If you’re looking for free photos to use for your social media accounts, you’re in luck. There are a number of websites that offer high-quality images that are perfect for businesses. In this post, we’ll list some of our favorites. So if you’re in need of some new visuals, be sure to check out these resources!
Authentic Images Generate the Best Engagement
First, a note from yours truly. I’ve managed social media accounts for over a decade. Something that hasn’t changed is this: the photos that generate the best engagement are the ones of your employees and the work you do. They have the faces of the people at your company or the clients you’ve helped. No stock photo or graphic design will ever be able to compete with these photos.
Bottom line: Snap your own photos and videos. Hire a professional photographer to attend the company picnic or book a professional photoshoot day. Then use these images for months to come. You will see the difference in your metrics!
Related Reading: The Social Media Basics You Wish You Knew Sooner
10 Free Stock Photo Websites for Social Media Images
- Unsplash
My personal favorite. Unsplash is a website that offers free high-resolution photos. The website has a large selection of images, and new photos are added every day. All of the photos on Unsplash are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which means that they can be used for any purpose, without attribution. - Pexels
Pexels is a website that offers free stock photos. The website has a large selection of images, and new photos are added every day. All of the photos on Pexels are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which means that they can be used for any purpose, without attribution. - Pixabay
Pixabay is a website that offers free stock photos and vector images. The website has a large selection of images, and new photos are added every day. All of the photos on Pixabay are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which means that they can be used for any purpose, without attribution. - Freeimages
Freeimages is a website that offers free stock photos and vector images. The website has a large selection of images, and new photos are added every week. All of the photos on Freeimages are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which means that they can be used for any purpose, without attribution. - Morguefile
Morguefile is a website that offers free stock photos for artists and designers. The website has a large selection of images, and new photos are added every week. All of the photos on Morguefile are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which means that they can be used for any purpose, without attribution. - Stockvault
Stockvault is a website that offers free stock photos for designers and web developers. The website has a large selection of images, and new photos are added every week. All of the photos on Stockvault are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, which means that they can be used for any purpose, without attribution. - Public Domain Archive
Public Domain Archive is a website that offers free public domain images. The website has many categories to choose from with high-quality resolution. You don’t need to give credit when using these pictures, but it’s always nice to do so! - Picography
Picography is another great source for beautiful, free pictures. Created by HubSpot, all pictures found here fall under the CC0 license. This site makes it easy to find what you’re looking for with its search bar function and categories such as “architecture” or “animals.” - Life of Pix
Life of Pix provides high-resolution photographs with no copyright restrictions whatsoever. New pictures are added weekly by Leeroy Advertising Agency based in Montreal. You don’t need permission from anyone to use these pictures however, it’s always good practice to credit the artist! - Negative Space
Negative Space aims to contribute to a better design by providing high-quality, royalty-free stock photography submitted by photographers from all over the globe. New submissions are curated every week, making it easy to find what you need. Most pictures fall under CC0 however some have more restrictive licenses so make sure to check before use!
Conclusion
The best visuals to use on your social media accounts are your own photos and videos. The second best option is to find authentic, relevant images that align with the feel of your brand. Browse the free photo sites listed above and bookmark the ones that are a good fit for your business!
Join The Credible Brand Facebook Community for more ideas on how to stand out on social media.