So you are working on building a blog. There are so many items on your to do list, creating your blog, figuring out the best plugins to use, creating content, social media, figuring out how to make money through affiliate marketing, creating a course or eBook, there is SO much to do! To the point that you might panic. I know, I get it. I was there too once upon a time. But I am going to share one of the best short cuts for your blog posts.
One of the items to just check off that list right now is great photos. This will help you when you are creating content, some of the best posts have photos inside and relating to the content you are writing about. What else really matters when it comes to awesome stock photos? Social Media. Being able to create a ton of pins quickly for Pinterest is a huge time saver. Having photos lined up or positive quotes for Instagram will allow you more time to work on more important things. Facebook and Twitter too! You get the idea, spending as little time as possible searching out photos for your site is a godsend!
There are a ton of awesome sites for royalty free and commercial use stock photos out there. Here are the ones that I use and adore the most. Most of these are free and a few are very low-cost. Some you will need to sign up for their newsletter. The great news for that is you will get monthly photos delivered to your inbox! Just make sure you check out their terms of use before you use them!
Crash Course in Stock Photos
Before we get to the good stuff, lets talk about the basics of Stock Photos. There are a ton of photos on the web, but that does NOT mean you can use them for your blog (commercial use) and just because it is found free somewhere does not mean the photo actually is! With a blog you want to be so careful about copyright and trademark laws.
Two ways to combat this issue are:
- get the photos from the source – use this comprehensive list of stock photos to help you find free photos that are high quality
- understand the licence provided, its allowed and not allowed uses
Different licenses for Stock Photos
When a work is in the public domain, it is free for use by anyone for any purpose without restriction under copyright law. Public domain is the purest form of open/free, since no one owns or controls the material in any way.
Then there is Creative Commons. There are 6 different licenses and you should review each to find out how the digital image can be used.
- Creative Commons BY (Attribution)
- Creative Commons BY-ND (Attribution-No-Derivatives)
- CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non-Commercial)
If you are looking to read up on this topic check out the Wikimedia post on the different CC licenses available.
Finally, there are licenses that designed by the owner of the image. And what I mean by this is the owner chooses how you can use the photo. For example, they may allow you to use the photo in mixed media, adapt is, use if for your blog or social media posts without attribution. Some may not allow you to use if for an eBook cover (like SC Stockshop).
The main take away is always read the license.
Why use Stock Photos?
There are plenty of reasons to use stock photos. Here are a few reasons I use them. I can tell you from personal experience that there are so many steps to complete day-to-day tasks in running a blog so time is my most valuable asset.
- I do not have time to take my own photos. The only time I really do is when I am doing a DIY or Food post.
- It saves me a TON of time when creating content or social media posts
- The photos are high quality, even though I am a pretty good photographer, I do not have all day to create perfect photos
- They are easy on my budget. Many are free or very low-cost. Totally worth it!!
Essential List of the Best Places to Find Free or Low Cost Stock Photos
Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. That means that I may receive a small commission if you click on my link and purchase something. This will not in any way affect or increase the price you pay! Please know that I only recommend items I use and love. You can read my full disclosure here.
Ivorymix
When you sign up for the free photos, via their newsletter, you get over 550+ photos, plus monthly photos! The free images can be used for personal or commercial use, online and in print. Resize, crop or change image orientation. Overlay the image with text, website screenshots, product designs and PDF designs. Add filters or color overlays to suit their branding aesthetic. Use the images to create free opt-ins such as workbooks and eBooks, as long as the free stock photo(s) cannot be extracted from the opt-in. Credit / Attribution is not required but always appreciated.
Ivorymix is also an awesome place to get inexpensive paid photos and social media quotes for a very reasonable price! The owner’s photos are varied and work for blogs / websites from parenting all the way to finance! Check out their VIP Membership or Stock Photo Shop
Here are the highlights:
- There are over 2500 unique and styled Ivory Mix photos when you become a member.
- All photos are high quality and high-resolution which means they can be used in print as well as on website and social media.
- Anything you purchase on Ivory Mix comes with a commercial license great for unlimited projects for yourself or for paying clients.
- With every bundle of photos, we include images with plenty of negative space to overlay text. This is perfect for social media and Pinterest pins.
- Members have unlimited access to photo download(s).
- The owner releases 100 new photos a month and adds 60 bonus photos just for VIP’s
- Ivory Mix not only provides photos, but they have social media quotes and graphics too.
Ivory Mix is ALWAYS at the top of my list when I am looking for high quality, feminine, varied, fun stock photos!
Pixistock
Pixie Stock was a very fun find for me. This owner creates perfect snaps for women business owners and entrepreneurs. The visuals that created are perfect for almost any brand out there. Sign up for the monthly newsletter and get free photos in your inbox each month. These photos will help you create a beautiful and engaging brand!
PixieStock also has a very reasonably priced membership site which included exclusive styled stock and graphic templates. Currently the site offers over 2000+ images and templates and more are added each month.
Why might it make sense to join a photo membership?
- creates a more cohesive social feed and brand image
- Makes beautiful lead magnets and perfect websites
- perfect for busy female entrepreneurs, bloggers, creatives
- access to Canva templates to speed up social media post work
SC Stockshop – Styled Stock Society
Sign up to be an SC Insider and get 20 free photos, then stay on the monthly list and get a few wonderful photos each month. The owner’s photos are sophisticated, feminine, and just lovely!! I love getting her photos in my inbox month after month!
Styled Stock
Styled Stock offers free to use feminine stock photos. These photos can be used for any commercial or non-commercial purposes. However, the image copyright is still the property of its author. The image can be adapted, used for commercial purposes without attributing the original author or source. Check out the Styled Stock website for these free photos. There is not a requirement to sign up for a newsletter, just free photos here. But let me tell you that you will fall in love with these photos, they are clean and simple, which I find perfect for my pins. Check them our for yourself.
Haute Stock
Hautestock (via their newsletter)
I absolutely love Hautestock’s photos, the owner creates wonderful, feminine stock photos that are perfect for your blog or social media. I love her Instagram size photos. If you sign up for their newsletter you get about 4 – 5 images each month. The types vary, some are for Instagram others work for other social media sites or your blog.
What can you do with Hautestock’s photos? Here is the short list and of course this is subject to change. ALWAYS read the license agreement.
- Use images for personal or business use, online and in print.
- Resize, crop or change image orientation.
- Overlay the image with text, website screenshots, product designs and PDF designs.
- Add filters or color overlays to suit their branding aesthetic.
- Use the images to create opt-ins such as checklists, workbooks, PDFs, eBooks, as long as the images are flattened and overlaid with text or graphics and cannot be extracted, and so long as the image is not a main component of the download.
Her Creative Studio (HC Studio)
If you sign up for this owners newsletter you get one free image in your inbox each month. They are gorgeous and I find I always use them. Check out the sign up pop up box at their site.
Styled Stock Society (Elle Drouin)
Styled Stock Society offers 20 free feminine stock photos now PLUS you’ll receive more free stock photos in your inbox each month! The free photos are square-cropped and perfectly sized for sharing on Instagram – but can be used on other social media platforms, your website, your blog, or anywhere else you market your business online! The license for these photos allows you to crop, resize, alter the image orientation, add color or filter overlays, add text, screenshots, designs, or product images.
Kerri Legend
Kerri Legend offers a ton of value, 500 free stock photos. The types of photos vary and cover a ton of topics. Although you only get the 500 photos, there are not additional free photos delivered to your inbox, she offers a freebie each Friday. So it is worth staying on this newsletter!
Creative Convex
If you head to this link you get 20 free photos and they are designed to work for both Pinterest or your blog. They are fun and feminine and very versatile.
What you get?
- 20 high-resolution photos of creative spaces
- 10 landscape photos + 10 portrait photos
- Designed specially for bloggers and creative entrepreneurs
- Under Creative Commons License
Kate Max Stock
What I love about Kate Max Stock is the muted elegance and simplicity of the photo. That makes them beyond versatile It makes for a perfect pin or Instagram. I would totally rock these photos on my next blog post. Check them out, sign up for Kate’s newsletter and enjoy your free photos.
She Bold
She Bold offers bright, happy photos that POP. If you sign up for this newsletter you get 100 free stock photos and access to a ton of other free resources that you will love. These photos provide the perfect balance of color and interest. I love using them on my social media posts. Check them out for yourself.
More Places for Free Stock Photos
Here are some awesome sites to check out with free stock photos. I strongly recommend you to read the license on these sites before using the photos! That said you may just find your perfect photo here. here are 45+ places to find free stock photos in addition to the ones I mentioned above.
I will say right off the bat that Unsplash is one of my favorite sites to find free stock photos. I use them when I need to find something quickly as they tend to have the most choices.
- Unsplash
- Pixabay
- Magdeleine
- Barn Images
- Negative Space
- Pexels
- SkitterPhoto
- Jay Mantri
- Polar Fox
- Travel Coffee Book
- Free Food Photos
- Startup Stock Photos
- KaboomPics
- Gratisography
- Death to the Stock Photo
- Picjumbo
- Shopify (CCO)
- Splitshare
- Free for Commercial Use
- Free Range
- Life of Pix
- Stock Snap
- Canva
- Free Images
- Libre Stock
- Creative Commons
- Free ImageBay
- All The Free Stock
- IM FREE
- Fancy Crave
- Raw Pixel
- ISO Republic
- Flickr FFCU
- Public Domain Archive
- Library of Congress
- Public Domain Images
- Reshot
- MorgueFile
- FreePhotos.cc
- LibreShot
- Stockvault
- Picography
- MMT Stock
- New Old Stock
- JeShoots
- Creative Market (not always photos, there are free fonts, templates and other awesome digital products)
- Hungry JPEG (not photos usually wall paper, fonts, clip art and other awesome digital products)
Stock Photos – Perfect for Your Business
Armed with all these awesome options to find gorgeous, fun, feminine stock photos. You are sure to save precious time making your social media posts or including engaging images in your content.
Did I miss a site? Please let me know and I will get it added!
Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. That means that I may receive a small commission if you click on my link and purchase something. This will not in any way affect or increase the price you pay! Please know that I only recommend items I use and love. You can read my full disclosure here.
