Royalty free images and videos for your projects [2024]

When you embark on a creative project, whether it's a blog, website, school assignment, or business presentation, finding the perfect visuals can be a challenging task. That's where royalty-free images and videos come to the rescue. But what exactly are they? We will learn that shortly in this post.

Definition of royalty-free images and videos

Royalty-free images and videos are high-quality, ready-to-use visual assets that can be used in your projects without worrying about copyright issues or paying recurring fees. In this guide, we'll explore the world of royalty-free content and learn how to access and use it for your projects.

Importance of Using Royalty-Free Content for Projects

Royalty-free images and videos play a vital role in the world of creative endeavors. They enable individuals and businesses to enhance their projects with stunning visuals, without the fear of legal repercussions. These resources are a boon for budget-conscious creators who want to elevate the quality of their work. 

By the end of this guide, you'll understand why royalty-free content is a must-have in your creative toolbox.

Explanation of Royalty and Licensing Terms

Before delving into the world of royalty-free content, it's important to understand a few key terms. 

Royalty, in this context, refers to the fee paid to the creator of the content, which allows you to use it without additional payments.

Licensing terms define the rules and restrictions associated with using the content. 

Creative Commons Zero - It means the person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated the work to the public domain by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. You can copy, modify, distribute, and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

These terms ensure that you respect the rights of the content creator while benefiting from their work.

Comparison of Royalty-Free Content with Copyrighted Material

Royalty-free content stands in stark contrast to copyrighted material. While copyrighted content is subject to strict legal limitations and often requires permission or payment for usage, royalty-free content grants you the freedom to use it in your projects without such hassles. 

This distinction makes royalty-free images and videos a tempting option for creators of all levels.

Rights and Limitations Associated with Royalty-Free Content

It's important to be aware that even though royalty-free images and videos come with fewer restrictions than copyrighted material, they are not entirely free of limitations. While you can use them for various purposes, you must adhere to the specific terms and conditions outlined by the content provider.

These limitations usually pertain to the distribution, modification, and commercial use of the content. By understanding these terms, you can make the most of royalty-free assets while respecting the creators' rights.

Here's a list of DO's and DONT's compiled from various site:

Things you can DO these royalty-free images and videos

• Photos are free to use. Attribution is not required (may require at some site). Giving credit to the photographer or the website is not necessary but always appreciated.
• You can modify the photos. Be creative and edit them as you like. Use it on your website, blog article, e-commerce shop, newsletters, e-book, presentation, or a template you sell.
• On print media, use photos for flyers, postcards, invitations, magazines, albums, books, CD covers, and more.
• Share them on social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. Even make videos on YouTube using these copyright free images.
• Promoting your products using these images and creating unique ads, banners, and marketing campaigns.

Things you CANNOT DO using these royalty-free images and videos

• Don't redistribute or sell images on other stock or wallpaper platforms.
• Don't portray identifiable people in a bad light or in an offensive way.
• Don't use images with identifiable brands to create a misleading association with a product or service.
• You can copy, modify, and use them both in personal and commercial projects. However, you can not sell the photos themselves.

Please read their terms of use / license page of the specific platform before you use.

Benefits of Using Royalty-Free Images and Videos

One of the most compelling reasons to use royalty-free images and videos is their cost-effectiveness. Unlike purchasing individual images or hiring a photographer or videographer, royalty-free content often comes at a fraction of the cost, or even for free. 

This affordability makes it accessible to individuals and small businesses with limited budgets, allowing them to create professional-looking projects without breaking the bank.

Flexibility in Usage and Modifications

Royalty-free content offers you the flexibility to adapt and modify the images and videos to suit your project's unique requirements. Whether you need to crop, resize, or customize the visuals, you have the creative freedom to do so without worrying about infringing on copyright. 

This flexibility empowers you to create content that truly reflects your vision.

Variety and Accessibility of Content for Different Project Needs

The vast diversity of royalty-free content is a treasure trove for creators. From nature landscapes to business-related imagery, you'll find a wide range of visuals to match your project's theme and message. Additionally, these resources are easily accessible through various platforms, ensuring you can quickly find the perfect image or video to elevate your work.

Sources of Royalty-Free Images and Videos

Now that you understand the advantages of using royalty-free content, it's time to explore where to find these valuable resources. Here are some popular sources that offer a wide selection of royalty-free images and videos:

Unsplash

Unsplash is another personal favorite of mine. The platform offers a vast collection of high-resolution images released under the Unsplash license. Additionally, they provide full HD backgrounds suitable for wallpapers. Registration is not necessary to access these royalty-free images and videos.

Pexels

Pexels is a true gem of a website. It boasts an extensive collection of high-quality, freely available stock photos and videos licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0). The user-friendly interface makes searching for content a breeze, and there's no need to sign up to download these royalty-free images and videos.

Burst by Shopify

Burst, a free stock photo platform powered by Shopify, currently boasts an impressive collection of over 20,000 free stock photos and royalty-free images. These high-resolution images are contributed by their global community of photographers, ensuring quality and diversity. Burst is designed to offer designers, developers, bloggers, and entrepreneurs access to beautiful, trend-focused stock photography in various business niches. It's worth noting that there is no need to sign up to access these valuable royalty-free images and videos.

Realistic Shots

realisticshots.com, a project by Commit 2 Design, is a valuable resource providing high-resolution free stock photos suitable for both personal and commercial use. You can expect the addition of seven new photos each week, continually expanding the collection. These photos are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), ensuring their usability and flexibility. It's worth noting that there is no need to sign up to access these high-quality, royalty-free images and videos.

Life of Pix

Lifeofpix.com, a platform created by the LEEROY creative agency, serves as a hub for high-resolution, copyright-free images. With new images added on a weekly basis, this resource ensures a constant stream of fresh content. Importantly, there is no requirement for signing up to access these high-quality, royalty-free images and videos.

Gratisography

If you're in search of quirky, captivating, and copyright-free images, Gratisography.com is the place to explore. This platform specializes in curating the most unique and intriguing pictures, those that possess character, a distinct perspective, and a compelling story to tell. You can freely access this collection without the need for signing up, making it a valuable resource for royalty-free images and videos.

Libreshot

Libreshot.com, created by Martin Vorel, who has a passion for photography, offers a unique collection of personally captured images. Every photo featured on the site is a product of his own work. You have the freedom to download all these photos for free, making them suitable for both personal and commercial projects. Importantly, there is no obligation to sign up to access these high-quality, royalty-free images and videos.

Stocksnap

Stocksnap.io hosts an extensive collection of stunning free stock photos that are updated regularly. The site also provides valuable insights by tracking views and downloads, allowing you to discover the most popular photos. These images are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), ensuring their versatility and usability. It's important to note that there is no need to sign up to access these high-quality, royalty-free images and videos.

Startup Stock Photos

Startupstockphotos.com is a valuable resource that provides free photos suitable for startups, bloggers, publishers, websites, designers, developers, and creators. The majority of the photos are related to the corporate niche, making them particularly useful for business-related projects. All the photos on the site are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), ensuring their versatility and usability. Notably, there is no requirement for signing up to access these high-quality, royalty-free images and videos.

Foodies Feed

Foodiesfeed.com stands out as one of the top resources for exceptionally visually appealing copyright-free images centered around food. These images are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), making them suitable for various uses. While guest users can download images with a brief wait, becoming a member, which is also free, allows for instant downloads and access to the latest updates delivered to your email.

Free Stocks

At freestocks.org, you'll find a diverse collection of high-resolution images available for free. These images are not only royalty-free but also suitable for both commercial and personal projects, thanks to their licensing under Creative Commons Zero (CC0). Importantly, there is no need to sign up to access these valuable royalty-free images and videos.

Picography

Picography.co boasts a collection of stunning high-resolution, royalty-free images. All the photos on this website are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), ensuring they can be used for a variety of purposes.

Free Nature Stock

Freenaturestock.com is your source for high-resolution, royalty-free images and videos showcasing the beauty of nature. Like Picography, the photos here are also licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), making them ideal for nature-related projects.

Magdeleine

Magdeleine.co is a valuable resource offering high-resolution images that are updated daily. The photos are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), allowing you to use them for free in various projects. However, it's important to note that some images on the platform may require attribution, so it's highly recommended to verify the usage requirements before incorporating them into your work.

Kaboom Pics

Kaboompics.com, founded by Karolina, is a valuable resource for royalty-free stock images. All photos on the platform are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0). Kaboompics is renowned as one of the most popular sources of free images for lifestyle, interior design, and bloggers worldwide.

Travel Coffee Book

Travelcoffeebook.com offers a wonderful collection of royalty-free images capturing beautiful travel moments. These images are also licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), making them an excellent choice for various travel-related projects.

Pic Jumbo

Picjumbo.com, created by Viktor Hanacek, is a versatile stock photo site offering both free and premium (paid) photos. In addition to stock photos, it provides high-resolution HD background wallpapers, catering to various creative needs.

ISO Republic

Isorepublic.com is a repository of thousands of high-resolution, royalty-free images and videos, making it an excellent resource for a wide range of projects. All the content on this platform is licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0).

rovenimages.com

Roven Images is a unique platform that offers high-resolution, free photos for both personal and commercial use. When you create an account and upload images, you'll receive a subdomain that can serve as your personal website. Additionally, there's an option to add your own custom domain, providing you with a free website hosting service. This feature adds value and versatility to the platform.

Focastock

Focastock.com features a fantastic collection of high-resolution, free stock images and videos. All the photos on this platform are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), making it a go-to destination for graphics designers and creative artists.

Cupcake

Cupcake, known not only for its adorable logo but also for its elegant collection of high-resolution, free stock images. These images are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), offering a versatile resource for various creative projects.

Skitter Photo

Skitterphoto.com is an online hub for discovering, displaying, and sharing public domain photos. The site offers high-resolution images licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0), making them ideal for a wide range of uses.

Little Visuals

Littlevisuals.co was a passion project by Nic Jackson. Tragically, Nic passed away suddenly in November 2013. However, his family has ensured that all the images remain available and free for commercial use. These images are licensed under CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication, allowing for their versatile use in various creative projects.

Free Range Stock

Freerangestock.com is a source for high-quality stock photos suitable for both commercial and non-commercial use. Please note that free registration is required to download the photos.

Jay Mantri

Jaymantri.com provides high-quality creative photos that are licensed under Creative Commons Zero (CC0). Additionally, Creative Commons offers a search engine where you can enter your search keywords and select from various licenses, such as CC0, Public Domain Mark, and more. A helpful tip: when searching, use keywords like "photo" and tick CC0 for the best results.

Free Images

Freeimages.com offers a substantial collection of free stock photos, all available for both personal and commercial use. When downloading a photo, you can choose from various resolution options, including low, medium, high, or the original resolution, to suit your specific needs.

Conclusion

In this beginner's guide, we've unraveled the world of royalty-free images and videos and how they can benefit your creative projects. From cost-effectiveness to flexibility and the abundance of resources, royalty-free content empowers you to bring your creative visions to life without the stress of copyright issues. 

As you embark on your creative journey, remember that royalty-free content is a tool that not only saves you money but also allows you to showcase your creativity without limitations. By using these resources responsibly and respecting the terms set by creators, you can create projects that are visually stunning, legally sound, and truly your own. 

Happy creating!