There are many places you can find free photos to use on your blog. The two sites I use most often are stock.xchng and flickr.
Update: Another source is StockPhotosforFree.com.
Regardless of where you find your photos, the main thing to remember is to know and follow the terms of use! Just because an image is online does not mean it's free to use. Assume all images are copyrighted.
How to find photos on flickr
Today I'm going to show you the quickest way I've found to search for photos on flickr. I use their Advanced Search option to limit my search to photos with a Creative Commons license. (Read what a Creative Commons license is here, but basically it specifies how others may use a particular work.)
Here's how:
Can't see the video? Watch it here.
Video Notes:
- Go to the Advanced Search page.
- Type in your search term and make sure the Creative Commons box is checked at the bottom of the page.
- Once you see the results, hover over the image you like and click on the "i" icon to find out more.
- Download the image in the size you'd like. (Use the smallest possible size to save on your blog's resources and loading time.)
- Don't forget to credit the author and follow the CC license of the image you're using.
Bonus Tip: How to Find High-Quality Photos
Photography is not my strong suit, so my eye for the highest quality images in a photo is limited. I can tell the difference between a good photo and a bad one, but I'm not so good and spotting the difference between a good photo and an excellent one.
Finding high-quality photos on stock.xchng
When I'm searching for photos on stock.xchng, the way I find the best photos is to sort my search results by "comments, descending." In this way, the photos others have stopped to comment on because it is particularly good (or particularly bad) are returned at the top of the list.
Finding high-quality photos on flickr
When I'm searching flickr, a click on the information icon (indicated by an italic "i" as explained in the video) will also provide details about how many comments and "faves" the photo has received. Lots of faves and positive comments are a positive indication the photo is a good one. Here's a direct link to the Advanced Search page.
Further reading:
- Image Finding Tool: Compfight – This tool works nicely with Flickr.
- How to Use Images Legally
- Blogging Productivity Tip: Find Images in Bulk
- All my posts with image tips
What about you? If you don't use your own, how do you find your photos?
I have been using istockphoto, but only the small thumbnails since I haven't purchased a subscription.
I have always struggled with where to find good pictures & how best to credit them, so I really appreciate this post. Thank you!
I just recently stumbled across the site http://morguefile.com/ – looks like they have a pretty good selection and you don't even need to register to download photos.
I usually use my own photos, but struggle to find others. Great tips!
Funny, I just blogged about this last week (also for Works for Me Wednesday)!
I, too, use flickr–specifically their attribution licensed photos. I wrote more about that here (there is also a link for a great article that explains all the differences between the options).
http://momsinneedofmercy.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-to-find-free-pictures-for-your-blog.html
Cheers!
I usually use my own . . . have a good day!
Thanks for the tips. I do use stock xchange but have not used flickr. I will have to check it out. I do have an account there.
Just visiting from WFMW. Stop by my blog anytime to say hello
This is excellent. I had to read it a couple of times (and the links) before I understood what you were saying…possibly b/c I have kids hollering in the background…but I will definitely go take a stab at this!
I mostly use Flickr too…but hadn't thought about looking at the 'i' to get info on the photo. Great tip! [I also find some more creative/artsy-fartsy photos at Deviantart.com]
I use Flickr alot. In the column on the right hand side, there's a section headed More Information – it used to be if you clicked on the "some rights reserved" it would take you to the license information and the code for the attribution would be given there. This made it super easy to attribute. Now I'm finding more and more photos without this code so have been wondering how to attribute. So I appreciate your guidelines.
More recently I have also started leaving a comment that I'm using the photo with a link to the specific post.
I noticed in your tutorial you clicked "commercial use" – at what point would a blog become commercial? If you have paid advertising? If you are selling products? Would you do this to err on the side of caution?
I am going on vacation next week, so I am going to go back to the beginning of your blog and follow each post one by one and try to do each one while my kids play with Nana and Papa. SO If you get a bunch of commments on old posts, you will know why.
But I have been trying to figure out flickr photos before I go, becuase I want to know if I can download pictures and such from someone elses computer.
Anyway, onto the question:
Is it not possible to just embed other peoples flickr photos into your post. Do you have to go through the whole download process?
So then do you just keep a folder on your computer with all the pictuers that you have used form other people? Doesn't that take up space on your server? ( I am now describing things I only vaguely understand so forgive me if the questions are silly) My host warned me that I wouldn't run out of space if I didn't upload too many pictures. So she suggested I upload my pictures to flickr.
I'm sorry this has become a novel.
Staci, this is a good question. Using flickr photos and not uploading them yourself could slow down your site (as it has to pull the information from their servers every time your site loads) although I'm not sure how much it would slow down (depends on how many images you're pulling from elsewhere).
You also want to be careful not to do this on smaller sites as that is considered bad netiquette to draw on someone else's server resources because you don't want to load up your own.
In general (and maybe someone can help me out here), unless you're posting TONS of images, I think you'll be just fine to download them, resize them if needed and upload them to your own server.
Hello Amy-
My blog is only a week old so here is a newbie question. If another blogger posts a deal, they often post an imagine of the product that the deal is for. I have tried to get those photos to repost on my site (with attribution of course) but can't figure it out.
Also, is it ok to use those imagines? Aren't they copyrighted?
Thanks for your help. Your blog has been SUPER helpful to me in getting started.
Dana aka Budget Dietitian
Great post! I have always wondered where people find all of those great pictures! Thanks for the video. You explained it so well!
Thanks for the post. I have been looking for websites to get pictures from so your post was a lot of help to me. Thanks for sharing.
Amy – this was a timely read for me – considering I'd just used a photo on my blog today that probably wasn't mine to use! I just switched it with a photo I found on Flcker thanks to your instructions.
Can I ask how one would find out if one can legally use a photo from pinterest? that is my source for visual inspiration any more…
Are you saying that it is okay to use images on flickr, as if they are all legal to use? Because if you are, you are totally wrong. Many images on flickr have been taken from people's websites by other people and used illegally. I know this for a fact. It is a big problem for artists and creative people. My artwork is backed up with copyright documents before I even put them on a site.
I like to use compfight for common license flickr photos.
Hi Amy, Thank you so very much. This information was some that I greatly needed. I have often wondered if I was posting pictures correctly. This has helped me more than you will ever know. I have been a blogger about two-years and I have read and also posted information from your site. I appreciate all that you do to help us be better at what we do. My only desire is to be a blessing while sharing information. God bless you and please keep up the excellent work.
Jean
Glad it was helpful, Jean!
Thanks you for another great tip Amy. Photography is not my strong side either. I have a cooking blog and now I will have an opportunity to put nice pics next to my recipes.
Thanks a lot!
I believe the best policy to use or pin from flickr is to send a message to the person's acct. Describe what you want to use it for; nonprofit, no reproductions, etc and request permission to use it on Pinterest or in your blog. I've had some people decline but many who grant permission as long as they are credited. Its easy to do and usually I get a rapid response.