Surprisingly, despite the stock photo quality, Getty Images’ reputation doesn’t stand out from the pack. And there are a host of complaints from the contributors themselves saying they aren’t being fairly compensated for their creative work being sold on Getty Images. So, according to the reviews, it isn’t an ideal spot for creators or customers. Unearthing the ideal images on Dreamstime is a breeze, courtesy of the omnipresent search bar visible from every page on the site. But it doesn’t stop there; Dreamstime also helps your search experience by offering numerous filtering options that allow you to hone in on your perfect pic. Criteria include relevance, best-selling status, latest uploads, content featuring people, pricing tiers, licensing types, media properties, and more.
But as technology advances, you can expect these results to grow even more specific. Dreamstime proudly declares itself to be the world’s largest stock photo platform with an impressive user base of 32 million individuals. This juggernaut of a platform offers a variety of royalty-free images. Established in 2000, Dreamstime offers a vibrant and dynamic community-driven platform. Furthermore, JumpStory offers photo editing tools, allowing users to crop, adjust contrast, add text and logos, and even remove image backgrounds using AI-powered background removal.
For wider variety and higher quality, consider paid stock photo sites including the ones in our list above. You may also find that niche sites will cater for specific needs, such as food photography. Stock photo sites are websites that offer a large collection of royalty-free or rights-managed images, videos and illustrations. Royalty-free licenses allow you to use an image for multiple projects with a one-time fee.
- Unearthing the ideal images on Dreamstime is a breeze, courtesy of the omnipresent search bar visible from every page on the site.
- We test several key aspects, such as image quality, variety, licensing flexibility, ease of use, pricing, and customer support.
- This is done with independent photographers and Getty Images (iStock).
- You can use stock photos for websites, blogs, presentations, marketing materials, social media posts, and more.
- Within the editor, users can develop a new design from a pre-existing template or start their new creative project from scratch.
- This is helpful for someone who wants to make simple video edits but doesn’t have the software or time to do so.
Best stock photo site for editorial imagery
Any user photos are also evaluated before publishing and must meet quality standards. Founded by creative photographer Ryan McGuire, the site offers thousands of unique photos, many of them produced by the founder himself. It also offers vector graphics in EPS format, so it’s worth a look for designers, too. Picography stands out for its advanced search filters, which help you find the perfect image you’ve been searching for. Another positive is that all photos are Creative Commons Zero licensed, which means they’re free for personal and commercial use with no attribution. The photos available on Picography are high quality, making them great for marketing and advertising professionals.
Best Premium Stock Photo Websites
The image library contains 366 million standard photos, vectors, and illustrations, as best stock photography sites well as 214 million AI-generated ones. Unlike Shutterstock, which requires separate subscriptions for different media types, Adobe Stock has a single plan for everything (in four sizes). Finding high-quality images for your projects requires a stock photo site that balances selection, broad licensing, and cost.
Why I think free stock photo sites aren’t a good idea
You can choose a credit package or explore monthly and yearly subscriptions. There are some really cool features at JumpStory that make their platform worth your time. Their incorporation of AI tools and machine learning harnesses the principles of visual and neuro-marketing to boost click and conversion rates. Basically, their photos are designed to help your SEO for web design. Plus, you can easily search images and get the top-performing options listed right at the top of your results.
Step 2. Design & prototype your ideas
- These are divided into two main categories, Essentials and Signature.
- If you need unlimited coverage, the Enhanced License boosts legal protection to $250,000 and adds merchandising rights.
- A T-shaped photo gallery and descriptive text encourage further exploration.
- Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research.
- Updated with more than 50,000 new images daily, you’re sure to find something inspiring every time you visit.
I’ve also experienced firsthand how licensing terms play out when creating commercial materials for different industries, from local businesses to multinational corporations. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives.
All-in-one website builder for creatives.
Some pieces are surprisingly beautiful for stock photos, and they come in sets, so you’re not left trying to make one specific image fit the dimensions you need. Members can even vote on the most appealing ideas for new projects to be included in the future. Find images for your design projects at the best stock photo libraries, both free and premium. Free sites are also great for improving content, but they are far more limited than paid sites.
Step 3. Refine details with your design partners
Even though the images are free, they are high-quality, well-composed, and often have a professional feel, making them ideal for retouching. The diversity and realism of the portraits was the most impressive aspect for me. For food bloggers and content creators in the restaurant space, Foodiesfeed is a must-have. Organized by category, the site’s images are high quality and easy to find. The founders of Startup Stock created the site in 2014, starting with just a few photos of their friends and family.
Tetiana agreed that a better filtering system would make things different. She also liked that the royalty free photos come with full commercial rights, making them ideal for advertising and client projects. The platform provides 5+ million free stock images, with premium plans starting at $15/month for 10 images or $10 per credit.
It was only founded 8 years ago, but it has already made a big difference with its alternative approach. Slowly it is proving to b e one of the best stock image websites available. If you’re looking for the best stock photography sites of the year to earn a bit of extra income from your photos, vectors or videos, Vecteezy is a name you’re sure to come across. In this roundup, you’ll find all you need to know about stock photo businesses. I’ve covered everything from the largest stock image library to the highest-paying stock photo sites and even the cheapest stock photo site.
The best stock photo sites online
Vecteezy is one of the most popular platforms for designers, marketers, and freelancers, but even major brands are known to use it on occasion. With millions of hand-selected, high-quality photos, vectors, videos, and illustrations, it’s easy to understand why. Another popular site for creators looking for high-quality photos and stock videos is Pixabay. Pixabay has over 2.6 million high-quality images and videos free for personal and commercial purposes. The site is easy to use and has quality filters to help you find what you’re looking for.
A photography website is an essential tool for professional photographers to showcase their work, attract new clients, and build their brand. By choosing the right design, optimizing user experience, and using the best photography website templates, you can create an impressive online portfolio. After selecting the images, I carefully reviewed the license terms for each one. Getty provides both royalty-free and rights-managed licensing options, and I appreciated how clear and straightforward the licensing information was. Tetiana especially liked how easy it was to find fashion-focused imagery on the platform.
For a new ad campaign, Tetiana downloaded several images and noted that this was a great site with historical stock photo with a unique and authentic feel. However, she found that while the images were high-quality, some appeared slightly less polished compared to those on paid platforms. Additionally, the developers offer Unsplash+ for $12 per month, which includes exclusive premium pics, making it a valuable option for high-end projects.
Whether you have a website or even just a flier, a stock photo that reflects the essence of concepts and ideas can leave a lasting impression on your audience. In today’s digital age, high-quality stock photos can make or break a design. These resources are instrumental to a variety of creative and professional projects, spanning editorial, website design, commercial advertising, entertainment, and artistic industries. Stock photos serve as visual first impressions that help send a message.