Photos, illustrations and graphics are an important part of any website, as they help bring the text to life and keep readers browsing your pages.
However, if you’re not a photographer, finding images online that you can use for your website can be a slightly tricky task.
While it seems like the easiest option would be sourcing a photo on Google Images and saving it to your computer, this is a bad idea and could land you with a significant fine.
Infringing copyright can lead to a fine of AUD $500 to $200,000.
In this article, we’ll explore why that is and the better places you can go to find images you can use for your websites.
Legal considerations when finding free images
The problem with downloading images from Google is that most of these photos are still owned by whoever created the photo. That person holds the copyright.
Images found online are registered under multiple types of licences that tell you about the copyright status of the photo. It’s important to understand what these licenses tell you about a photo, so you’ll know whether or not using it on your website is going to get you in trouble.
Remember: Any image is protected by copyright as soon as it is created. Using all or part of an image when you don’t have permission to do so is a violation of copyright.
If you’re not sure about whether you have the right to use an image, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Here are the different types of images you will find online:
Royalty-free images
These images need to be paid for before you can use them on your site. You’ll often find these kinds of images on websites like Getty, Adobe Stock and Shutterstock.
The copyright will still be held by the owner of the photo, but you can pay them for the right to use it as many times as you wish without paying additional royalties.
However, there will likely be a licence and you’ll have to obey the terms of that licence when using the image. So, if you do use image sites like Getty, make sure you understand the restrictions placed on you.
Rights-managed images
You still need to pay to use rights-managed images and there may be greater restrictions placed on the way you can use them.
For example, there may be a time limit on how long you can use the image, a restriction on what purposes you can use the image for and even geographical restrictions.
It’s likely you’ll need to include attribution for these images. In other words, you'll need to add a note with the photo that links to the source.
There may also be restrictions on editing and modifying these images with a tool like photoshop.
Creative commons images
Creative commons licenses are used to allow copyrighted work to be distributed for free.
This is a good place to start when looking online for free images you can use.
But you’ll have to read the terms of each photo very carefully before you download it, as some of the original owners may still reserve some rights.
For example, you:
- May still be required to include an attribution and link to the license
- May only be allowed to use it on certain types of websites
Here’s an example of a CC licensed photo where the terms state that you are free to use it as you wish:
And here’s an example of a CC licensed photo where you’d have to be more careful:
Sometimes, it’s not always apparent what the usage terms for an image are. If in doubt, it’s safest to assume that an image is copyrighted and you’re not allowed to use it, especially if you’ve found the image via a standard search engine like Google.
Only images with the CC0 license may be used without attribution.
So now we’ve got the legal bits out the way, let’s explore the best places you can find images that are free to use on your website.
Where to find free images for a website
Not all images are copyrighted — there are some images in the public domain that are not protected by copyright and therefore can be used by anyone however they wish. There are a lot of stock photography websites dedicated to distributing high-quality photos of this nature.
A lot of the photos on the following websites will be registered as Creative Commons Zero (CC0), which means there’s no copyright.
As such, you can use the images however you want, be it personal use or commercial. Effectively, these are public domain images.
However, you still need to be careful when using free stock photos, as it’s possible that someone may have uploaded a copyrighted image to a free stock photo website without permission. You can use a reverse image search tool like Google Images or TinEye to help you find out if an image is copyrighted.
1. Unsplash
Unsplash offers thousands upon thousands of high-resolution images, making it a great choice for anyone looking to add images to their website.
You’ll find most images on the website can be used for commercial and non-commercial purposes, although they do require attribution.
Unsplash does offer premium members-only images for a fee, but it’s made very clear which images fall into this category (and there are plenty that don’t).
The search function also makes it easy to find a suitable picture as it includes options to filter by orientation and colour. It’s a great resource.
Editor's note: Need an editing tool to resize images? Try GoDaddy Studio's free version.
2. ISO Republic
ISO Republic offers images and videos under aCcreative Commons CC0 licence, making it another good place to source visuals that will liven up your website.
You can use images and videos from ISO Republic for commercial projects and you’re free to modify them as much as you want.
The search function isn’t quite as good as that of Unsplash, but it’s still a useful resource.
3. Pixabay
Pixabay claims to offer over 2.7 million high-quality stock images, videos and musical pieces for free and for commercial use.
As well as photos, the images on offer include illustrations and vectors, so you can get your hands on almost any kind of visual you can think of.
As you’d expect with so much on offer, the search function is top notch and you can filter by orientation, size, colour and more.
These do not require attribution.
4. Negative Space
Negative Space doesn’t have many bells or whistles, but it still offers a good number of high-quality images that are CC0.
The search function is pretty basic, although images are grouped by category, making it easier to find what you want.
5. Pexels
Pexels offers images and videos that are free to use for any purpose. However, there are some restrictions on usages.
For example, although commercial use is permitted, you can’t make it look like someone in an image from Pexels endorses your product.
These do not require attribution.
6. Flickr
Flickr used to be a very popular place to find photos and images, but the rise of dedicated free image websites mean it’s fallen somewhat in popularity.
You’ll find that there are copyright restrictions on many of the images on Flickr, meaning that you won’t be able to use them on your website.
However, it can still be a good source of images for a specific event that you want to mention on your website or social media accounts.
That’s because often, people will upload photos from an event to Flickr. Just make sure that you pay attention to the copyright restrictions, as some will be limited to non-commercial use and some will be all rights reserved.
7. PicJumbo
PickJumbo is another website offering a good number of stock images for free. It’s not as attractive as some of the other websites listed here, but don’t let that put you off. If you’re keen to get your hands on new photos, PicJumbo offers a premium subscription.
8. Morguefile
Morguefile was founded in 1996, make it one of the oldest image sources we’ve looked at here. It offers over 400,000 free images, including high-quality stock photos, vectors and videos.
If you registered for a free account, you’ll get access to the mobile app and will also be able to take part in photo assignments.
9. Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons features a large number of photos and audio files that are available under a range of licences.
Contrary to what is sometimes said, not all files on Wikimedia are in the public domain.
So you will need to attribute as required, and some files won’t be permitted for commercial use.
Creating your own images
Although stock images are better than no images at all, they’re still not as good as creating your own high-quality images.
This is especially important if you’re running an ecommerce business, because people will expect to see plenty of product photos on your website.
This may sound daunting, but taking high-resolution photos is possible with even a fairly average smartphone. You just need to learn some basic rules to help you with lighting and composition.
Check out this guide to learn more about creating your own images.
9 sources of copyright-free images
The websites listed above contain thousands of high-resolution photography and stock images covering just about anything, from ants to astronauts.
The photos you find on most of these sites can be used for free for both commercial and personal purposes. Most are registered under CC0.
It’s still always best to do your own research and double check it’s OK to use the image first.
Getting busted for copyright infringement can be costly. Seriously infringing copyright can lead to a fine of anywhere from AUD $500 to $200,000 in Australia. And you’ll still be at fault — even if you thought the image you were using was CC0.
This may sound like a lot to consider, but taking the time to find images you can legally use is part and parcel of building a website.
Of course, there is a quick and easy way to get your website up and running without the hassle of investigating each image you find online. You could try the GoDaddy Website Builder. Each theme offers high-quality royalty-free images at no extra cost.
You also get access to GoDaddy Studio, a graphic design tool you can use to create and modify images. It’s especially great for creating eye-catching social media posts and wallpapers. Templates are included so you don’t have to start from scratch.
Now you know how to find images for your website online, you can start bringing your website to life with vibrant imagery that won’t get you in trouble with the law!
Of course, one area online images won’t do the trick is product photography. If you’re selling products on your website, you’ll need to take your own photos.
Frequently asked questions
Still have questions about where to find copyright-free images? The answers may be here.
Where can I get images copyright free?
You can find copyright-free images on websites such as Unsplash, Pixabay, and Pexels. These platforms offer a wide selection of high-quality images that you can use for your website without worrying about copyright issues.
Note that Unsplash requires attribution, which means you’ll need to add a sentence like this to the caption of any photo you use: Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash. Simply click the copy button when you download to copy the attribution.
How to check if an image is copyright free?
When finding photos and graphics for your website, look for images that are labeled as "copyright-free," "royalty-free," or available under a Creative Commons license. Additionally, always read the terms of use provided by the image provider to comply with copyright laws. If there’s any uncertainty, find another image.
Do free images have copyright?
Yes, free images can still have copyright protection. It's essential to understand the usage rights associated with the images you use, even if they are available for free.
For example, a usage right might require you to obviously credit the photographer when you use an image. You could do this in an image caption or directly below the image if embedding it into a web page or blog.
Is Shutterstock copyright free?
All Shutterstock images are royalty free, but this is slightly different to copyright free.
- Royalty-free means you only pay to use the image once, rather than pay per use.
- Copyright free means you can use the image without crediting the photographer or designer.
Some of Shutterstock’s images are royalty free AND copyright free. Others are royalty free but will require you to credit the photographer when you use the image.
What are royalty-free images?
Royalty-free images are photos and graphics that you can use multiple times without paying royalties or additional fees each time you use them.
Once you purchase or download a royalty-free image, you can use it for commercial purposes within the terms of the license agreement (so be sure to read it carefully).
Are royalty-free images really free?
While royalty-free images do not require ongoing payments for each use, there is typically an initial fee or license purchase required to use these images.
Make sure to read the licensing terms to understand how you can use the images legally.
What is Creative Commons?
Creative Commons is a non-profit organisation that provides licences that allow:
- Creatives and academics to grant free, simple and standardised permission to use their work.
- Others to copy, distribute and make use of these works.
The licences themselves are also known as Creative Commons and fall into a few categories that you can read more about here.
What about usage rights on free stock photos?
Usage rights on free stock photos vary depending on the platform and the specific image. Always check the licensing terms provided by the image source to ensure you are using the images correctly.
Where can I find copyright-free images to use in my work?
You can find copyright-free images on platforms like Unsplash, Pixabay, Pexels, and Flickr's Creative Commons section.
These websites offer a vast collection of images that you can use for your website without worrying about copyright restrictions. Just be sure to check the specific usage rights outlined on each image you’re interested in.
As noted above, anything you download from Unsplash must have an attribution showing who owns it. In fact, only images with the CC0 license may be used without attribution.
Where can I find high-resolution images without copyright restrictions?
Platforms like Unsplash and Pixabay provide lots of high-resolution images that are free to use without copyright restrictions. You can download these images in various resolutions to suit your website's needs.
Again, just make sure you read the usage rights for every image you want to use.
Where can I find free-to-use images without infringing on copyright?
To find free-to-use images without infringing on copyright, stick to reputable platforms like Unsplash, Pixabay and Pexels that offer images under permissive licenses such as Creative Commons Zero (CC0) or royalty-free licenses. Be sure to comply with the usage terms specified for each image.
The information contained in this blog post is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an endorsement or advice from GoDaddy on any subject matter.
