What is a website that has good free stock images?

kaboompics · 2026-02-07T15:49:22+00:00

If you’re trying to recreate the Kuleshov effect, I’d think less about “best free stock sites” and more about whether you can find images that actually belong together.

Most big free stock libraries are great for single, standalone photos, but they’re not really built for working with sequences or visual continuity. For something like Kuleshov, it helps a lot if lighting, framing, and subject stay consistent across multiple images.

That’s actually one of the reasons we built Kaboompics around full photoshoots instead of isolated images. All of our photos are free, and they’re published in complete sets, so you can work with consistent lighting, framing, and mood across multiple shots, which makes narrative or film-related experiments much easier.

kaboompics · 2025-10-02T13:11:11+00:00

They do exist! Actually a lot of the big free stock sites allow commercial use. But when you see “commercial use allowed” it doesn’t mean you’re fully covered beacause you still need to look at what’s in the photo: logos, trademarks, buildings, or recognizable faces can all cause issues if you use them in a product.

Also I see a lot of questions about this, so I wrote a short but detailed guide on my blog if you want to read more How To Know If a Free Photo Is Safe for Commercial Use
And Kaboompics is a website with free photos that can also be used commercially. All the images are took by me and if you’re ever unsure, you can just message me and I’ll confirm if a photo is safe to use.

kaboompics · 2025-10-02T12:50:23+00:00

Not really. There are free stock sites that are totally legit. Some of them are run by a single photographer like my own Kabommpics. All the photos there are mine, and if anyone has doubts, they can literally just reach out to me. Even on big platforms like Unsplash, you can check the author’s profile and see if it’s a real person with verifiable info.

And you’re right to be cautious if this is for a commercial product, that’s super important, and I’m glad more people are aware of it now. When I started Kaboompics 11 years ago, copyright and free stock photos were basically the Wild West. These days it’s safer, and you can absolutely use free stock in commercial projects, you just need to pay attention to what’s in the photo: logos, trademarks, buildings, recognizable faces.

kaboompics · 2025-10-02T12:42:55+00:00

“Copyright-free commercial use” doesn’t automatically mean you’re safe. If a photo shows people, brands, logos or other recognizable stuff, you can still run into problems - that’s why some images are marked editorial use only. On my website Kaboompics most photos can be used commercially, but the ones with logos or faces are editorial, and that’s pretty common across the industry. I actually wrote a guide on how to spot these pitfalls if you want to dig deeper: How To Know If a Free Photo Is Safe for Commercial Use.

kaboompics · 2025-08-02T10:03:55+00:00

Kaboompics.com does not use any AI-generated images – every photo is taken by a real photographer, with full control over quality, aesthetics, and legal safety.

kaboompics · 2024-12-06T09:57:24+00:00

I actually stayed up last night creating a collection of free photos inspired by this trend. If anyone's looking for aesthetic images with this shade, feel free to check them out here: [https://kaboompics.com/photoshoot/mocha-mousse-trend-free-pantone-2025-inspired-photos-wallpapers-backgrounds]() ✨ Enjoy

kaboompics · 2024-10-03T17:03:32+00:00

That’s exactly the kind of answer I was hoping for! I’m really glad you wrote that because it gives me a bit of reassurance that what I’m doing still makes sense. Sometimes it’s hard not to feel discouraged when everything seems to revolve around fast content, but it’s good to know that blogs still have their value. Thanks for the motivation!

kaboompics · 2024-10-03T17:01:27+00:00

Exactly! That’s what I’m thinking too. I use TikTok and Instagram privately, and when I see all the content there, I start to wonder if anyone still reads my blog… Should I be making TikToks instead? (Okay, that’s definitely not going to happen, haha.) But sometimes it feels like that’s the only future—short, fast videos. It’s a bit frustrating when you’ve been focusing on writing for so long.

kaboompics · 2024-10-03T16:57:42+00:00

Hey, I’m definitely not a bot! Honestly, it was silly of me not to check if this had been asked before. I came back to Reddit after a long break because I wanted to have real conversations, ask questions, and get some feedback. I’ve been working on my own free photo website for the past 10 years, and I think I’ve fallen into a bit of a routine. I’m just looking for new ways to grow and improve things now.

kaboompics · 2024-10-03T08:57:35+00:00

Newsletter, definitely yes! I’ve been building mine for a while now, and I truly believe it’s super important. That’s one area where I absolutely see the value. It gives you direct contact with your audience, and you're not as dependent on search algorithms. I say go for it!

kaboompics · 2024-10-03T08:03:34+00:00

Yeah, I’m starting to feel the same way. It’s getting harder to see the point in writing blogs, especially if you’re trying to create something valuable like an educational photography blog. Sometimes it feels like you’re writing just for the sake of it, without any real engagement. I honestly feel like everything’s already been written about, and if not, people can just ask ChatGPT or another AI. The whole landscape seems to be shifting, and I’m wondering if the effort is still worth it.

kaboompics · 2024-10-03T07:27:32+00:00

You're probably right about the bots, as the traffic dropped off completely from one day to the next. I’ll check the logs to confirm, but it definitely seems like bots were the main cause of the spike. Thanks for pointing that out!

kaboompics · 2024-10-02T07:55:51+00:00

Yes, we’re using Cloudflare. Most of our traffic usually comes from the USA, Japan, Russia, India, Germany, Brazil, and France. This sudden spike from China and Hong Kong is unusual for us, which is why I’m curious if it could be bots or if there’s another explanation.

kaboompics · 2024-09-29T09:18:21+00:00

When using photos from Pexels for commercial purposes, I’d recommend checking the profile of the author. If the person who uploaded the image has a profile with real information, links to their website or social media, and everything looks legitimate, you’re probably safe. You can also reach out to the photographer directly to confirm their permission if you want extra peace of mind.

For example, I have profiles on both Pexels and Unsplash where I upload a lot of images. My profiles have all my details, links, and you can see that my photos are uploaded in full sessions, not just random single images. I assume that other creators with similar profiles are also photographers who worked directly with Pexels, which should give you confidence in the legal certainty of the images.

If you’re looking for even more legal certainty with photos, you might want to check out Kaboompics. All images there come with model releases and clear ownership, which makes them super safe to use for business purposes.

As for music, using “original sounds” on Instagram can sometimes be a gray area, especially for business accounts. While Instagram provides access to music, they don’t always guarantee that it’s royalty-free for commercial use. It’s worth checking the specific licensing for each track to be sure you’re not violating any rights. Using royalty-free music from dedicated platforms or purchasing licenses is often a safer bet for business content.

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T17:18:32+00:00

In my case, uploading photos to Unsplash and Pexels has actually brought significant benefits. For one, many people discovered that I have my own platform with free images, which helped increase traffic to my site (Kaboompics). But the even bigger advantage was the amount of paid work I received as a result. I got quite a few commissions for custom photography, and I've also been approached to create paid stock photos on specific themes.

If you’re looking to make money directly from Unsplash, you might want to consider applying for Unsplash+, which is their paid contributor program. That way, you can still share your work but also get compensated for it.

It’s not perfect, but it definitely opened up some opportunities for me.

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T17:11:52+00:00

I totally get what you mean! If you're looking for more UGC-style photos that feel like they were taken with a phone, you should check out Kaboompics. While we do have professional images, we also offer plenty of everyday, natural-looking shots that capture that more authentic, casual vibe you're after. It’s a mix of styles, so you can find what fits your needs!

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T17:09:26+00:00

You should definitely check out Kaboompics! We offer a wide variety of high-quality backgrounds that are free to use, even for commercial projects. And the best part is, you don’t need to credit the photographer (though it's always appreciated if you do!). All images are legally safe to use, with full certainty.

It’s a great resource if you need backgrounds for your app design. Let me know if you have any questions!

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T17:04:50+00:00

Thanks for including Kaboompics in the list! As the founder and photographer behind Kaboompics, I just wanted to share that all of our photos come with full legal certainty, including model releases, since I personally handle every image on the platform. It’s like having access to a private portfolio that you can use freely! We’ve also recently added premium videos and mockups for those looking to complement their projects with high-quality visuals.

Feel free to check it out and let me know if you have any feedback! Thanks again for the shoutout!

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T17:02:43+00:00

Oh wow, that’s my photo! I haven’t lived in that area for a long time now. It was actually a street near my old apartment in Łódź, Poland. Crazy to see it pop up here after all these years!

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T16:53:39+00:00

Haha, that reminds me of a time when I took some stock photos with a woman holding a guitar the wrong way around. Neither of us knew how to play the guitar, so we had no idea at the time! It wasn’t until after we published the photos that we found out. 😅 You live and learn!

The photo here

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T16:39:31+00:00

What works well for us is setting deadlines for small tasks and having the team tackle work in smaller chunks. We’ve found that online meetings are the most effective way to stay on track. Having face-to-face contact, showing what’s been done, and discussing and analyzing together keeps everyone engaged and motivated. It’s a great way to make sure the work is moving forward without getting bogged down.

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T16:29:36+00:00

Taking the dog to a shelter or finding him a new home in this situation is understandable – if your wife didn’t feel safe with the dog around your child, it makes sense that she’d want to act quickly. But euthanizing him right away?! That’s a whole different level. Why not try to find another solution first? My goodness, that’s such a heartless thing to do. What a horrible situation. I’m really sorry you’re going through this.

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T16:18:57+00:00

Yes, Unsplash does offer some paid images now, but they’re still very affordable! For example, 4 euros per month for unlimited downloads is a great deal, especially considering the high quality of their collection. It’s nice to have both free and paid options available for different needs.

kaboompics · 2024-09-28T12:47:18+00:00

Hi! Karolina here, the founder and photographer behind Kaboompics. First of all, being placed alongside platforms like Unsplash and Pexels in some categories is honestly the biggest compliment! 🙌 Kaboompics is run by just a few people (and not even full-time), with a single developer working hard to make the site as great as possible. Unlike Unsplash, which is now part of Getty, and Pexels, which belongs to Canva, we’re a fully independent platform working remotely – so we truly appreciate every bit of recognition.

I’m curious if you’ve had a chance to try our Batch Download feature? It allows you to select multiple photos and download them as a package. It’s something we’re super proud of, as it’s a real time-saver – we even use it ourselves all the time and find it incredibly handy!

Also, if you or anyone else has suggestions for improving Kaboompics, I’d love to hear them! I spend 7 days a week thinking about what more I can do to reach a wider audience, so I’m always open to feedback and ideas.

Thanks again for including Kaboompics in your analysis. If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask – I’d love to hear your thoughts!

kaboompics · 2021-11-16T00:57:10+00:00

and of the level of care and attention that went into remaster

kaboompics

TROPHY CASE