We all know that visuals matter. But we also know that high-quality photography can be expensive, and not everyone has the budget for a custom brand shoot – nor does every social media post or web image require it.
While I have paid subscriptions to Shutterstock and Adobe Stock, I also use free stocks frequently. Here are my go-to favorites:
Pixabay
- Vibe: Functional and literal, with a massive library
- Variety: Photos, vectors, illustrations, gifs, music and video
- Best for: PowerPoint decks, educational content and DIY graphics
- Important note: This site is a mixed bag. Some of the staged images look professional, while others look cliched.
- Pro tip: Many stock sites have a limit of 500,000 views or so before you have to pay additional licensing fees. Pixabay is a rare gem that allows high-volume usage without any fees at all. (Please check current terms and conditions before using for a large campaign, though.)
Pexels
- Vibe: Modern and professional, with a mix of artistic, natural images and corporate ones
- Variety: Photos and video
- Best for: Ads, social media and web design
- Pro tip: If you aren’t sure what you need, Pexel’s Discovery pages feature curated images.
Unsplash
- Vibe: Artistic and moody, with a focus on dramatic lighting, deep shadows and unique perspectives
- Variety: Mostly photos
- Best for: Blog posts, editorial and inspiration
- Pro tip: Filter for free images unless you want to pay for an Unsplash+ subscription.
A note on Googling for images
Occasionally, a client will tell me they downloaded an image they found on Google. Most of these images are subject to copyright restrictions, however, so it’s best to stick with stock photo sites.
Hydrangea Studio 