How to Choose Stock Photos for Your Blog: A Beginner’s Guide‍

Time is the only resource no one has enough of as a blogger. With so many responsibilities on your plate, you might find yourself struggling to keep up with new content every week, especially if you don’t have a good stock of photos at your disposal. After all, images and photos make your blog stand out from the crowd. So what do you do when you’re in a pinch? Stock photos! Enough stock photos can save your blog from going downhill fast. They can give the perfect insight into who your target audience is, too – after all, it’s easier to understand someone when we see them in pictures than in words alone. If you’re interested in adding stock photos to your blog or vlog, here are some tips that will help you get started:

How to Increase Image Resolution

Choose your own license.

The license is your first indication of whether or not a stock photo is a good fit for your blog. Generally speaking, there are two main types of licenses: Exclusive and non-exclusive. Exclusive licenses allow you (and only you) to use the photo in your blog, vlog, book, or whatever other project you’re working on. Meanwhile, non-exclusive licenses give you the right to use the image as often as you like, but you cannot claim it as your own. A non-exclusive license is best used if you want to give credit to the photographer when you publish it online. Your chosen license will depend on your needs and what you plan to use the photos for. You should also consider how long you intend to use them, as some licenses are limited as to how long they are valid.

Don’t use stock photos without a license.

As we just mentioned above, the license you choose will depend on how you intend to use the photo. If you don’t intend to give credit to the photographer, you’ll need to use a non-exclusive license. If you plan on publishing the photo with a byline to give credit to the photographer, you’ll need to use an exclusive license. Using a photo without a license is illegal, and you could face penalties from the stock photo agency and/or the photographer. For example, the stock photo site Depositphotos has a Retribution Enforcement Program used to combat copyright infringement. This program allows photographers to directly file a notice, which can result in your images being removed and your account being terminated if the notice is valid.

Check out Creative Commons

If you’re looking for free stock photos to use and republish, you should check out Creative Commons. The site works by partnering with artists and stock photo sites to license their images under Creative Commons licenses. These licenses allow you to use and republish the images for free, as long as you give credit to the photographer. The site features millions of images from millions of photographers, so you’re sure to find something that fits your needs. Note that not all images are free to republish. So if you’re interested in using a photo for commercial purposes, you’ll need to check the license first. The easiest way to do this is by using the search bar on the homepage and selecting “Only show content with commercial licenses”. This will filter out photos available under “non-commercial” licenses and only show commercial-friendly images. You can then browse the different license types and see which ones you qualify for.

Research before you buy

Before you click “Buy” on a stock photo website, it’s important to research what type of images you need. From mood boards to color palettes, there are plenty of ways to use stock photos in your blog posts. Knowing what you’re looking for will make it easier to find the perfect image, and you won’t have to sift through thousands of photos that aren’t what you’re looking for. When you’ve found a few photos that might work for your blog, you should click on the “Search Terms” section and filter by color. This will make it easier to find images that match your color scheme. You can also use the “Keyword” filter to search for certain topics for example, you are searching for Happy Birthday, so by these keywords, you will find something some relevant results, use keywords to search for everything you need, This can be helpful if you want to find stock photos related to your blog’s topic.

Check the resolution and file type.

When you’ve found the perfect photo, it’s important to ensure it’s high-resolution. The general rule is that your image should be at least 1000 pixels on the longest side. You should also check the file type before you download the photo. Most photos on stock photo websites are in jpg format, but some are in png or gif format. Make sure you’re downloading the right file type. Otherwise, your image will look pixelated and out of focus.

The best places to find free stock photos

There are plenty of places you can go to find free stock photos. The most popular sites are Depositphotos and Unsplash. While these sites offer free images, you’ll need to search for images that fall under the “Creative Commons” license. That means you can republish them for free and give credit to the photographer. If you’re willing to spend a few dollars, you can also use sites like Fotolia or Adobe Stock. These sites offer paid plans that allow you to use royalty-free photos. This means you can republish the photos again and again without paying a fee.

Best Sites to Find Free Images for Your Blog

1. Depositphotos
2. Unsplash
3. Pixabay
4. PicJumbo
5. Gratisography
6. Pexels
7. PhotoPin
8. StockSnap.io
9. LibreShot
10. Skitterphoto

More best stock image websites to use in 2022

1. Shutterstock
2. Shopify Burst
3. Unsplash
4. Pexels
5. Picjumbo
6. StockSnap.io
7. Gratisography
8. EyeEm

Summing up

Choosing the right stock photos is crucial to your blog’s success. Good images can make your blog stand out from the crowd and help you connect with your readers on a deeper level. Finding the right stock photos can be tricky, but it’s worth it in the end. When you’re ready to add stock photos, search for terms related to your blog’s topic and check the license before downloading the photo. It’s also a good idea to browse through different websites to see what’s available and check each photo’s resolution and file type before you add it to your blog. Now that you know what to look for in a stock photo, you can choose the perfect images for your blog. And once you have them, you can use them again and again for years to come.