If you are looking for images to make your content visually appealing, there are
various resources that you can use. The following websites provide images with
permissive licences that you can use, even without attribution:
Pexels - All photos on Pexels can be downloaded and used for free. They can also be modified. Giving credit to the photographer or Pexels is not a requirement of use. You can learn more about their licence here.
Pixabay - Contains high quality photos, illustrations, and vector graphics. Free for non-commercial and commercial use (although don’t use any of the sponsored images from iStock, as these aren't free). Images can be modified and attribution is not necessary. You can learn more about their licence here.
Unsplash – This is a contemporary collection of photos, all of which can be used for free, for both commercial and non-commercial purposes. No permission is required. You can learn more about their licence here. (Don’t use any of the watermarked images labelled Unsplash+, as these are only available as part of a subscription and are produced in collaboration with other stock photo agencies such as Getty Images.)
Watch out for any logos, trademarks or brands that appear in these free images, as they are generally subject to further restrictions and may require permission from the relevant company or organisation. Also, all of the above platforms rely on content uploaded by users/creators and occasionally images may be taken down. This may be for any number of reasons, including being found to be non-compliant with the platform's licensing terms and conditions.
If you prefer to use Google Images to search for items, you will need to filter your search results using the 'Tools' button. Select 'Usage Rights' and then 'Creative Commons licenses'. You will then need to check whether the CC licence attached to the image you wish to use allows for commercial use. To find out more about the range of licences available and adhering to the terms, see the separate section in this guide on Creative Commons Licences.
(Image by NordWood Themes on Unsplash).