Did you know that if you took the time to go through all the stock photo websites, you’d find more than 350 million photos available for use!?
These stock images are spread out between around 30 companies that seem to be commanding the stock image industry.
So where do you even start looking for high-quality images for your website? Keep reading to find out exactly where you need to go to find the best images to bring your website to life.
Strategy To Finding The Perfect Image
Before you go off on your high-quality photos hunt, you need to know what it is you’re searching for. We’re talking about shortlisting your website’s visual requirements.
You need to consider auditing your website’s layout first and then asking yourself what your exact photo requirements are. Write down the sections of your website and the categories for the types of images you want.
Then, decide on the look of the photos that are in line with your brand’s design and personality, and get photos to match your content. For example, if you’re a motorcycle repair shop, then images of puppies in flower gardens might not work. You would be inclined to go for grunge-style, rugged-looking images.
Where To Find High-Quality Images
Stock photo image websites can basically be broken down into two categories: paid and unpaid. After that, comes the difference in artistic style and usability.
The only sensible thing to do is to navigate to each website and do a quick search with the keywords of the things that you are looking for. Once you’ve scrolled a short while, you’ll very quickly be able to see which website has a larger library for your needs as well as which one offers photographs that match your brand’s persona.
Copyright And Usage Rules
Each stock photo website has different rules on how and where you can use its images.
Some of the free websites like Unsplash and Pexels will allow you free downloads of their images. However, you have to give credit to the photographer who has uploaded them.
Paid websites like Shutterstock offer a variety of images from vector drawings to icons to videos and photos and even more. When you choose to download from these sites, you will have an option for general use or editorial, and different uses will have different prices so pay special attention to what you can and can’t do with them.
Perfect Pictures For Your Website
High-quality images for your website are one thing, it’s another thing entirely to be able to find stock photos that match your brand and give your website a sense of aesthetic pleasure.
But, if you’re looking for something really special, perhaps you should think about photos that are already iconic. These are the types of images that can catch your website’s attention in a split second as recognition flashes by. You’re in the right place, check out our iconic images here.