One of the best ways to draw attention to your blog post or website is to place images within your content. Internet users read a lot of text online so spicing up your content with images helps make it stand out from your competitors.
If you’re willing to invest a few dollars for each image go with istockphoto. You can easily search for professional images using their search box. It’s quick, easy and you even have the option of downloading great videos. The only problem is that it can get rather expensive if you regularly add their images to your blog or website. This is why I want to discuss alternative resources for finding free images.
Where To Find Free Images Online For Your Website or Blog
1. Morgue File
http://www.morguefile.com/
This website offers free images for your website or blog whether it’s for commercial purposes or not. You can use them without providing credit to the original author however you can not sell, license, sublicense, rent, transfer or distribute the images exactly as they are without alteration.
You don’t have permission to claim ownership of the images in their original state.
2. Stock Exchange
http://www.sxc.hu/
Stock.XCHNG is now owned by Getty Images and claim to be the world’s best free stock site. When searching for images, premium service images from istockphoto are displayed before the free ones. Istockphotos will cost you a few dollars. If you hover your mouse over the image you’ll see the istockphoto water image over the photo.
To find the free images select ones that don’t display the istockphoto water mark then click on “view image license” to check if you can use it.
3. Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/
Flickr is primarily used for storing your own images online however it can also be used to obtain professional photos for your blog or website. If you use images from Flicker make sure you check the licensing rules. If it says “All rights reserved” you’re not allowed to download it however if it says “some rights reserved” then read the conditions to see if you have permission to use it.
4. Photopin
http://photopin.com/
This website provides a fast and easy way to search for free photos to add to your blog or website. It uses the Flickr API and searches creative commons photos.
What is Creative Commons License?
This type of license allows you to freely use the photo on your website. Many photographers use this type of license for their photos. You could search Flickr for images you want to use then check the licensing rules however it’s easier to visit http://search.creativecommons.org which searches Flickr and other sites specifically for images with the Creative Commons license.
Is it illegal to download images from the Web?
It may be easy to search for images on Google using Google images however it’s illegal and you could be sued by the author and be out of pocket for thousands of dollars. Instead of risking that situation use the resources mentioned above. Get permission from the author of the image if you’re not sure you’re allowed to use it. Photographers often give permission if you give them credit by linking to their website.
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Yow, such a refined post. Thanks for sharing. Furthermore, http://www.kozzi.com is also a good website to find free photos and images. Just go through this site, you will find it definitely useful for your blogs etc. 🙂