Image by JayMantri.
Written by Claire, Marketing Executive at Fluent Technology, research nerd, travel fanatic & coffee-based lifeform.
We don’t know about you, but we love images! Why? Because a picture speaks a thousand words.
We’re in the middle of the ‘image marketing era’ and the direction that social media is taking is the testament to how true this is. Platforms like Instagram are getting triple the amount of engagement than that of its counterpart, Facebook (source: The Marketing Eye, Sept 2015). This is all great in theory…BUT stock photography is expensive (especially if you’re a small organisation with an even smaller marketing budget!)
Introducing FREE stock photography…the saviour of small budgets! But don’t be fooled…this isn’t one of those situations were free actually means rubbish. The top 5 below have been hand-picked by me aka. the pickiest person in the world!
1. Start Up Stock
Highlights: Every techy companies dream….computer monitors, mobile devices, desks, white boards…
startupstockphotos.com
Licence Need To Know’s: The images are captured by Josh Krakauer and his team at Sculpt & are free from licensing.
2. Jay Mantri
Highlights: This guy is a visual genius! His photo’s are of everything from nature, wildlife, art and life in general (WARNING: you will get lost in how beautiful they are and forget you’re actually in work!)
jaymantri.com
Licence Need To Know’s: His images are licensed under Creative Commons which means you can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes all without asking permission.
3. Death to Stock
Highlights: Just put in your email address and you get photo packs with different themes straight to your mail box, every month. Simple. It’s hard to pinpoint one topic on this site…one minute you’ll see a plate of food then the next, a computer or a camper van…”variety is the spice of life” comes to mind!
deathtothestockphoto.com
Licence Need To Know’s: For commercial use, blog posts, social accounts and mock ups.
4. Stock Snap
Highlights: With a quick ‘search’ bar as soon as you click on the website, this site couldn’t of made it any easier for you to find anything you need and I mean ANYTHING!
stocksnap.io
Licence Need To Know’s: His images are licensed under Creative Commons which means you can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes all without asking permission.
5. Gratisography
Highlights: This site is a little bit different from the rest…but that’s not a bad thing! It’s definitely my wild card of the 5 but one of my favourites. You will find anything from a man waving a banana to someone standing in an Easter Bunny outfit in 30 degree heat. This is one of those ones where you have to see it to believe it…
gratisography.com
Licence Need To Know’s: Pictures by Ryan McGuire (Bells Designs) – free of copyright restrictions.
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