As a web designer, finding high-quality stock photos can be a challenge. Not only do you need to find images that fit your project, but you also need to ensure that they are free and legal to use. In this article, we will explore the best free stock photo websites for web designers.
Free Stock Photo Websites
Web design is an essential part of digital marketing. It involves creating and maintaining websites that are aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, and responsive. One of the key components of web design is visual content, and finding the right images can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are many free stock photo websites available that can help you find the perfect images for your web design projects.
What are Stock Photos?
Stock photos are professional photographs that are available for commercial use. They are taken by photographers and made available on stock photo websites for a fee or for free. They can be used for web design, advertising, marketing, and other purposes.
Types of Stock Photos
There are many types of stock photos available, including:
- People: photos of individuals or groups of people
- Objects: photos of objects such as food, technology, and household items
- Landscapes: photos of outdoor landscapes and scenery
- Animals: photos of animals, both domestic and wild
- Abstract: photos of patterns, textures, and abstract shapes
The Best Free Stock Photo Websites
1. Unsplash
Unsplash is one of the most popular free stock photo websites for web designers. It has a vast collection of high-quality images that can be used for personal or commercial use. The images on Unsplash are of excellent quality and are perfect for web design projects.
2. Pexels
Pexels is another excellent free stock photo website. It has a vast collection of high-quality images that can be used for personal or commercial use. Pexels has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your web design projects.
3. Pixabay
Pixabay is another popular free stock photo website for web designers. It has a vast collection of high-quality images that can be used for personal or commercial use. Pixabay has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your web design projects.
4. StockSnap
StockSnap is a free stock photo website that is dedicated to providing high-quality images for web designers. It has a vast collection of photos that are perfect for web design projects. StockSnap has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your projects.
5. Burst
Burst is a free stock photo website that is owned by Shopify. It has a vast collection of high-quality images that are perfect for web design projects. Burst has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your projects.
6. Freepik
Freepik is a free stock photo website that also offers vectors, PSD files, and icons. It has a vast collection of high-quality images that are perfect for web design projects. Freepik has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your projects.
7. Kaboompics
Kaboompics is a free stock photo website that has a vast collection of high-quality images. It has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your web design projects. Kaboompics also has a feature that allows you to search for images by colour, which is perfect for finding images that match your website’s colour scheme.
8. Reshot
Reshot is a free stock photo website that has a vast collection of high-quality images. It has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your web design projects. Reshot focuses on unique and authentic photos, making it a great choice for designers looking for something different.
9. Gratisography
Gratisography is a free stock photo website that offers quirky and unique images that are perfect for web design projects. The images on Gratisography are free to use for personal and commercial projects without attribution. It has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your projects.
10. Picjumbo
Picjumbo is a free stock photo website that has a vast collection of high-quality images that are perfect for web design projects. It has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your projects. Picjumbo also offers a premium membership, which provides access to exclusive content.
11. New Old Stock
New Old Stock is a free stock photo website that offers vintage photos from public archives. The images on New Old Stock are perfect for adding a retro or vintage feel to your web design projects. It has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your projects.
12. Rawpixel
Rawpixel is a free stock photo website that offers a vast collection of high-quality images, vectors, and PSD files. It has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your web design projects. Rawpixel also offers a premium membership, which provides access to exclusive content.
13. Life of Pix
Life of Pix is a free stock photo website that offers a vast collection of high-quality images that are perfect for web design projects. It has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your projects. Life of Pix also offers free video footage.
14. StockVault
StockVault is a free stock photo website that has a vast collection of high-quality images that are perfect for web design projects. It has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your projects. StockVault also offers a premium membership, which provides access to exclusive content.
15. Canva
Canva is a popular graphic design platform that also offers free stock photos. It has a vast collection of high-quality images that are perfect for web design projects. Canva has a user-friendly interface and makes it easy to find the right images for your projects. It also offers a premium membership, which provides access to exclusive content.
Conclusion
Finding high-quality stock photos for web design projects can be a challenge, but with the help of these free stock photo websites, it’s easier than ever. Whether you’re looking for people, objects, landscapes, animals, or abstract images, these websites have a vast collection of high-quality photos that are perfect for web design projects.
FAQ
What are the best free stock photo websites?
There are several great free stock photo websites, including Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay, Burst, and StockSnap.io. Each of these websites has a vast library of high-quality images that are available for free use under a Creative Commons Zero license.
Can I use free stock photos for commercial purposes?
Yes, you can use free stock photos for commercial purposes, as long as you follow the terms of the Creative Commons Zero license. This means that you can use the images for any purpose, including commercial use, without asking for permission or giving attribution.
How do I give proper attribution for free stock photos?
While it’s not required, it’s always a good practice to give proper attribution for free stock photos, as it helps support the photographers and the websites that provide the images. To give attribution, you can simply include the photographer’s name and the website where you found the image.
Can I modify free stock photos?
Yes, you can modify free stock photos to suit your needs, as long as you follow the terms of the Creative Commons Zero license. This means that you can crop, resize, edit, and combine the images with other works, without asking for permission or giving attribution.
Are there any copyright restrictions on free stock photos?
No, there are no copyright restrictions on free stock photos that are available under a Creative Commons Zero license. This means that you can use the images for any purpose, including commercial use, without asking for permission or giving attribution.
How do I find specific types of photos on free stock photo websites?
Most free stock photo websites have a search function that allows you to search for specific types of photos by keyword. You can also filter your search by colour, orientation, and other attributes.
Can I search for photos by colour or orientation?
Yes, many free stock photo websites allow you to search for photos by colour or orientation. This can be especially useful if you’re looking for images that match your brand colours or that have a specific layout or orientation.
Do I need to create an account to download free stock photos?
No, you don’t need to create an account to download free stock photos from most websites. However, creating an account can give you access to additional features, such as the ability to create collections or save your favourite images.
How do I know if a free stock photo is high quality?
Most free stock photo websites have quality standards that they use to ensure that the images meet certain criteria, such as resolution, clarity, and composition. You can also look for images that have been downloaded or favoured by other users, as this is often a good indication of their quality.
Can I download multiple photos at once on free stock photo websites?
Yes, most free stock photo websites allow you to download multiple photos at once by adding them to a collection or selecting them using checkboxes. This can save you time and make it easier to organize your downloads.
With over two decades of web design and development expertise, I craft bespoke WordPress solutions at FallingBrick, delivering visually striking, high-performing websites optimised for user experience and SEO.