Photo Credit miadomenico
Looking for free sources for images you can legally use in your blog posts? Bookmark these links!
(Always check the terms in case anything’s changed since I originally reviewed these websites and their policies.)
Free Photograph Sources
Unsplash – This site adds new images daily. High-resolution photos. Really interesting choices.
Morgue File – Easy to use, has a nice library and includes a tool to crop and resize the photos you want to use.
Stock.xchng – Big selection of images, terms vary from photo to photo.
Every Stock Photo – Library includes photos from NASA and the Library of Congress.
Dreamstime – This is a royalty free (paid) photo site but they also have a collection of free images.
Free Digital Photos – Love the way the categories are setup here, easy to browse. Includes photos & illustrations.
Creative Commons – Here you can search Flickr, Wikimedia, and other sites for Creative Commons licensed images.
Unprofound – Here you can search images by color, which is very cool if you need something based on color.
Free Range – Very nice selection of free photographs.
Image*After – You can find free images and free background textures here.
Photogen – Another nice catalog of photographs.
NOAA – Lots of landscapes and nature photos from NOAA.
Uncle Sam’s Photos – More free to use photos from the US Government.
Free “Create Your Own” Image Sources
Wigflip – Wigfip allows you to generate various graphics with your own text on them.
Wordle – This site lets you create a “cloud” of words from any text or feed you’d like. You choose the colors, fonts & style.
Flaming Text – Set your text on fire, make it brushed metal, or try one of dozens of other effects.
Cool Text – Similar to Flaming Text but also allows you to put your text on buttons like this panic button.
Fake Magazine Cover – Put yourself (or any photo you’ve got) on the cover of dozens of different magazines.
Free Clip Art Sources
Public Domain Photos – If you’re looking for clip art style images, try this site. Also has photos.
WP Clipart – More clip art style images.
Hassle Free Clip Art – Large selection of cartoons and clip art.
What are your favorite websites to create or find free images for your blog?
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Thanks for the useful list Michelle,
I just bookmarked the article for later. I use Unsplash a lot because they photos are just top quality. I also use compfight.com for creative commons search on Flickr. It’s been my favorite tool so far and they provide a ready to post link to cite your source.
I didn’t know any of the create your own image sources so that’s definitely going to be useful. I used Canva few times and like it but I feel like I’m quickly running in circles and just designing the same things over and over again.
Unsplash has awesome images, my sister shared that with me and it’s one of those sites I could spend hours browsing just because it’s beautiful. :)
Have fun with the image creators!
Awesome information Michelle. Thank you so much for sharing. Looking forward to having some fun time in these sites. Cheers!
As usual, a great share. Thanks for the help!!!
Thanks for stopping by, Roy! Glad these were helpful.
Great resources as usual. I like to use Pixlr and Canva to create images with quotes. I’ve also used PicMonkey to create Facebook covers.
Thanks again Michelle.
Cool! It’s great how many options we’ve got for this kinda thing. :)
Great to “see” you here, Debra!
They all sound great! I mostly use Morguefile because I know it’s free. I have resorted to finding words with Google Images and crediting them when I can’t find photos in Morguefile. Glad to have this resource!
Amy
Yes, these sites with clear licensing are definitely a smarter option that Google. ;) Have fun exploring them!
What’s the problem with Google Images, Michelle? What about going to advanced search and then to usage rights and setting them to “free to use or share?”
Most people don’t go that far – but even with the filters (which are a GREAT step) you still need to check individual images for permissions as Google’s filter doesn’t always get them accurately.
So it’s a lot easier to go straight to sites that have one license on their images (or at least clear licensing info) and know you’re using them properly. :)
Hey Michelle
I once got into trouble for using an image – despite linking to its URL! Since then, I only utilize my own images. I LOVE Unsplash. I also enjoy PixTeller – create a free account to gain access to thousands of ‘themes’.
Thank you so much #HUGSS
Kitto
using ‘someone else’s’ image – I apologize for the lack of clarity! :D
Yes, it can get us into all sorts of “hot water”… and thanks for sharing PixTeller, I hadn’t run across that one before. :)
I use pixabay.com a lot and clker.com for clip art.
Cool! Thank you for sharing those, Tat! :)
A very comprehensive list, Michelle. I’ve used some of these resources already. They’re very good! :)
Awesome, and thanks for stopping by to comment, Jae. Good to “see” you around. :)
Thanks for the awesome resources, Michelle! I don’t want to think about how much money I spent (wasted) buying images.
Hey Lisa!
I still use paid sites frequently myself. Sometimes it’s the quicker option. I’m a fan of http://stockfresh.com :)
But it’s great to have choices and alternatives.
Bookmarked the page. Thanks for the info Michelle! BTW, what plugin are you using for the popup “Recommended for your next”?
I’m using nRelate Flyout. https://wordpress.org/plugins/nrelate-flyout/
Thanks Michelle, you’ve provided the most needed information to me. I was using wiki media for many of images previously.
That’s a good source, too, Nikhil. Thanks for mentioning it!
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Hey Michelle,
Thanks a ton for this superb list, bookmark it! Sometimes in need of a image for blog post, i have to spend hours to get the best FREE image for blog post. Thanks again for share :)
~ Brian
Sometimes I actually set a timer for myself so I don’t get sucked in looking for images… It’s easy to get lost in the photo sites.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your blog and this post was timely for me as I needed some new sources of photos. Thanks!!!
Awesome Michelle! Bookmarked your post! Thank you!
Great Resources Michelle! This will be very helpful to EVERYBODY! Thanks for sharing!
Wow Michelle, this is great…greatly value and appreciated. This make things much easy to find images. Thanks
Great post! I can use this today really appreciate it.. Thanks Michelle
I love lists like this. Thanks so much for taking the time to compile all these resources.
Awesome information Michelle! Thank you for writing this!
Thanks for this list!!!! Have to check out ALL of these….8))
These are some awesome nuggets that you have just shared. Thanks for the research and the gift! You rock!
Michelle, I have used some of these sites that you have listed, but I didn’t know so many good ones were out there. I have this page bookmarked for future reference, and will definitely be making use of them. Thanks so much.
Michelle, thank you for this invaluable resource for photos and images. What a time saver thanks again :)
Thanks Michelle, didn\’t know most of them, big help :) I’ve used AddText.com for adding text to your images, clippingmagic.com to easily remove background from images, and also tinypic.com to host your images online.
These are AWESOME, Michelle! Thanks so much! :) xo
Thank you Michelle. These are great resources. I’m excited to check them out. Blessings!
Thanks Michelle
Great post, gobs of good value.
H.G.M.
Thank you for the great resources Michelle! I really appreciate knowing where to get pics that are free to use. People sometimes think if it is on the internet, it is free to use. Not always. I actually know someone that was contacted by a lawyer for using someone’s pic!
I also like the look of your blog. Very cute and engaging!
What a great list, Michelle, thanks for compiling.
You might also like Snappy Goat (snappygoat.com), a searchable database with over 12 million public domain and cc0 images that our team just launched.
I really like Unsplash and Death to the Stock photograph
Amazing list.Thanks for sharing.