If you are starting a business of any type and need images for your brand promotion on social media then you must like to use images. Licensed images can be expensive, however, and that can be a big deterrent when you’re on a tight budget or just getting started with your own business. Thankfully, there are plenty of websites there that offer images that you can use freely in your work with little to no cost at all. In this article, we will make a comprehensive discussion on how you can get free license images.
Things You Should Know Before Using Copyright-Free Images from a Website
There are lots of websites with free images available, many of which you can use on your business’s website. When it comes to finding license-free images, there are a few things you should look out for.
Also Read This: Language Landscape: Changing the Language on eBay
Make sure the image is Royalty free
You don’t want your website getting in trouble over stolen content or copyright issues so make sure you’re using an image that is allowed for commercial use. It should be royalty free, which means it has been created by a professional photographer who is granting permission for companies and businesses to use their work.
Also Read This: Building a Successful Portfolio on Getty Images: Tips for Capturing Market Demand
Check type of license
It also means that if you alter the image in any way, such as cropping or adding text, then you will be violating copyright laws. It’s Important to check what kind of license is being offered with each photo because some might have limitations as to how they can be used. For example, some may not allow them to be used in printed materials while others may allow certain sizes but not others. If you’re not sure about whether something is allowed, always ask first.
Also Read This: 123RF vs 500px: Selecting the Right Platform for Selling Photos
Determining fair use of copyrighted images
To determine if an image is within your fair use rights, think about these three factors:
1) Purpose and character of use
2) Nature of copyrighted factor
3) Amount of copyrighted material used
To show fair use, you must provide justification for all three factors. If your intended use of an image is for commercial profit or does not include commentary/criticism/parody (the public benefit), then you may be held liable for copyright infringement.
How you should credit resources you’ve used on your blog?
Whenever you use material that isn’t your own, give credit to its source. If possible, link to where you found it; if not, then credit it at the end of your post. Also, be sure to attribute quotes or paraphrases—use quotation marks and cite your source if necessary.
Top Class Websites to Get License-Free Images
Here are some top class websites where you can get license-free images without spending a single penny for your blogging and others needs.
Pixabay
[caption id="attachment_31538" align="alignnone" width="700"]
get-license-free-images-or-pictures-from-pixabay[/caption]
Here, you’ll find over 1.5 million free images from stock photos to illustrations and vector graphics. Most of their photos are available under Creative Commons CC0, which means they are public domain images that you can use in blogs and websites. Additionally, Pixabay allows you to create videos with some of their royalty-free audio files. It’s a great place to go when you want simple, high quality pictures that don’t require attribution or further modification and also want not to spend. You can also filter by color, category, format (e.g., JPEG), size (up to 10Kb), as well as upload your own image files to get credit if they’re selected.
Pexels
[caption id="attachment_31545" align="alignnone" width="700"]
get-license-free-images-or-pictures-from-pexels[/caption]
First, head over to Pexels, and sign up with your email address. Once you do that, they’ll send you a link with 15 free images—as well as another 10 free images if you tweet about them on Twitter! Click through their homepage a few times a week because they update every day with new material. If you want more than just images—for example, video or podcasts—head over to Unsplash. This site is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: professional photos and videos that are completely free to use however you want. You can download them individually or subscribe to get an email whenever they add something new.
Unsplash
[caption id="attachment_31551" align="alignnone" width="700"]
get-license-free-images-or-pictures-from-unsplas[/caption]
Unsplash, as you might have guessed, is an awesome resource that allows you to use its images in your design work. All of its images are released under Creative Commons Zero, which means that you can use them in any way without worrying about attribution or copyright. You’ll also find a link back to where you found it on each photo page, so if someone sees one of your designs and wants to know where it came from, they can easily track it down. They’re constantly adding new photos, too, so there’s always something new to check out.
Nappy
[caption id="attachment_31608" align="alignnone" width="700"]
get-license-free-images-or-pictures-from-Nappy[/caption]
If you’re looking to get license-free images on the web, Nappy might be your best bet. It was founded in 2012 and based in San Francisco, California. This platform collects images from around the web from many different sources and makes them available for anyone to use under Creative Commons or other attribution-based licenses, which means that you can use these images free of charge. But you have to give proper credit to the original photographer when using their images for free. Nappy is a search engine that makes it easy to find high-quality, beautiful images to use in your blog posts, emails, and more.
Reshot
[caption id="attachment_31554" align="alignnone" width="700"]
get-license-free-images-or-pictures-from-reshot[/caption]
When it comes to creating great work, the right image can make all the difference. But with copyright restrictions and expensive licensing fees, finding the right images can be a challenge, especially when it comes to commercial projects or client work. If you’re looking for affordable, license-free images that you can use in any project, then Reshot might be right up your alley. With over 100,000 different images available to you in one simple search, it’s easy to find the perfect image to accompany your content and give it the extra boost of professionalism that can make your website stand out from the crowd.
If you’re working on a project that requires images and you don’t want to spend the money to purchase stock photos from a site. Reshot can be the perfect solution because you can get license free images here. The site features over 20 million images that are completely free to use, but it does ask that you credit the photographer when possible in your project. If you create something cool with these images, make sure to share it with the Reshot community!
StockSnap.oi
[caption id="attachment_31555" align="alignnone" width="700"]
get-license-free-images-or-pictures-from-StockSnap.oi[/caption]
Finding quality stock images can be quite a challenge, but StockSnap.oi makes the process easier than ever with their massive library of beautiful and unique photos, illustrations, and video clips. The website features over 10 million Creative Commons licensed images that you can use for your own business or personal projects without worrying about paying licensing fees to paid stock image sites. It allows you to search through thousands of public domain photos from some of history’s most talented photographers from around the world! There are no fees or restrictions when using these images; simply download them, use them however you want, and share them with whomever you like.
Paid websites for license free images
iStock
[caption id="attachment_31561" align="alignnone" width="700"]
get-license-free-images-or-pictures-from-istocks[/caption]
iStock is another top source of free and license-free images that you can use on your website, in your newsletters, or in your ebooks. They’re one of the best places to find high-quality images at no cost to you, so it’s perfect if you want to save money while not sacrificing quality. iStock also gives you the option to license the images they offer, so if you want to use their pictures on multiple platforms, such as on your website and social media, then this option might be best for you. The list of websites with pictures are endless, but iStock is one of my favorites because it has so many different types of pictures that are available to use in any projects.
Shutterstock
[caption id="attachment_31564" align="alignnone" width="700"]
get-license-free-images-or-pictures-from-Shutterstock[/caption]
Shutterstock has become one of the most popular sources to get license-free images on the web, which means you can use as many of their pictures as you want without having to worry about paying royalties. In fact, every image on their site can be used as long as it’s for your own personal use, non-commercial use or educational purposes. Shutterstock is an online repository of more than 120 million stock images, vector graphics, video clips, and music tracks, available to download on a royalty-free basis.
Each image in Shutterstock’s collection has been submitted and licensed by photographers, artists, and other creatives who want to share their work with the world. So you can start your next web project, book cover design, or TV commercial with one of Shutterstock’s images—without having to worry about licensing issues or paying extra fees.
Final Thoughts
So, we’ve covered lots of different sources and places you can find images that are 100% free, with no license attached to them at all.These sites are great places to find royalty-free stock photography and video footage, high-resolution graphics, illustrations and vector art to suit your every need.Create an account today on these sites and start downloading royalty-free photos immediately. With a lot of images in their library, you won’t be hard pressed to find something useful or professional looking. And if you want to take it up a notch, they also offer affordable subscriptions so you can access even more content.If you do use these images, make sure you abide by the terms of service of the site you got them from. And if in doubt, check with the site owner to see if it’s okay to use their work on your project before doing so.
FAQs
Can I sell copyright free images?
Technically, no. The license only protects you from people who want to take your images and use them for a commercial purpose. If you put an image of a sunset onto t-shirts and sell them, you are technically violating copyright law even if you don’t earn any money off of it. This probably isn’t something that will land you in jail, but it Is illegal. So be careful with what you do with free images.
How can I edit my own photos?
Take some time to learn how to manipulate photos using software like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP. These programs have a steep learning curve, but they’re invaluable when it comes to adding your own creative touches. You can also look into online editing tools such as Pixlr and PicMonkey for simpler edits.
Are Canva images copyright free?
Yes. All Canva images are copyright free and can be used for whatever you want with zero restrictions. You should also include a reference to where you found it so others know where to find more like it.
How do I know if a picture is copyrighted?
The best way to figure out if a photo is copyrighted is to ask for permission. The photographer, or rights holder, will let you know if it’s okay to use their work in your own project. If you don’t get an answer within a reasonable amount of time (say, within 24 hours), assume that they do not want you to use their image and move on.
