Where to Find Free Stock Images for Your Articles
Even Associated Content recommends the following: “Attaching images are a great way to engage users with your content.” Just as we would not want anyone to misuse our copy, we do not want to publish anyone else’s photos without permission.
A great way to find photos you need is to use web sites which contain copyright-free photos. Just be sure to include the photographer’s name when available and the owner.
Associated Content recommends the following sites:
Bigfoto.com is another great source of photos for travel, as it contains images of Africa, America, Asia and the Pacific. The Themes section includes photos on Architecture, Aviation, Fireworks, Food, Fountains, Sculpture, Railway and Ships.
FirstGov From the FirstGov home page find the “Graphics and Photos” section. Although you can do a search of the whole site, it may be more prudent to find the agency related most closely to the photo you need. There are an incredible amount of images available through this site.
FreeStockPhotos.com is a collection that is best suited to articles on animals, travel, religion the environment and nature. Photo categories are limited to the following: Animals, Christian, Egypt, Israel, Near East, Plants, Rome, Scenery, Sky, Weather and Wildflowers. All photos on the site are owned by Daniel Speck.
GeekPhilosopher On this site stock photos are one small part. Photos include Flowers, Fruit, Objects, Outdoors, People, Vegetables and the Sky.
stock.xchng The gallery on stock.xchng contains more than 200,000 stock photos. Photos are filed into the following categories: Abstract, Architecture, Business, Computers, Concepts, Food, Nature, Objects, People, Places, Seasonal and Events, Signs, Streets and Cityscapes, Transportation and the World.
More Great Stock Photo Sites
Although not included on the list of Associated Content’s resources for photos, the following sites
YotoPhoto is a search engine for stock photos in the public domain or are available for free use. Browse a category or perform a search and a page of actual photos comes up, not just a list of web sites. For now, YotoPhoto is only indexing photographs, not other types of images, which suits it perfectly for use by Associated Content writers. This site is a tremendous timesaver for those times when you just want to find a great photo and publish!
Pixel Perfect will dazzle you with more than 4,000 clean, sharp photographs. From the main site click on Image Archive. But be warned, you could get lost here just admiring the bright colors and sleekness of the images. Please respect their usage policy as images are forbidden from being used with certain subject matter. Categories include 3D, Abstract, Architecture, Business, Cartoons, Food, Industry, Nature, Objects, People, Places, Seasonal, Signs, Streets and Cityscapes, Technology, Textures, Transportation and the World. Each category is further subdivided for easy browsing. A Search function is also available.
Free Images contains 2,500 photos in the following categories: Backdrops, the Home, Buildings and Travel, Festive/Seasonal/Celebration, Food and Cooking, Light, Medical, Nature, Objects, Space/Planets and Stars and the Workplace. Be sure to or credit this site if you use these images.
Free Photos Bank includes images in the following categories: Abstract, Architecture, Computers and Technology, Fruits and Food, Nature, Objects, Miscellaneous (details, currency, games and more), transportation and life.
A few high-profile stock photo sites (FreeFoto.com, StockVault.net) have not been included as they prohibit commercial usage. With any sites, be sure to credit the photographer and the owner. Read any restrictions put forth by the stock photo site, ass their free usage policies are subject to change.
Happy photo hunting!
