Top Sites For Free Stock Images

When creating potential website designs for either personal use or a clients website the use of images can have a very heavy influence on the overall appearance and can make or break the design in a clients eyes. The problem comes when you try to obtain these images. When you are just starting up you may not know that you can’t just take images from anywhere without checking the permissions of the image. Google Images is a number one hotspot for this and taking images from there is known as Google Ganking. Sourcing and using images outside of the permissions assigned to them can lead to angry people, angry emails and in some cases, court settlements.

To avoid this scenario it is best to use “royalty free” stock photos, ones that are permitted to be used for free on your websites or designs. Below is a list of some of a best sources of free stock photos.

Stock Vault

Stock Vault is, in my opinion, one of the best looking free stock photo sites around. They have a very large selection, currently bordering 20,000 images, and are of good quality. I found that the landscape photos are especially stunning.

Morgue File

Morgue File has a large database of files with good search features that allow you to narrow your requirements right down. The photos range from medium to very high resolution.

Stock.XCHNG

Stock.xchng is one of the old school stock photos sites, containing the largest number of free stock photos available on the internet, over 350,000 from 30,000 contributors.

Google Images

Contrary to what I said in the introductory paragraph of this post, Google Images does provide “reuse” filters for searches, allowing you to find images that are either commercially or non-commercially usable.

Turbo Photo

Turbo Photo contains around 5,000, reasonable quality, free stock photos. Though with the lack of good search functionality it could take you a while to find an image you like.

Flickr

Flickr is an amazing resource normally, but is made even better by the ability to search the images with either “no known copyright” or “commerically / non-commercially usable”. From past use I have seen that many of the photos tend to be somewhat grainy / black-and-white, though there are some good ones if you keep looking.

If you know of any good free stock photo providers or communities that I have missed be sure to leave a comment and share them.

Tagged as: free, stock images

About The Author

Tom Wade Founder of Twade UK

Ever enduring to improve his understanding of the industry, Tom shares his findings on development and SEO topics.

View Authors Posts / Visit Authors Website

10 Comments

Mooey November 5, 2010

Thanks Tom, really helpful post
Paul November 5, 2010

Deviantart is also a very good resource for quality photos.Virtually all can be used as long as credit is given to the original photographer.
Paul November 5, 2010

Forgot to mention above:use the stock images only.They can be found in the listing at the l/hand side dropdowns.
- Tom Wade November 5, 2010
  
  Thanks Paul, have always liked the Deviant:Art community but didn’t actually realise they had a stock photos section! I will be sure to add the link up soon.
Lindsay Dozier January 14, 2011

Thank you very much for the post, I actually learned a lot from it. Extremly quality content on this site. Always looking forward to new entry.
Willie Harvie August 14, 2011

I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog.Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one today
Photography Blog September 9, 2011

Hi,

Great Posting.

Thanks Tom Wade
Fritz Snellen January 30, 2012

Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative.I am going to watch out for brussels.I will be grateful if you continue this in future.A lot of people will be benefited from your writing.Cheers!
Marquita Vildosola February 12, 2012

Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all of us you actually know what you are talking about! Bookmarked.Please also visit my website =).We could have a link exchange contract between us!
Tasha April 2, 2012

Kozzi.com is also a very good resource. I found it just recently but i really love it. It’s always my first and last stop in getting free stock photos. They have all just what I needed. You should try it too. )

Tutorial Feed

Consider yourself fed