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The Best Stock Photo Resources for Bloggers

One of the best stock photo resources, best stock photo resources for bloggers, pretty stock photos, creative stock photos, free stock photos

Let’s talk about stock photos.

Both a blessing and curse for blog design.

Using stock photos is an amazing, time-saving way to add visuals to your blog content. But it can also be overwhelming & frustrating if you don’t know where to find them.

Stock photos are everywhere. But quality, beautiful images that can barely be identified as stock photos (the kind of stock photos you should be using) are a little harder to find.

I’ve rounded up some of the best stock photo resources out there for bloggers and I can’t wait to share!

Types of stock photos

 

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One of the best stock photo resources, best stock photo resources for bloggers, pretty stock photos, creative stock photos, free stock photos

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Static Images

Static images are what you would typically think of when you picture a stock photo. They are still images that someone else has taken and is allowing the general public to use as their own without crediting the original source. This is the most common form of stock photo.

Static image stock photos are perfect for blog posts, social media content, marketing materials and Pinterest graphics. I’ve even printed out these types of stock photos to use as props in photo shoots.

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Mock-ups

Mock-ups are also images that have been taken by someone else. However, mock-ups usually give you the ability to customize some area of the photo. For example, the mock-up could be a styled flat lay with an iPhone somewhere in the image. The creator has made the iPhone screen customizable so that you can pop in your own content to be displayed on the iPhone screen within the image.

Mock-ups are perfect for promoting digitial products, websites, online courses or social media.

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One of the best stock photo resources, best stock photo resources for bloggers, pretty stock photos, creative stock photos, free stock photos

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My favorite stock photo resources

Unsplash

FREE

Unsplash is my #1 go-to place for stock photos. They have a beautiful, creative and extensive library of images. Unsplash sources their images from photographers all over the world. You can download and use any of the images on their site FREE OF CHARGE. All of the images used in this post (aside from the mock-up images) were found on Unsplash.

 

Death to the Stock Photo

MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION

Death to the Stock Photo was one of the first stock photo sites I stumbled upon and thought, wow. The Death to the Stock Photo library is full of creative & beautiful collections of stock photos and video. Access to their library does require a monthly subscription. But if you’re frequently in need of high-quality stock images and footage, $12.99/mo is a small price to pay for unlimited downloads and usage of their content.

 

Stocksy

PAID

When I can’t find what I’m looking for on Unsplash or Death to the Stock Photo, I turn to Stocksy. Stocksy is probably the most creative and unique stock photo collection I’ve ever seen. I’ve never not been able to find the perfect image for my needs. Stocksy sells their images individually, which can make it a more expensive option. But there is no other stock collection like it and it’s definitely worth the splurge.

One of the best stock photo resources, best stock photo resources for bloggers, pretty stock photos, creative stock photos, free stock photos

My favorite Mock-ups

Creative Market is my go-to place for finding mock-ups and scene creators. They have an enormous selection of mock-up kits for all different styles and design aesthetics.

Here are a few of my favorites…

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Louvre Mock-Up Kit

This is my all time favorite mock-up for all things print design. The backgrounds and props included in this mock-up are stunning. And did you see those shadow elements? I couldn’t create something better, even if I shot it myself.

>>> CHECK IT OUT HERE <<<

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One of the best stock photo resources, best stock photo resources for bloggers, pretty stock photos, creative stock photos, free stock photos

Mock-Up Scene Creator

This is one of the first mock-up kits I ever purchased. And I use it ALL. THE. TIME. It’s perfect for showcasing website designs I’m launching. It’s also a great desk creator if you’re in need of a good desk shot but don’t have the space to shoot one yourself.

>> CHECK IT OUT HERE <<<

 

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One of the best stock photo resources, best stock photo resources for bloggers, pretty stock photos, creative stock photos, free stock photos

Ladyprenuer Toolkit

This is my go-to mock-up for creating flatlays! When I don’t have time to style and shoot something myself, I can create something I still love using this mock-up kit.

>>> CHECK IT OUT HERE <<<

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One of the best stock photo resources, best stock photo resources for bloggers, pretty stock photos, creative stock photos, free stock photos

Moodboard Wall Mock-Up

Lastly, I want to mention this Moodboard Wall Mock-Up. It’s such an easy-to-use tool for creating fun wall moodboards to post on your blog or social media.

>>> CHECK IT OUT HERE <<<

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I’ll be posting a part two on this topic, discussing how to select and curate stock images that are right for you.

But in the meantime, be inspired by all beautiful images at your fingertips!

xx,
Ariel

 


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