This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, but it'll cost you nothing if you make a purchase through a link.
There is nothing better to spruce up your website or blog than a great photo. Let’s face it: some of us can’t take a photo if our life depended on it. And, yes, I could take photos for my site, but then I’d have to spend time cropping it, colour correcting it, adding a logo, and so on. I’m a working mum. I don’t have time for that.
Who does?
Enter the wonderful world of stock images. You can find a plethora of websites, both free and paid. With free images, you are limited to what there is out there but I personally love using Pixistock, for all the perfect feminine stock images, and Creative Market, where you can find a variety of different images for your needs. Both of these are my go to sites for both my own sites as well as, my clients. Stock images are already cropped and corrected so all you need to do is upload them onto your site and you’re ready to go.
Isn’t there a risk with using images you find on the internet?
There most certainly can be if you are using photos that aren’t in public domain. Copyright issues can crop up and then you could find yourself in a lawsuit. You can find free photos that can be used on your website in one of the photo gallery websites. You may need to simply give the photographer credit on your site.
Or, you can purchase a stock image from a photo site. You can typically purchase the photo from as little as a $1.00 and you protect yourself from any copyright issues.
Of course, that’s not the only reason to purchase stock images you choose to use.
Stock images:
1. Save you time. I’ve seen just about everything on photo sites, from travel photos to model photos, nature, locations…you name it, I’ve found them on both free and paid sites like Creative Market and Pixistock. Most sites offer free membership and you can search for the right image in moments. However, I personally find that
often my search is limited and I don't find what I want for free.
2. Give you a wide selection. Most of these websites offer you somewhere between 8 and 13 million stock photos. Plus, their search engines are robust so you can search by just about every keyword imaginable.
3. Offer you a variety of licensing options and come with the right releases. You typically get multiple licensing options that cover just about every use you can think of. Additionally, all the model and property releases are included. The big benefit here is that each photo comes with a standard license that is royalty free, giving you the protection of the stock image agency you purchased it from.
4. Come in different sizes. You can usually pick the size you need and download it. This keeps you from having to worry about resizing the photo. And they are already optimized for the internet, meaning they won’t slow your site down during loading.
If you’re looking for the perfect stock image for your website, check out one of the many gallery sites available. I’ve had a lot of luck with Pixistock when it comes to finding great feminine stock images for my site, and Creative Market for a variety. Hopefully, you’ll find the right mix of photos as well.
コメント