Alright, so here’s the deal: I don’t know about you, but I definitely don’t have some fancy photo studio sitting in my house. Like, who has the time or money for that? And yeah, I don’t always have the perfect photo ready to go when I’m working on a blog post. That’s where stock photos swoop in to save the day. And if we’re talking free stock photos? Even better! You’d be surprised how many places offer great, high-quality images you can just…download and use. No strings attached—as long as you know where to look.
I gotta admit, when I first started blogging, I was clueless. I’d just grab whatever photo I found online, hit “save,” and bam!—into my post it went. Guess what? Totally illegal. Turns out, those photos actually belong to other people, and just grabbing ’em can get you in trouble. It hit me hard when someone swiped my own photo and used it in a way that, let’s just say, was not my vibe.
So now, I stick to either my own photos or royalty-free stock images I know I can use without worrying. I mean, it’s way better to be safe than sorry, right? And let me tell you, free stock images are a lifesaver, whether I need ’em for my blog, business stuff, or just to make something look polished and professional. Actually, I came across a post by Nadine over at East & that inspired me to expand on this. So, here we go: here’s my rundown of 6 places where you can find FREE photos for your blog!
DID YOU KNOW? I actually offer a bunch of free stock photos myself. Yep, check ’em out [here] if you’re curious!
1. Pixabay
Pixabay is, like, the classic go-to for standard stock photos. You can find pics of anything: planes, pets, people, cities, you name it. It’s super easy to search for whatever you’re looking for and just download it straight to your computer. Nice and simple.
2. Unsplash
Ok, Unsplash is probably one of my absolute favorites. The images are so clean, crisp, and, I dunno, artsy? They recently added a search feature, which honestly makes everything easier because they have so many photos. If you’re after dreamy landscapes or cool tech shots, Unsplash has you covered.
3. StockSnap.io
This site is awesome because it adds tons of new photos every week, so there’s always fresh stuff to choose from. The images are high-res, which makes them look amazing on a blog post or as a background. Some of my favorite landscape shots are from StockSnap.
4. Free Range Stock Photos
These are perfect if you need basic, open-space photos—like, if you want to add text or graphics on top. They’ve got tons of photos that are just waiting for you to make them your own.
5. Death to Stock Photos
First off, the name cracks me up—it’s so dramatic! And the photos? Just as great. You sign up and get a batch of free photos each week, and they’re all really high-quality and visually striking. A fun surprise every week.
6. Negative Space
Negative Space is another gem. Their photos are super clear, really gorgeous, and they add new royalty-free photos every week. They’re also searchable, which makes it easy to find exactly what you need.
So there you go—6 awesome sites to grab free photos for your blog or whatever you’re working on. Just remember, not all free photos are really “free to use” in the way we’d like, so make sure you’re double-checking the usage rights on each site. Happy photo hunting!