Mastering Website Imagery: Finding and Licensing Free Stock Photos for Your Website

We've Got You Covered.

Nothing screams "I’m an amateur" quite like a blurry, pixelated image slapped onto your homepage.

But how are you supposed to find the good ones? Especially when you’re a small business owner who:

1. Is on a budget

2. Is doing it all yourself

3. Hasn’t done a fancy branded photoshoot

There is a way, I promise. Images are still immensely important for your website branding and user engagement, and you need some that give your audience a top tier first impression.

In this post, we'll go over where to find website images that are free, high quality, and aren’t going to get you dinged by someone’s lawyers.

(And to make sure your free high quality images also match your brand, click here)

Where to Find Stock Images

Free Resources:

Everybody loves free stuff. And while there are definitely some things that deserve the investment, stock photos are not one of those things (usually). Here are the best places to find free stock photos:

• Unsplash

• Pexels

• Pixabay (a bit broader as they include vector art and some more “stocky”-feeling images)

• Dupe (the anti-stock stock photos site)

**TIP: When using these sites, don’t just type in generic terms. We’ll talk more about this in the next post, but use specific, brand-related terms to get images that better match the rest of your site and brand visuals.

Like the above: instead of just “desk”, try “white minimalist desk” or “dark moody desk”.

Paid Resources:

You can’t always get what you want (for free). If you’re looking for something ultra-specific and can’t find what you want after hours of free searching, it may be time to consider premium options. Shutterstock, Getty Images or the premium versions of the free sites all give greater image options, but they do come at a price.

How to Find Good Stock Images

Relevance:

Your images should scream your brand message. An irrelevant image can confuse your audience and rocket your bounce rate. Like the tip above, use brand-specific terms in your search to make sure every image fits your brand narrative.

Quality:

Nothing makes your audience recoil quicker than a low-resolution, grainy photo. Make sure that when you download from these sites, you choose a high-quality download option. This ensures that you look professional and trustworthy.

**TIP: Large photo files can slow down your site loading time. To keep your site loading quick, use image compressors (I like tinypng) to reduce the file size before you upload it. Just be sure to double-check that it hasn’t gone back into blurry image territory.

Uniqueness:

Avoid the inauthentic, overused stock images. You know the ones - the cliché handshakes, the fake smiles. Aim for something unique that stands out and feels genuine. Try going for a different camera angle, or a different way to communicate your concept. Your website deserves to look fresh!

Effort:

As annoying as it is, you usually have to put in good work to get a good result. Stock photo searching is no different. The key to getting what you’re looking for is experimentation. Try lots of different keywords and search options, and don’t be afraid to check out page 2, 3, or 10.

Ensuring Proper Licensing for Free Images

Legal Considerations:

Not all free images are created equal. The sites listed here all allow commercial use without credit or attribution, but pay attention when you experiment with other sites. No matter what, you should ALWAYS read the license information on each site or specific image before using it.

And, if you think it won’t happen to you because you’re a tiny local business, you are wrong. It may take some time, but like Liam Neeson, they will find you.

Best Practices for Image Licenses:

Here's how to ensure you're not accidentally stealing someone’s work:

1. Actually read the license and usage terms. Don’t just skim them. 

2. Download from Reputable Sources: Stick to well-known sites like the ones listed. DON’T just use images straight off of Google.

3. When in doubt, give credit. It never hurts, and you support other small businesses in doing so.

Overall...

Good imagery is foundational to an impactful and converting website. Your brand integrity can easily be sullied by a mismatched, blurry, or cliché image, so take the time to find the right ones.

Now you’ve got all the information you need to go find stunning website images, so go do it! And if you need professional help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re here to make your site beautiful.

And, check out our post about How to Make Free Stock Photos Match Your Brand.