When it comes to using images in your business, sometimes you might need to use a stock image, rather than an original one you have created yourself but there are some things to bear in mind.
My five tips for sourcing stock images
Source them from stock image websites, don't just use Google image searches. Most of the images in a Google search will be copyrighted and not for reuse.
When you use a stock image site, don't just choose the first image you find
Check multiple sources if you can't find what you're looking for on the first one
Stick to one style/look to keep things looking consistent
Check the license and make sure it's free for personal/commercial use (whichever applies to you) and whether you need to attribute someone
My top 5 free stock image sites
For each one I've given an example of a stock image from a search for 'The Sea'. You can see how the results vary and give a completely different feel. To find out more about why images are so important when it comes to marketing your small business, read my blog.
Unsplash - great for photography, they have quite an earthy feel
Pexels - also great for photography, all images tend to have quite a natural/journalist style to them
Pixabay - not only do they have photos they also have illustrations and video
FreePik - great for photos & illustrations
I hope you found this useful, let me know how you get on sourcing stock images for your business.
