Choosing the right images for your website is one of the first steps to making your online space inviting and professional. Good images help visitors understand your content.
That is why understanding where to find free images for website use (and knowing what to avoid) matters for everyone managing an online presence.
Searching for images online can be risky if you do not know where they come from. Most images found through search engines are under copyright, meaning you need permission to use them.
Popular resources for free images include Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay. These sites offer royalty-free images for website projects. They offer far-reaching photo libraries provided by creators who offer their work for free, usually under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license.
A CC0 license means you can use the image for any purpose (personal or commercial) without asking or paying. At Tresseo, we always advise website owners to read the licences for each image. Even on popular platforms, some photos have special restrictions, such as not being usable for commercial sites or image modifications.
Low-quality or blurry graphics can lower a website’s visitor first impression. Sharp, relevant photos help you stand out and increase time spent on your pages. However, downloading random pictures from the internet can expose you to copyright claims. When using images for website design, always look for licensing statements. If in doubt, reach out to the image creator for written permission.
Too many times, I have seen businesses and organizations receive legal notices demanding payment because their web designer used licensed images found at random on Google.
Copyright laws exist to protect the creative work of artists and photographers. Using someone else’s photo without proper rights can result in expensive legal issues.
In Canada, a copyright typically lasts for the lifetime of the creator plus 70 years. Fair use does allow for limited educational or commentary uses, but business websites do not qualify.
Always assume an image is protected unless labelled otherwise.
Some websites offer stock images under special licences like Royalty-Free and Rights-Managed. Royalty-Free means a single purchase covers repeated use. Rights-Managed is stricter, letting you use the photo under specified conditions only.
For safe images for website projects, stick to resources that make their copyright terms clear and simple.
Avoid Google image search results unless marked as free for reuse. Random downloads may also carry hidden watermarks or tracking code.
It’s also risky to guess at image rights or rely on “fair use” arguments when your site is for a group, business, or non-profit. At Tresseo, we recommend keeping a folder with image license emails and screenshots of each source as proof.
Finding the perfect stock images for your website isn’t just about appearances. Understanding where to get them and how to use them safely protects your project from legal hassles.
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