So look for clear descriptions on the stock photo website that say “commercial use allowed,” “commercial use and modifications allowed,” or “no known copyright restrictions.”Īnything licensed under the Creative Commons or public domain is fair game too.

If you accidentally share something that doesn’t give you commercial rights, you might be in violation of copyright law - which could mean some serious consequences for your brand, or even you personally.Īnd unfortunately, “I didn’t know” won’t fly as a legal defense. How to know if a stock photo is free to useīefore you go on a shopping spree (or… whatever it’s called when the thing you’re shopping for is totally free), it’s important to clearly understand how to know if a stock photo is free to use. ( Looking for free stock video sites? We’ve got you covered there, too.)īonus: Get the always-up-to-date social media image size cheat sheet. The free resource includes recommended photo dimensions for every type of image on every major network. So if you’re looking for photos for commercial use that don’t cost a penny but will make your social feeds look like a million bucks, read on. In fact, we’ve managed to round up 38 (thirty eight!) of the best free stock photo websites to share with you. Which is where free stock photos come in.Īnd, lucky for you, the internet is chock-a-block with gorgeous, royalty-free, copyright-free photos, just waiting for a chance to dazzle your followers. (For example: even Grammy-winner Michael Bublé doesn’t know how to eat corn like a normal human.)Įven if you’ve studied up on how to take good Instagram photos, sometimes it’s just best to leave imagery to the professionals.

That’s okay! We’re not blaming you! We can’t all be good at everything. Maybe you should be looking into free stock photography instead. You might be the most amazing social media manager in the world, with an impeccable social strategy and well-honed posting schedule - but that doesn’t mean you know how to take a picture.

Flickr free stock photos