A picture can say a thousands words, but what if that picture just isn't saying what you want it to? Photography has become such a big part of blogging, with our thirst for beautiful and inspiring imagery increasing every day. Instagram stars are being born overnight thanks to their perfectly curated shots, while many bloggers have seen huge levels of success just because they're rather talented with a camera. If, like me, you've no photography experience whatsoever and often find yourself in a panic trying to create the perfect angle, then you may be pleased to find out there's help at hand. Although searching google for images is a death wish in disguise (never just take an image from a google search - you just don't know what copyright is attached and you could find yourself in hot water!) these five sites provide a great alternative... Absolutely free of charge.
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1. PICJUMBO
My favourite for beauty and blog related images, there's a huge variety of content that's updated regularly. As a huge number of talented photographers contribute to the site, there's always something to inspire or meet your needs. I've used this platform quite a bit over the last few months, including sourcing the image above - the perfect example of what to expect.
2. PIXABAY
Although there are a lot of cheesy shots and 'stock photo' style results, this site is a great way to source an image if you have something really specific in mind. The imagery also includes graphics, illustrations and artistry, so well worth a look if you're working on presentations too. Just beware of 'clipart-esque' results which will leave you inwardly cringing!
3. UNSPLASH
Ten new photos are uploaded every ten days, meaning there's plenty of new inspiration every time you log in. The beautiful imagery conveys different moods and is incredibly abstract, meaning you can use a lot of the shots to illustrate a talking point or discussion. Although they're short on fashion and beauty, it's worth signing up regardless... You never know what you may stumble across.
4. DEATH TO THE STOCK PHOTO
Born from a love of photography, this rather unique site offers up exquisite images on a monthly basis - delivered directly to your inbox. The two founders travel the world sourcing photos from the most talented of photographers, meaning there's a huge selection to choose from. These are rather 'arty' and quirky, but just looking at them may inspire an idea for a post.
5. STOCKSNAP
Heavily covering landscapes and people, StockSnap allows you to search by idea or just browse what's been recently added. I find myself often browsing through, seeing what blog posts are triggered just by looking at a little bit of inspiration. I've no doubt these are being used all over Instagram too!
Why not check out my top five sites and let me know what you think. Do you have any amazing places to source beautiful free imagery for your blog?
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1. PICJUMBO
My favourite for beauty and blog related images, there's a huge variety of content that's updated regularly. As a huge number of talented photographers contribute to the site, there's always something to inspire or meet your needs. I've used this platform quite a bit over the last few months, including sourcing the image above - the perfect example of what to expect.
2. PIXABAY
Although there are a lot of cheesy shots and 'stock photo' style results, this site is a great way to source an image if you have something really specific in mind. The imagery also includes graphics, illustrations and artistry, so well worth a look if you're working on presentations too. Just beware of 'clipart-esque' results which will leave you inwardly cringing!
3. UNSPLASH
Ten new photos are uploaded every ten days, meaning there's plenty of new inspiration every time you log in. The beautiful imagery conveys different moods and is incredibly abstract, meaning you can use a lot of the shots to illustrate a talking point or discussion. Although they're short on fashion and beauty, it's worth signing up regardless... You never know what you may stumble across.
4. DEATH TO THE STOCK PHOTO
Born from a love of photography, this rather unique site offers up exquisite images on a monthly basis - delivered directly to your inbox. The two founders travel the world sourcing photos from the most talented of photographers, meaning there's a huge selection to choose from. These are rather 'arty' and quirky, but just looking at them may inspire an idea for a post.
5. STOCKSNAP
Heavily covering landscapes and people, StockSnap allows you to search by idea or just browse what's been recently added. I find myself often browsing through, seeing what blog posts are triggered just by looking at a little bit of inspiration. I've no doubt these are being used all over Instagram too!
Why not check out my top five sites and let me know what you think. Do you have any amazing places to source beautiful free imagery for your blog?
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