Found Completely Free Images

by seoed
31 replies
Hi,

I searched a lot here on WF and elsewhere too. People here tend to say that you have to pay for images. Others say that there are creative commons which are also free.

But I found another way to get free images. They are not ultra high quality but what I saw so far looks quite good:

Public Domain Pictures - Free Stock Photos
#completely #found #free #images
  • Profile picture of the author DAYORG
    Thanks Friend
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8404917].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seoed
    You are welcome. I have also found completely free music you can use:

    Public Domain Music Downloads
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8404920].message }}
  • {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8404921].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seoed
    Try these too.

    16 websites with Free Stock Images for commercial use | webdesignlessons.com

    Bogdan
    Hey, great resources really, thanks for sharing!
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8404925].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
      Be careful with free stock images, they don't always pass on the right to publish the photo from the copyright owner.
      Signature

      Robin



      ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8404941].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Brandon Tanner
        Originally Posted by RobinInTexas View Post

        Be careful with free stock images, they don't always pass on the right to publish the photo from the copyright owner.
        Yep. Anyone can upload any images to those types of sites, and claim that they are the copyright holder (even if they are not). It's not worth the legal risk, in my opinion, especially when you can purchase images from well-known, reputable stock image websites for only a couple bucks a piece.
        Signature

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8404995].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Delario
    Originally Posted by seoed View Post

    Hi,

    I searched a lot here on WF and elsewhere too. People here tend to say that you have to pay for images. Others say that there are creative commons which are also free.

    But I found another way to get free images. They are not ultra high quality but what I saw so far looks quite good:

    Public Domain Pictures - Free Stock Photos
    Looks like, this pictures are coming from Pixabay - Free Images
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8404967].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author aljurians
    thanks guys
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405022].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seoed
    Yep. Anyone can upload any images to those types of sites, and claim that they are the copyright holder (even if they are not). It's not worth the legal risk, in my opinion, especially when you can purchase images from well-known, reputable stock image websites for only a couple bucks a piece.
    hm, that's a problem of course. So, if someone posts an image on a public domain site and we use it and later on the real owner detects them on our site can we be sued for that?

    btw, a couple bucks can add up to some hundred when we have hundreds of posts
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405105].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Brandon Tanner
      Originally Posted by seoed View Post

      hm, that's a problem of course. So, if someone posts an image on a public domain site and we use it and later on the real owner detects them on our site can we be sued for that?
      Most definitely. The likelihood of that happening is slim, but there is always a risk.

      Originally Posted by seoed View Post

      btw, a couple bucks can add up to some hundred when we have hundreds of posts
      Some stock image sites offer time-based subscriptions if you need a bunch of images. For example, iClipArt.com (which has millions of regular images in addition to clipart) has a 1 week subscription for $12.95. You can download up to 35 images a day, so that comes out to 245 images in a week if you want. That's dirt cheap. (I'm not affiliated with them in any way -- just a happy customer).
      Signature

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405212].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
      Originally Posted by seoed View Post

      hm, that's a problem of course. So, if someone posts an image on a public domain site and we use it and later on the real owner detects them on our site can we be sued for that?

      btw, a couple bucks can add up to some hundred when we have hundreds of posts
      you can be sued or if you are in the USA, possibly jailed

      U.S. Copyright Office - Copyright Law: Chapter 5
      Signature

      Robin



      ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405460].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Sitestomp
        You won't be sued if you comply with a removal request. And jail? No, you won't go to jail. Find me one case of someone whose gone to jail over a stock photo lol.

        When working on client projects, I am very careful about only buying stock photos from reputable sites like istockphoto.com and then saving the receipts/invoices.
        Signature
        ** Professional, Quality, and Experienced Conversion Website Designer **
        I can handle all your web design needs | Skype: Sitestomp


        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405493].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Tijs
    Thanks! Always nice to find websites that offer this :-)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405115].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Be very careful with things like this!

    If you don't own the copyright, someone else does, and it doesn't have to be the site from which you take it or the person who submitted it there. If it turns out to be someone else, and the someone else decides to send your hosting company a DMCA site take-down notice, or even to sue you, you may not have a leg to stand on.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405148].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Neil Morgan
    I agree with the "be careful" posts. The big boys have software trawling the Internet for their images so they can send out invoices for thousands upon thousands of dollars for unauthorised use of their intellectual property.

    Cheers,

    Neil
    Signature

    Easy email marketing automation without moving your lists.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405191].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author AlfieGWhattam
    Originally Posted by seoed View Post

    Hi,

    I searched a lot here on WF and elsewhere too. People here tend to say that you have to pay for images. Others say that there are creative commons which are also free.

    But I found another way to get free images. They are not ultra high quality but what I saw so far looks quite good:

    Public Domain Pictures - Free Stock Photos
    This is actually really helpful, thanks a lot!

    If there's anything I can do to repay the favour just shoot me a private message! Thanks again
    Signature
    http://alfiegwhattam.wordpress.com/
    - If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask! :)
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405235].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author thedanbrown
    Lots of places to find stock images videos and sounds online, the problem is that they normalyl are not quality or specifically what you need.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405428].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author mominternet
    You do have to be careful. The site also gives a disclaimer on using them for commercial use, in that you should read the license of each photo carefully.

    You can use pictures from Flickr too, provided it is the correct license and you give proper credit.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405511].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ParkerArrow
    By law the copyright owner first has to issue a Cease and Desist (C&D) letter giving you a chance (like a month or so) to remove the offending content.

    Next you have to happen to be in the same country where the jurisdiction applies.

    I'm not saying download with impunity, I'm saying threats of immediate lawsuit are more bark than bite. Since we're all being honest here.
    Signature

    PLR Modifiable Content
    PLRmod.com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405533].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
      Let me guess...

      Someone told you this, right?

      Originally Posted by ParkerArrow View Post

      By law the copyright owner first has to issue a Cease and Desist (C&D) letter giving you a chance (like a month or so) to remove the offending content.
      FALSE

      Next you have to happen to be in the same country where the jurisdiction applies.
      You're batting a 1000. This too, is false.

      You can be sued by someone in another country, as long as they are willing to incur the cost to do so. Of course, if they win, they will recoup those costs as a part of the judgement against you.

      Since we're all being honest here.
      Signature

      Sid Hale
      Coming Soon... Rapid Action Profits (Pro)

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405782].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author o3man
    I embed files from FLIKR and that automatically gives credit to the author of the image. Also, I create a lot of my own pictures for internet use. That is the best way. Buy your own camera. Also, you can embed videos from you tube and put them on your web pages.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405597].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    You have to be careful about using so-called public domain content. You really should verify it. On the public domain music site linked above, the second song I looked at is licensed under the creative commons license and attribution is required. This isn't stated with the download.

    So many of these sites are just collections gathered by people who have no idea what is legal and what is not. If you get caught using it by the wrong person, it's you who will get in trouble.

    Also, I'm not a lawyer, but I have done some research on copyrights. I'm not going to name anyone, and I'm not going to dispense legal advise myself, but suffice it to say some of the advice given in this thread is very much wrong.
    Signature

    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405744].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      some of the advice given in this thread is very much wrong.
      I agree - I'm also not a lawyer but I know enough to tell that some of the purportedly "factual statements" above are pure fiction. I hope that people won't decide to rely on posts made in this thread.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405756].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    Originally Posted by seoed View Post

    Hi,

    But I found another way to get free images. They are not ultra high quality but what I saw so far looks quite good:

    Public Domain Pictures - Free Stock Photos
    This website has a really "smart" picture layout. When you click on
    the free pictures the page loads with similar pictures next to your
    choice. Those similar pictures are all from paid sites, so they
    must be make a killing from ads. If you are not careful you can
    end up thinking you are on the same site and use the 'wrong'
    picture. So watch the URL carefully. I think they should be
    clearer about this from the layout, but I guess that's how they
    make their money.

    -Ray Edwards
    Signature
    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405767].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ParkerArrow
    ^ Thank you for clarifying and speaking plainly!


    Yeah, if you're getting legal advice from a forum, not a good sign!

    You can't stop someone from suing - you can't ignore their rights any more than they can ignore yours.

    I'm sure some of us would be interested in hearing about experiences (not just caveats) involving legalities here. Flaunting copyright could be a costly game. Doesn't mean it always is, as many IP owners can attest.

    All I know is that in my limited experience, I haven't seen a copyright lawsuit without a C&D letter; but I have talked with plenty of business owners who have dealt with C& D letters - and acted on them - but not one lawsuit for copyright violation that didn't first involve a C&D process. Does anyone have experience with this, or only opinions?

    Of course you should not incorporate risk into your business! That only makes sense! But people do. And, other people make a living out of spurious copyright infringement suits. Some of them great advocates of "justice" and "rights" and "clean noses."

    But if you think collecting on global lawsuits is "inevitable," I suggest a thorough read of a publication like China Law Blog. The "break even point" all too frequently trumps justice, unfortunately. There are many creative ways to go after a violation or collection; and there are many people worldwide in the business of violating copyright and IP from other nations. They don't seem to take our laws as seriously as some of us do.

    Why risk it? At the same time, why live in constant fear of other people's bluster.


    You can get sued, you can have a judgment against you, but collection is not always so easy. Read that blog and see why such lawyers do such brisk business. Again, not advocating breaking the law, just telling it like it is. The nation of China, for example, has whole industries devoted to IP violation.

    I've gotten such a letter for one inadvertant violation. Has anyone been sued who has not gotten such a letter? Not advocating violating copyright here! Just informing folks that if you want to go after someone's violation, it's most likely with a C & D letter first. You have to give them the chance to recognize their infringement before suing them. And that's only in the US, for all I know you have to kill a chicken in another country. Sorry to be the bearer of news that US law is not ipso facto global law the way some of us see it.

    Sorry to be gray and not black and white about the potential consequences. As for actions, I advocate the ethical choices - researching a product's IP & copyright first. More sustainable. And not so difficult to manage with a little effort.
    Signature

    PLR Modifiable Content
    PLRmod.com

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405858].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Justin Says
    One of my favorites is The Leading Source Of Free Stock Photos - stock.xchng

    You would they think would spruce up the site a little bit since they are so dang popular, make some more money
    Signature

    My name is Justin Lewis. My digital marketing company has been in business for over 10 years with multiple six-figure years. We do provide a premium web design service.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405926].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author cipango
    here's another free stock photo site: The Leading Source Of Free Stock Photos - stock.xchng

    okay, Justin above just posted the same. Cool
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8405955].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Relic32
    Awesome! I have found that you can find a lot of those stock images on Google Images too, which is free, but you can't be 100% sure if they are copyright.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8406436].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author KingTIP
    Go to Google Images and mess around with the advanced settings... you'll find free-to-use photos of any subject!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8406543].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seoed
    After reading the risks accompanied with using public domain stuff I would like to ask this then:

    How do I know after buying some images from a seller on a well-known image selling site that I bought from the real owner???
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8406609].message }}

Trending Topics