How to Find the Best Royalty-Free Images for Your Project
Many people only know one side of stock content platforms, the one with cliche concepts and generic images that have been overused. However, there are hidden gems to be found if you know where to look.
Stock content sites have evolved in recent years. They now offer more unique and diverse options for users to choose from. Some platforms even have curated collections and featured artists to help with the selection of quality content.
This article aims to show that stock content can be as good as hiring a production team for your project. With a few simple tips and tricks, you’ll be able to find the best stock images for any creative endeavor, whether it’s an art project, marketing campaign, or website design. Read on to learn more!
1. Find the best stock image platform for your needs
If you’ve never used a stock content website, it can be difficult to get started. To make the selection process less stressful, identify a few criteria that are important to you. This can be the variety of content available, the user interface, and the platform's pricing options.
An online stock photo website with millions of files
Many will argue that the best place to buy stock photos is a million-file stock content marketplace like Depositphotos. They have a wide selection of royalty-free images, graphics, videos, and music that can meet almost any need, but there’s more!
The user interface of this platform is beginner-friendly, with many advanced search filters and sorting options to help you find the perfect image faster. Additionally, such a large platform offers curated content collections, a blog with useful information and expert tips, and trend reports to keep users informed and inspired.
A stock content platform with free stock images for commercial use
Content-rich stock websites are the best places not only for paid royalty-free stock images, but also for free content. As a rule of thumb, the selection of free files is smaller and less diverse. However, it can still meet the specific needs of those on a limited budget.
You can search for free content on Depositphotos, Pixabay, or Vecteezy. Yet, anyone who downloads files for free should familiarize themselves with the licensing terms and whether attribution is required.
2. Decide what you are looking for
Before you browse through countless stock files, decide exactly what you are looking for. This will save you time and ensure you find the perfect content for your project.
Identify file type
To begin with, identify the desired file type: photo, vector, illustration, or even video. This will help you narrow down your search results.
Write a detailed description of the desired image
Stock image captions can be brief and general; however, their keywords are likely to contain specific details that you can include in your search query. Therefore, it’s best to write a detailed description.
You can include specifics, such as colors, shapes, objects, environments, and any other important details. The shooting angle also plays an important role in the search process, so be sure to mention whether you need a flat lay, close-up shot, or a wide-angle view.
Find visual references
One picture is worth a thousand words. Therefore, it’s sometimes more effective to find a reference image to describe your request. In fact, 62% of Millennials prefer visual search over any other search method. Visual references can help communicate exactly what you are looking for in terms of colors, creative techniques, and overall aesthetic. Moreover, many platforms support image search.
Now you might be wondering, “Where can I find high-quality, creative visual references?” Head over to Behance, Pinterest, Instagram, It’s Nice That, and Creative Boom for a dose of creative inspiration. To make your search easier, here are the top ten designers to follow on Behance.
3. Take advantage of all platform features
Modern stock content platforms are creative ecosystems that offer a wide range of features and tools, from AI-powered search filters to trendy image picks. Not using them would be a crime. So, here are the common features that will help you get the most out of these platforms.
Advanced search filters
First of all, you should familiarize yourself with all the available search filters on the platform. Typically, you will find color, size, orientation, and image type. Platforms like Depositphotos also allow you to choose the viewpoint, number of people, location, season, and time of day. Use them to narrow down your search results.
Visual search
A slightly more advanced feature—visual search—allows users to upload an image to the platform and find similar pictures based on visual similarities. This can be incredibly helpful if you have a specific idea in mind but can't put it into words.
AI-powered image generators
If your image search request is too specific, use AI-powered image generators on stock content platforms. As a rule of thumb, their tools are much safer than alternatives, as they ensure that the AI-generated images are legally safe to use. For example, using the Depositphotos AI Image Generator, you can create unique visuals with prompt assistance in four different aspect ratios (Square, 4:3, 3:4, and Wide) and art and photography styles, all in just a few minutes. The images will be available under a Standard Royalty-free license and will be exclusive for your creative endeavors.
Curated content collections
Last but not least—trendy image picks by stock content curators. Many stock content sites handpick high-quality, authentic, and on-trend visuals. All to create thematic collections that will make your search for the perfect image even easier. Explore these collections to save time.
4. Pay attention to the recommended content
A big part of any stock content website is the recommended content section. This is where you can find images, videos, and graphics that are trending or related to your search. If you pay attention to the website's recommendations, you may come across hidden gems or be inspired by something new.
Here are some tips to make the most out of the recommended content section:
● View similar royalty-free images;
● Look at images from the same series;
● Check out the author's portfolio;
● Explore trending content.
Wrapping up
Stock content isn’t what it used to be—it’s better, trendier, and packed with hidden gems. By using effective search strategies along with advanced filters and curated collections, you can uncover the best stock images for any project.
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