As bloggers, we often overlook the importance of using high-quality images in our posts. And even when we do use images, we often pick them from random websites without considering their copyright status. In this article, we will share some useful resources for beginners to find images online for free. These image sites will help you pick the best visuals for your next blog post.
The Importance of Copyright and Permissions
Using images that are owned by someone else is acceptable as long as you ensure you won’t be infringing on copyright. It is illegal to borrow an image without explicit permission from the person who owns the rights to it. Always trace images back to their original source and check the copyright information to avoid any legal issues.
Free Image Sites
Fortunately, there are many free image sites that have already identified the copyright information you need to know. However, make sure to read the fine print in a site’s terms of use before using their images. Some sites may only allow non-commercial use. Here are some of the best places to find free images:
Google Images
Google Images has always been the go-to place for finding images, but it’s important to know the license of each image. With recent changes, Google Images has become one of the best resources to find images online. You can now use the search filters to find images that you can share, use, and modify. Just make sure to credit the image’s source, not the Google page.
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons is a repository of free images, sounds, and other multimedia files. It’s a great source for images of celebrities and sports stars. All content on this site is in the public domain or released under free licenses. However, read the license details provided with each photo and follow images back to their original source whenever possible.
Flickr
Flickr is a popular photo management website that allows users to share their personal photographs. You can find images with Creative Commons licenses that you can use for your articles. If you come across an image without a Creative Commons license, you can contact the photographer and ask for permission to use it. Most photographers will feel honored that you want to use their photos, so don’t hesitate to reach out.
Bigfoto
Bigfoto provides photos taken by amateur photographers during their travels. While the search capabilities on this site are limited, the images are of good quality. You can use these images as long as you include a link to the Bigfoto website.
Everystockphoto
Everystockphoto is a search engine that indexes license-specific photos from various sources. The license details are always shown below and to the left of each photo. Make sure to review the terms of use before using an image. Remember, credit the image’s source, not the Everystockphoto page.
FreeDigitalPhotos.net
FreeDigitalPhotos.net offers photos that can be used for personal, educational, and commercial purposes. You just need to credit and provide a link to FreeDigitalPhotos.net. The categories range from animals and business to food and drink.
FreePhotosBank
FreePhotosBank features images posted by both the site and individuals. You can download and use the images posted by FreePhotosBank as long as you credit them. For images posted by individuals, you can contact the photographer through the site’s “Contact this photographer” feature to ask for permission.
Freepixels
Freepixels provides images that can be used for both personal and commercial purposes. As long as you credit freepixels.com, you are free to use the images. The categories cover abstract and concept, architecture, nature, and more.
Freerange Stock
Freerange Stock offers images for both commercial and non-commercial projects. To download photos, you need to be a registered user, but registration is free. Make sure to credit the photographer and provide a link to the page on Freerange Stock where the image is located.
Image*After
ImageAfter is a large collection of photos that you can download, modify, and use for personal or commercial purposes. However, no photographer or artist is listed, so credit “ImageAfter” and provide a link to the page where the image is located.
MorgueFile
MorgueFile provides photos for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. The site allows easy searching, and the photographer is clearly identified for each image. Be sure to read any instructions that apply to the image you choose.
PD Photo.org
PDPhoto offers a repository of images, most of which are in the public domain. You are free to use the images unless they are marked as copyrighted. However, review the license details of each image to check for any restrictions on commercial use.
Stock.xchng
Stock.XCHNG is a gallery featuring over 350,000 quality stock photos taken by thousands of photographers. Each photo has its own terms of use, so pay attention to the requirements. Always credit the photographer and provide a link to the page with the photo details.
Conclusion
These resources provide an extensive selection of free images for bloggers to incorporate into their posts. Each site has its own rules, so be sure to read and comply with their terms of use. Remember to credit the photographers and respect copyright laws. Now you can enhance your blog posts with visually appealing images without any legal worries. Let us know which resource is your favorite for finding images online! And if you found this article helpful, don’t forget to share it on social media.
