Best Stock Photos for Websites: How to Find & Use Professional Images
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Why Stock Photos Matter for Your Website
Professional Images vs. DIY Photography
Your website needs to grab attention in seconds. While smartphone cameras have improved dramatically, there’s still a clear difference between professional stock photography and quick DIY shots. Stock photos give you access to perfectly lit, expertly composed images that instantly boost your site’s credibility.
The Real Cost of Free Stock Photos
I do use royalty-free stock photos from time to time in my business, and if a generic stock photo will fit the bill for my project, I find the best images from:
But relying solely on free images comes with limitations and hidden costs:
- Limited selection means your competitors might use the same photos
- Many free images lack the polished look that paid options provide
- Time spent searching multiple sites adds up quickly
- Attribution requirements can clutter your design
Top Stock Photo Memberships for Online Entrepreneurs
I get a lot of use out of stock photo memberships in my business—for my website as well as my social media posts and digital products. The beauty of stock photo memberships is you can save so much money over buying individual images or even collections of images since you often have an unlimited number of downloads in a month/quarter/year.
Plus, many stock photo memberships also include stock videos, social media templates, content calendars, and other tools to save you time, money, and stress in your business!
Here are my top three recommendations for stock photo memberships that will help your website stand out:
Styled Stock Society: Premium Photos for Business Owners
I’ve seen firsthand how Styled Stock Society‘s 10,000+ image library can transform a website. What sets them apart is their focus on creating photos specifically for women entrepreneurs—these aren’t your typical corporate stock photos.
When we work together on your website, I can create a curated collection of recommended photos that align perfectly with your brand. As a lifetime member of Styled Stock Society, I can search through their extensive library to find images for your homepage hero section, about page, service descriptions—you name it! This saves you the time and stress of searching through thousands of photos yourself.
Ivory Mix: Complete Content Creation Suite
While I initially joined Ivory Mix for their stock photos, it’s evolved into my go-to resource for complete content creation. Their free plan (yes, that’s $0!) gives you access to over 550 templates, photos, and guides to test the waters.
If you choose to go all in, you’ll get unlimited access to over 18,000 resources, including monthly content plans with caption templates, Reels content plans, and fresh stock photos that work perfectly for digital product creators and service providers.
What I love most about Ivory Mix is that you can use their stock photos on products you sell as well as on client projects! (Do make sure to check licensing terms, but it’s very generous.) Most similar membership sites have a much more expensive commercial use/agency license tier if you intend to use stock photos in products beyond your own business.
Haute Stock: Elevated Branding Made Easy
The newest addition to my stock photo toolkit, Haute Stock stands out for their sophisticated, modern aesthetic. Their included Couture Curation service is a standout feature—their designers will hand-pick images based on your brand colors and vibe, saving you hours of searching!
With over 11,000 assets in their library, you’ll find everything from polished stock photos to video clips and Canva templates. I particularly appreciate their attention to diversity and commitment to compensating their contributors fairly—it shows in the quality and authenticity of their images.
The content marketing guides and daily content calendar make this membership especially valuable if you’re looking to maintain a consistent brand presence across your website and social media.
Transforming Stock Photos into Brand Assets
Picture Perfect: Using Lightroom Presets to Customize Images
Even the best stock photos can benefit from customization to match your brand. This is where Brand and Palms’ “Picture Perfect: The Power of Stock Photos” becomes invaluable. Their Lightroom Presets let you transform ordinary stock photos into unique brand assets using just the free Lightroom mobile app (available on Android and iOS devices.)
The Picture Perfect kit includes 9 preset collections and a detailed guide for applying them effectively. You can warm up cool tones, add moody filters, or create a consistent look across all your website images—making even commonly used stock photos feel uniquely yours.
It also comes with a 40-page guide (in PDF and Canva formats) to help you choose the best images for your brand from both free and paid sites.
Mixing Stock & Custom Photos Effectively
In an ideal world, all of our websites would be filled with photos from our own professional photoshoots. While someday this is a goal of mine, it’s not currently in my budget to do so, so I like to tell my brand’s story using both stock and custom photos.
I recommend that you:
- Use custom photos for key brand moments—your about page headshot, team photos, or product images. These personal touches build trust and connection.
- Fill in with high-quality stock photos for supporting imagery—blog posts, service descriptions, or decorative elements. Choose images that complement your custom photos in style and color palette.
Additional Stock Photo Resources Worth Exploring
Depositphotos
Depositphotos is my go-to site for blog post images thanks to their massive library and excellent search filters. Pro tip: Watch for their deals on AppSumo throughout the year—you can often grab bundles of 100 photos (with no expiration date) for an incredible price. I regularly stock up during these sales to keep my blog visually engaging without breaking the bank.
Stocklane
There are a few membership options, but my pick is Stocklane’s affordable Capsule membership. You get to choose 30 full-resolution downloads each month from their curated collections, which rotate seasonally to keep your content fresh. It’s one of the most budget-friendly ways to maintain a professional look without committing to a larger membership.
She Bold Stock
True to its name, She Bold Stock is perfect if your brand calls for vibrant, energetic visuals. Their library includes over 6,000 photos and 100+ stock videos, plus Canva templates for every social platform. The membership even includes lead magnet templates to help you grow your email list, which something we should all be doing. 😉
Creative Market
More than just stock photos, Creative Market’s membership gives you access to fonts, graphics, templates, and themes to enhance your entire online presence. Their monthly Design Drop lets you build a library of premium assets at a fraction of the regular price. Creative Market is one of my favorite places to find fonts for your website as well!
Making the Most of Your Stock Photos
Choosing Images That Convert
One of the “mistakes” I made when building my first website was using photos of people looking frustrated with technology. While this showed I understood my clients’ pain points, it didn’t inspire them. Your website visitors should see images that represent who they want to become and what’s possible when working with you.
Choose photos that:
- Show authentic moments over staged poses
- Feature diverse models and scenarios
- Align with your brand’s aesthetic and values
- Create emotional connections through relatable situations
Legal Requirements & Attribution
Different stock photo sites have varying license terms. Always:
- Review commercial usage rights before purchasing
- Keep records of licenses and permitted uses
- Check if attribution is required (most premium sites don’t require this)
- Pay attention to model/property release restrictions for specific industries
When you work with me on your website, I’ll only recommend stock photos that you can secure the proper licensing for (and share with you how to do so). This gives you peace of mind knowing your site is legally protected while looking polished and professional.
Getting Started With Stock Photography for Your Website
Stock photos can transform your website from basic to professional when used strategically. Whether you choose a comprehensive membership like Styled Stock Society or start with targeted downloads from Depositphotos, investing in quality visuals will help your brand stand out and connect with your ideal clients.
Remember, you can often test premium memberships through their free plans or trials. Start exploring these resources today to find the perfect images for your brand!
Ready to make your website visually stunning?
Let’s work together to select the perfect stock photos that will make your brand shine online. Whether we’re building a new site from scratch or giving your current site a refresh, I’ll help you choose images that reflect your brand’s personality and connect with your ideal clients.
Get in touch today if you’re ready to discuss working on your website project!
