As Choucino details, it can be ok under very specific circumstances, but for the most part, you should think carefully. Death to Stock is a micro stock photo library with a mission. It claims not to be a stock photo library, which of course it is, but it tries to break the mould with images that don’t look like your typical stock photos. https://deveducation.com/ Subscription starts at $12 a month, which is cheaper than most other subscription-based stock photo sites, but it’s a much smaller library with photos numbering in the low thousands rather than millions. Founded in 1995, Getty Images was the first company to license imagery online and it’s known as the giant of photo stock libraries.
It’s also added a text-based AI image generator so that if you don’t find an image you like, you could try to generate one using AI. Some stock libraries have prohibited AI-generated images due to concerns about copyright (see how to use DALL-E 2 for more on how the technology works). To make it easier to choose, we’ve compared the different options available to create a list of the best stock photo libraries today, including the best free stock photo sites. We’ve made our choices based on the reviews of our contributors and our own use of the sites to find photos for Creative Bloq. We’ve evaluated the range and quality of imagery available, the ease of use and of course value. This great video essay features an experienced commercial photographer discussing his experience with stock work in the past year.
Unlock your creativity with stock images, stock videos, stock photos, and more
He writes news and features, updates buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment for creatives, from monitors to accessories and office supplies. He enjoys photography, particularly nature photography, wellness and he dances Argentine tango. Pixabay is another very large free stock photo library that also offers illustrations, vector graphics and a growing number of videos.
Members can even vote on the most appealing ideas for new projects to be included in the future. Shutterstock has been expanding beyond the normal remit of a stock photo library, incorporating stock images for designers its own editing tools. This means that, for example, you can change the background of an image in Shutterstock rather than have to take it into a software program like Photoshop.
The best stock photo libraries
With over 400 million stock photos, illustrations, music, videos and more, Shutterstock is a huge marketplace for all kinds of stock assets. The site is extremely easy to navigate, with images organised into popular categories and featuring a useful keyword search tool. To download content, a subscription or image-on-demand package is required. Updated with more than 50,000 new images daily, you’re sure to find something inspiring every time you visit. Coming to you from Scott Choucino of Tin House Studio, this excellent video essay discusses his recent experiences trying to establish decent passive income from stock photography.
- From highlighting a quiet moment of peace between mother and child, to a battle between predators and prey in frigid waters, images from some of the best photographers around the world are showcased in the U.K.’s Natural History Museum’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
- The site is extremely easy to navigate, with images organised into popular categories and featuring a useful keyword search tool.
- You’ll have to complete a Captcha to down an image, but you can skip this part of the process if you sign up for a free account.
- Some stock libraries have prohibited AI-generated images due to concerns about copyright (see how to use DALL-E 2 for more on how the technology works).
- This means that, for example, you can change the background of an image in Shutterstock rather than have to take it into a software program like Photoshop.
Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. In Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. Professional photo and video shoots without the agency fees.
Whether you’re looking for generic imagery to convey a particular situation or emotion or photos of a specific place or object, there’s a decent chance that you’ll be able to find what you need. That said it adds new content, and, with its intention to avoid cliched imagery, there’s a chance you might find something more original that suits your project. Some pieces are surprisingly beautiful for stock photos, and they come in sets, so you’re not left trying to make one specific image fit the dimensions you need.
It’s particularly good for finding landscape photography – see the Editor’s Choice if you’re just browsing for inspiration. Alamy prides itself on doing things a bit differently. It has a strong philanthropic agenda and a commitment to giving photographers a good rate, including giving students 100 per cent of the sale of their images. Even if you’re not bothered about the philanthropic angle, you’ll probably be keen on its library of over 313 million stock images, vectors, videos and 360-degree panoramic images. Find images for your design projects at the best stock photo libraries, both free and premium. Unsplash is the largest and best-curated free stock photo library that we’ve used.
