The Best Websites for Creative Stock Photography
Originally published on linemae.com which was rebranded to lizwhite.co.
Same content, same author, new brand, new website.
Creative stock photography. In a perfect world I would be an expert photographer and take my own photos for everything. Alas, that is not the case. I know there are quite a few lists like this out there, but to be honest a lot of them are inconsistent in the quality that they deliver. Here are some of my favorite places to get images that constantly deliver on quality and creativity (along with a bit of commentary of course):
STOCKSY
$ - $$$$
This is my absolute favorite stock photography site for when you have some money to spend on images. The photographers that sell on this site are highly curated and the quality shows. I've found that the smallest size works perfectly for my usual purposes and I love that they are all priced the same way. Another perk about the site is that you can save collections of images and then go back when you are ready to buy. If you sign up for the newsletter they sometimes send coupons. I really can’t say enough good things about Stocksy.
CREATIVE MARKET
$ - $$ + freebies
This site has everything from stock photos to resume templates. It takes a bit of digging, but there are some excellent stock photos on here. Be prepared to spend time heavily using the search bar, keywords, and clicking through pages. It's not strictly a stock photography site, so it's a little more difficult to find what you're looking for. Great photo options under $20 and if you make an account and sign up for their emails, you frequently get discounts to use on ANY purchase (I noticed these discounts showing up after making my first purchase). Did I mention they have weekly freebies?
p.s.: I have my own shop of DEVICE MOCKUPS through Creative Market!
UNSPLASH
free
These are mostly landscapes, but they are nice and high res. You don't have to sign up for the emails to get the photos, you can download right from the site. But, it is handy to get them delivered right to your inbox once a month :)
DEATH TO THE STOCK PHOTO
free - $
This one you do have to sign up for the emails in order to get the photos. They are sent in themes, so for instance one of the collections was "creative community" and previous ones have been "back to work" and "cycling Seattle". They send packs just once a month, but you can get a premium subscription for more photos and access to previous photo packs.
LIFE OF PIX
free
I would say in general the photos here are a big dark for my taste, but there is quite a diverse selection. The main thing that is lacking on this site is a way to search through images besides simply scrolling through the pages. But, if you have the time it’s definitely worth a look.
BONUS: WHERE TO FIND THOSE AMAZING STYLED DESKTOPS AND PRODUCT SHOTS YOU ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT.
SC STOCKSHOP
$$$ - $$$$ + mailing list freebies
I LOVE SC Stockshop for super high resolution styled desktop images. The price tag is on the higher side but the quality is unrivaled. Occasionally they will do promos, for instance on Cyber Monday everything was 40% off, but don’t count on it if you see an image you really love (images are occasionally discontinued to make room for new ones). If you sign up for the newsletter on her website she sends you a free photo each month.
KATE MAX STOCK
$$
This is another go-to of mine for styled desktops. The price tag on these images is much more inviting. PLUS now she offers a stock membership if you're one of those people who needs new photos all the time.
UP STYLED
$$
More than just desktops, this shop is really geared for Etsy sellers looking to make their printed products shine. There are a few more discount options so you can fill your shopping cart without hurting your wallet.
ROSMARY WATSON
$$ + mailing list freebies
Clean, feminine desktops with lots of whitespace. What could be better? Oh, maybe that you get free images when you sign up for her mailing list!
HER CREATIVE STUDIO
$$ + mailing list freebies
Light, airy, and feminine. Slightly muted in color but not in a bad way. These photos have a great variety of desktop accessories and plenty of whitespace.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on some of the product links, I’ll earn some coffee money :)