8 Fun and Free Stock Photo Resources
As a visual content creator, you know that images tell a story. However, there are often times when you need just the right image for a project, but there isn't one in your own arsenal.
If you don't have the budget to purchase paid images, this list of 8 fun and free stock photo resources will be your new best friend. Try one, then try them all - there's always something new to discover!
1. Burst
Images via Burst
Burst is a free stock photo site powered by Shopify. All images are high quality and in the public domain, so they are free for commercial or personal use, with new images added weekly. Search by keyword to find the perfect image to use for your project, blog, or business.
Need some entrepreneurial inspo? Check out their Business Ideas section for creative online business opportunities and a host of curated research to give you a head start when you launch. You'll find tips on selling everything from women's fashion, to tea, to yoga products, and everything in between. Have a passion for something different? Just follow their research model to bring your dream to fruition!
2. Flickr Commons
Images via Flickr Commons
Flickr Commons is a collaboration between photo-sharing site Flickr and the Library of Congress. Launched in 2008, its mission is to give historical societies, museums, and other organizations a place to share their photographic archives with the world.
Users can interact with the collections by adding tags, notes, and comments to images, contributing knowledge for the greater good.
All images are free from known copyright restrictions, which means they are all in the public domain and can be used by anyone.
3. The Pic Pac
Image Collections via The PicPac
The Pic Pac was created by photographer Matt Jones because, in his words: "1) I love taking pictures and 2) I am a designer who loves a good stock image but hates paying a ton of money." The mantra for the site is "All pacs are pay what you want, do whatever you want with the pics."
Every Monday, a new pac of pics is released for purchase (Pic Pac, get it?). Each pac has a theme, and each pic fits that theme. There are no set prices, and Tuesday-Sunday one image from that week's pac is released for free.
The pics featured on the site are good quality and primarily travel-themed. Being able to set your own price makes them all the more attractive!
4. Pixabay
Images via Pixabay
If you're looking for an easy-to-use site with a wide variety of free, good quality images, give Pixabay a try. Launched in 2010, Pixabay offers photos, graphics, illustrations, and more that "you may use freely for editorial purposes." With over 2.6 million images available (and counting!), there's something for everyone!
Pro tip: While the site has a lot of useful images, search results are also bookended by ads for paid images on Istock that are often exactly what you were looking for. If you can get past your disappointment and be creative, you can still find what you need!
5. Public Domain Review
Images via Public Domain Review
Unlike the other sites in this list, Public Domain Review is a nonprofit organization focused on highlighting and celebrating the more unusual images that have landed in the public domain.
If you're looking for an image that adds that little extra "something" to your project, or if your project is on the eccentric side, you'll find what you're looking for in their catalog.
6. Startup Stock Photos
Images via Startup Stock Photos
The mission of Startup Stock Photos, launched in 2014, is in the name. The creators' goal was to provide useful, high quality stock images of "startup teams in startup settings." All photos are completely free to use for absolutely any purpose.
You don't have to be running a startup to find an awesome photo in their catalog. Office and workplace images can be useful just about anywhere!
7. Unsplash
Images via Unsplash
Unsplash, founded in 2013 as a simple Tumblr blog, is home to over 3 million images, with more added every day. The Unsplash License means that you can do whatever you want with the images you download, as long as you don't try to sell them or put them on your own stock photo site (which would definitely be pretty rude!).
8. Vintage Stock Photos
Images via Vintage Stock Photos
Looking for images to add a retro feel to your project? Vintage Stock Photos is the place to find the perfect vintage photo to seal the deal.
Created to provide a vintage alternative to generic stock photos, the site offers more than 150,000 images from collections they've acquired around the world. The company scans and uploads photos as they receive them, reprocessing them manually to correct the exposure without eliminating the vintage effect.
All images are available to download for free and can be used for any purpose, as long as you don't try to sell them or put them on your own stock photo site.
That's a Wrap!
Finding the perfect image for your visual content project can seem like a daunting (and possibly expensive!) task. However, there are abundant resources of free stock images on the web. The 8 sites listed in this post are just the tip of the iceberg, but they are some of the most fun - choose one or two for your first keyword search, then see what pops up!
If you are creating a project from one of MyCreativeShop's customizable templates, you'll find that we already offer a huge catalog of absolutely free stock images you can add to your design. Also, any images you download from the sites listed above can be uploaded to our editor so that you can complete your project in just a few clicks - easy peasy!