We are always on the hunt for amazing (and free!) images.
In the world of digital marketing, a great image can be the difference between someone clicking and converting or ignoring your ad altogether.
According to Social Media Examiner, “photos are also the most engaging type of content on Facebook, with a whopping 87% interaction rate from fans!” The concept holds true for blog posts, email marketing and all social platforms.
“Image greatness” can be subjective, of course. Make sure that any image you choose plays nicely with your brand voice and the message you intend to send to your target audience. A FREE image is even better.
We’ve put together a few of our favorite places to find images that cost you nada.
Pixabay – This is personally my go-to place for FREE images. The handy search bar makes it easy to find images by the subject matter and you don’t have to subscribe or set up an account to access photos and videos.
Gratisography – This is where you want to go for odd or querky images!
Unsplash – Unsplash adds new images all the time. Go to their homepage and scroll down to see the latest and greatest images. Subscribe to Unsplash and get 10 new images every 10 days.
Death to the Stock Photo – Sign up to get FREE images delivered to your inbox on the first of every month. If you crave more, you can sign up for their basic or premium options to access even more media including videos!
New Old Stock – If you love vintage photos, you’ll love New Old Stock. They have found old photos, touched them up and made them available for FREE download.
Use your own camera/phone. There’s no reason to neglect to add an image when you have a smartphone. Snap a picture, apply a cool filter and post it or add it to a blog. Let your authenticity shine through with the personal touch of taking your own photos!
Not-so-free Images
If you’re willing to pay for images, check out Fotolia, Stocksy or BigStock for options.
Don’t know if an image is free or not? Check TinEye, a reverse image search website. They use image recognition to find the “root” of an image and can tell you if the image is owned by someone else.
What are the rules about copyright of images and photos?
Copyright is a form of legal protection that is automatically assigned to content creators at the moment of creation. Parachute Media respects the creative process and intellectual property. So before using any imagery that’s not your own, make sure you have permission.
If the image is owned by someone else, make sure to attribute it appropriately. You can:
- Post an image with a legible watermark
- Give the photographer’s name with your post
- Give the photographer’s name and where it can be found – Give a link to a source that the photographer owns
Whatever you do, use an image. Don’t get caught up in perfection. Branch out and be creative.
Need help? Reach out. We’re glad to help.
