Stock photography is a great alternative to in-house content production. It reduces team workload, saves time, and allows you to repurpose your marketing budget. On top of that, high-quality stock photos can be found at any time of the day or night, saving you trouble if deadlines are approaching quickly.
The main challenge many creatives face is finding stock images that are unique and not overused. This is not surprising, as stock content platforms are constantly evolving, adding more files and functions. Therefore, new users need to put in the effort to learn how everything works.
This article aims to provide tips and tricks for finding high-quality, unique stock visuals amidst the vast sea of options available online. Here, you’ll find advice on how to use filters effectively, how to search using reference images, and how to find free pictures for commercial use. Read on to learn more!
1. Find a platform that meets your content needs
Every stock content marketplace offers a different selection of photos, videos, and graphics. So, before committing to one platform, take the time to explore each offering and find the site that best suits your content needs.
A million-file stock content platform
There are a few key players on the market who have millions of stock files on offer. This can be overwhelming for some users; however, it also means you have more options to choose from.
Just take a look at royalty-free photos for commercial use by Depositphotos. While having a library of over 300 million files, this stock content marketplace offers advanced search filters and hundreds of curated content collections to narrow down your results. In addition, Depositphotos has a large collection of free stock pictures to use in your projects, making it a great option for those on a budget.
Niche stock photo website
Another option is to use niche stock photography websites that cater to specific industries or themes. They often have a smaller selection of visuals (<10,000 files) compared to larger stock content marketplaces. However, each image is handpicked to ensure high quality, relevance, and uniqueness.
A website with free-to-use stock photos
Many brands that are just starting out can’t afford to pay the fees of million-file and niche stock photo websites. That’s why they turn to platforms that offer copyright-free stock images. Of course, the selection of files is smaller and may be more generic, but it can still be a great option for those on a tight budget.
2. Use various keywords to reach your goal
When you fail to find a picture you need, it’s not because the website doesn’t have it; rather, you’re using the wrong keywords. To fix this problem, you must first learn how image descriptions are created. There are two different ways.
Keywords that describe the essence of the image
Some creators upload photos to a stock content site and add descriptions themselves, while others rely on the platform to automatically generate descriptions. In the first case, you might come across descriptions that sum up the scene. For example, “urban scene”, “Christmas composition”, “minimalist aesthetic”, “festive concept”, or “abstract background”.
Keywords that describe everything in the image
In the other scenario, you’ll find highly detailed descriptions that include everything in the image, down to the colors and actions. For example, “cropped view of a couple drinking cappuccino on the balcony in a cafe” or “3D rendering of an Art Deco interior in a classic style with a yellow sofa table and a golden lamp”.
Experiment with descriptions and exclude keywords if necessary
So, try a few different keyword combinations to find the right visual. Also, pay attention to the keywords used for the pictures you like. They will help you find more similar images. And remember, there’s also the possibility of excluding some keywords from your search results to narrow down the options.
3. Learn how to use filters effectively
People often underestimate the power of search filters on stock content marketplaces. Instead of browsing through pages of irrelevant search results, you can apply multiple filters and quickly find what you’re looking for.
Large platforms like Depositphotos allow you to sort out visuals by image orientation and type, point of view, color, origin, location, season, and time of the day. If you want to see people in the frame, you can choose the number of people, their gender, age, and ethnicity.
Filters for finding free commercial stock photos
If you’re particularly interested in free content, you can also filter images by license type. This way, you’ll only be viewing images that are available for free but require attribution when used in commercial projects.
4. Go down the rabbit hole
When you find an interesting photo that is close to what you need, you can click on it to explore related content. Most websites will allow you to view three categories of visuals: images by the same author, images by the same model, or similar images.
If you follow the trail of related content, you may find even more options that weren’t available in text search. On top of that, unexpected image finds can bring new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration for your project.
5. Utilize visual search
Sometimes, it’s easier to show what you want than to describe it. At such times, use visual search—a feature that allows users to upload a reference photo or paste a URL to find similar images.
You can find visual inspiration for your projects everywhere: in Zalando’s 2024 Trend Rewind, in Pinterest Predicts 2025, or Depositphotos Creative Trends for 2025. However, you can simply use Behance, Pinterest, or Instagram to find interesting visual references.
6. Explore curated collections to find free and paid pictures for commercial use
To make the task of searching relevant brand photos easier, skip the search bar and go directly to image collections. Every stock content site has content curators who sift through thousands of images every day and organize them in thematic collections. Thanks to their efforts, brands can enjoy ready-made visual solutions for their business projects.
These curated collections are organized by themes, from everyday scenes and holidays to different aesthetics and color trends. Be sure to explore maximum content folders that are relevant to your task. This will help streamline your creative process and save time searching for the perfect visuals in the search bar.
Wrapping up
Finding relevant stock photos for your brand is essential for creating a professional online presence. Whether you need paid or free pictures for commercial use, be sure to follow this article’s tips to navigate the process with ease.
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