https://www.canva.com/pro/
- While Canva has a free version, the Pro subscription gives you access to a larger library of premium stock photos and designs, making it easier to create graphics for your business.
- Alamy – https://www.alamy.com/
- Known for its extensive collection of stock photos and editorial imagery, Alamy offers flexible pricing based on image usage, making it suitable for professional projects.
Important Notes:
- Check the licensing terms for each image you purchase to understand how you can use it.
Consider the scope of your marketing needs when choosing between subscription services or pay-per-image platforms. You can often just purchase your main hero image for a website or brand as a one-off and use free resources for your social platforms.
