Finding Photos On the Internet

November 24, 2008 by Bridget Ayers 

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If you are a consistent blogger and/or social media junkie, you have probably found that sometimes writing the content is not as challenging as finding the images to enhance that content. One of the first questions I am asked by new bloggers is; “where can I go to find photos on the internet?”

So let’s talk about few sources…

Most people start to search for images through the search engines :

Search engines can be a great place to start, but usually your search will send you to a blog or website that is using an image you like, but 9 times out of 10 the site does not source that image. It is important to get your graphics from the source so you know if it is copyright protected or open for use.

Ask image search
Google image search
Yahoo image search

To ensure that the images you use on your website and/or blog are properly used you can narrower your search by including forms of licensing in your search.

Alamy
Freebase.com
Google Advanced Search
Yahoo advanced image search
Yahoo Creative Commons Search
Wikimedia Commons

Going directly to the source:

Free Stock Images (Read the fine print, some of these are free if you are not making money on the item or product that you put the image on):

stock exchange

Deviantart
Flickr
FreeFoto.com
Free Images.co.uk
Imageafter.com
MorgueFile
OpenPhoto.Net
Photo.net
Redbubble
Stock.xchng

Pay For Commercial Images:

image

BigStockPhoto
Clipart.com
Getty Images
Fotolia
iStockPhoto
Stockxpert

Like anything on the internet there are hundreds, if not thousands of sources to get images from. Here are a few good articles that list more photo tools and sources.

Mashable Photography Toolbox

Mashable Creative Commons

Random Knowledge

Where do you go to get your images?

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Comments

  • Some great info and sources. Thanks! I might also recommend Google Image Ripper (Just google it.) They have recently added a grease monkey script as well. Cheers!

    <abbr>DW808´s last blog post..Luckiest Penguin Ever</abbr>
  • love it, bridget. i'm always trying to find more interesting images to enhance my writing. i'm a google girl. but now i have a few other ideas up my sleeve. (nice to be back on your site; sorry to have been a stranger lately).
  • SBA
    I love the images I find on Flickr.com, with the advanced search I specify look in 'creative commons only' That way no disappointments when the image says 'all rights reserved." I also have an account and add photos to my faves for use later. Also my post template has a reminder to give the proper attrition. You can even add a note to the photographer's album with a url reference to your blog usage of the photo. But that takes time and discipline!

    <abbr>SBA´s last blog post..Dare you hope to be the next SuperStar - Blogging Idol?</abbr>
  • this one is simple and easy to use:

    http://flickrcc.bluemountains.net/
  • Duh... Your list's good but I somehow don't like 'pay to get images' thingy.... :(

    <abbr>blackzero85´s last blog post..Blogger Bug: And I Can't Keep Myself Logged In To Blogger!</abbr>
  • Hey, I am still recovering from my shoulder surgery, but wanted to drop by and comment on your latest post. I still read lots of posts but cannot type for extended periods of time, so my commenting is limited. I enjoyed this post and I am glad I dropped by.

    peace,
    Mike
    livelife365

    <abbr>Mike Foster´s last blog post..The Essence of Garlic</abbr>
  • I have used iStockPhoto. I also use many of my own photos. I will have to check out some of these other sources. Thanks!
  • Another site to check out is Stock Exchange at www.sxc.hu/
    The photos there are completely free to use. I have an account there and they have some amazing photos.

    <abbr>ImitationAngel´s last blog post..When Did Suicide TV Become So Popular?</abbr>
  • You listed some really solid resources. Thanks for sharing! When using stock photography my favorite resource is iStock. Great photos at a great price...
  • What a great suggestion. I simply google what I want and hope I find the images I need. Now I have more sources! Thank you!

    <abbr>Preston´s last blog post..Another Award and Another Tag</abbr>
  • The best free photo engine I found so far is: http://www.everystockphoto.com
    It pulls images from all popular servies & is currently indexing close to 4.5 million pics. Quiet fast as well.
  • Good post Bridget. Lots of good resources there. I had been wondering where i could get some free stock images.
  • Great list. But I don't like devian art as it has the watermark on it.

    <abbr>Guttu´s last blog post..Never swallow bubble gum</abbr>
  • I've also used www.sxc.hu like ImitationAngel. Good site. Google Images is nice, but I always worried about licensing issues. I think that with the stock photo sites, it's less hassle.

    <abbr>aaron´s last blog post..10 Best Digital TV Converters</abbr>
  • thanks for info, but i prefer to use search tool like in photo bucket :) etc ...

    <abbr>jack´s last blog post..Deals Sale Designer Dresses Xmas Promotion</abbr>
  • Thanks for a great list!

    sxc.hu is always the first place I go check out when I need any images.
  • Thanks for the suggestions! One of my favorite sites is www.dreamstime.com. They do charge for photos, but it's usually only a couple of bucks or so depending on the size you need.

    <abbr>Deanna´s last blog post..Tumacacori - Ruins and dancing</abbr>
  • I usually use google images like most. Thanks for the large list of links! Thanks!
  • Indeed, finding photographs that is totally free can be a difficult task to do. However, I have learned to get by with posting pictures and giving credit to the sources. I believe it is the best next thing to putting great pictures on your blogs.

    <abbr>Ernesto´s last blog post..Secured Homeowner Loans - Collateral Based Home Equity Loans</abbr>
  • Go for those under the CC License and always provide a link to the supplier of the photo (use nofollow tag if you must). Plagiarism is illegal as well as uncool.

    <abbr>Man Overboard´s last blog post..Too Little, Too Late</abbr>
  • Hey Bridget, Thanks for these websites, finding images has always been a challenge for me, sometimes I don't have the patience to go finding images that are legal to use. This list will help me out

    <abbr>Dan_N´s last blog post..How to get more twitter followers</abbr>
  • i wish google image search had been around back in the 90's it makes life so much easier when trcking down picture.... saves me a tone of time and would have been even more if it was around back then
  • Wow, a comprehensive list! I usually just use Google image search for this purpose but if I can't find it I just go to DeviantArt and Flickr. Well at least this list will be added to my options in finding the pics I need. Thanks man!

    <abbr>Bleuken´s last blog post..Won an Apple iPod Touch Again from Busby</abbr>
  • You are so right Bridget, it's really a challenge to get interesting photos that will best suit the articles I write. I know there are a lot of nice ones out there, but sometimes I can't help to want the unique eye-catching ones.

    Thanks!

    Anna
  • very good resources, I´m always looking for images, and with google sometimes is not enought, really usefull your post!thanks!
  • I generally purchase mine from Istock.com because I'm a stickler for knowing the origin. At least with istock I can point back at them if someone claims plagiarism. I will check out your links - perhaps there's another way.

    Great reference guide!

    Connie

    <abbr>Connie´s last blog post..New Simply Spooky Line of Kids Costumes for Halloween 2009!</abbr>
  • Actually, this is all good advice. I only ever use google and often struggle to find anything other than press release images. thanks

    <abbr>Rob´s last blog post..Rambert, Eternal Light</abbr>
  • Another low cost source is http://www.123rf.com/. One important thing to be aware about with free images is that most of the time, there isn't a valid model release. You probably should contact the photographer and discuss how you plan to use the image. Always read the fine print: some photographers require a credit or you're in violation of their copyright agreement.
  • Thanks for the tips for the photos. I found the suggestions to be helpful for me.

    Tony

    <abbr>tony´s last blog post..Baylor versus Virginia Tech NCAA College Basketball Pick</abbr>
  • I find 99% of my photos through Wikipedia. It’s been an excellent service for me because everything is sourced and the licensing terms are always clearly laid out.

    Nevertheless, I can always use more good sources!!!

    Thank you so much for the great info. I will check these out:)

    PS - Your site is lovely. I’m new…and really impressed.

    <abbr>Andrea´s last blog post..Special Edition: Top Ten Business Podcasts for Aspiring Entrepreneurs</abbr>
  • Here's another good source for free web/blog photos and other content:
    http://gimmefreecontent.com/

    <abbr>F. Andy Seidl´s last blog post..Ann Arbor Festifools 2009</abbr>
  • I guess I'm a full time Googler, because normally check out the images posted throughout there system. It's really weird because I haven't considered any other, although there's more objectives to obtaining images.
  • May I add FreeStockImages.org

    <abbr>StockShooter´s last blog post..Free Stock Images of Barbed Wire</abbr>
  • Mike
    Good list.

    I am using sxc most of the time and buying at stockxpert occasionally..

    I may add a list by myself at www.designbeginshere.com - classified by same categories.

    I do not use google to find images as their license is often unclear.. resources like sxc have a strict description about licensing..
  • I found that if I pay for my images they are then of higher quality and I seem to get better overall search results.
  • I am one of those people who always uses Google Images to search and steal pictures :)

    <abbr>Kai Lo´s last blog post..One Post Per Page</abbr>
  • Splendid and useful post. All are useful links. Thanks.
  • This is a great blog keep up the good work
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