Search Tools
Here are some great search engines that you can use to seach for copyright-friendly photos and images. Each one allows you to limit your search by Creative Commons license.
Be sure to try a variety of keywords when searching for a particular subject. For example, if you were looking for a picture that represented "music" you might have to try additional keywords like "piano" or "notes" or "singing" that represent different aspects of music.
- Flickr Advanced SearchUse the Any license pull-down menu to choose the type of license you need.
- Google Image Advanced SearchUse the Usage Rights options to limit to copyright-friendly images.
Note
Recently U.S. Government information, which has formerly been freely available, has been disappearing from websites. If any of the government links below (sites with .gov or .mil domains) do not work, or no longer contain information you know they should have, click on the link below for tools to help you find archived or mirrored versions of the site.
Sources
The sites listed below are great sources for photos and other images. The subjects available will vary from site to site so be sure to check more than one if you can't find the image you are looking for.
IMPORTANT: Some of these sites allow photographers to place extra restrictions on how their photos are used. Be sure to check the usage rights for each individual image.
NOTE: Be sure to follow the instructions for downloading photos to get the best version of the image. If you just copy and paste the image that shows up in the search results list, you may end up with a poor quality version of the image.
- FlickrAn extensive image and video hosting website. It includes public domain, creative commons and commercially available (i.e. you need to pay for them) images and videos.
- FreeimagesContains close to 400,000 images. Includes both free and copyrighted photos. Users can create accounts and store favorite photos into "lightboxes" for future reference. Be sure to check each photo for any additional usage restrictions.
- Google ImagesA huge source of photos - however many may not be free to use. Make sure to filter your search. After running your initial search click on the Tools link that you will see below the search box. Choose Usage Rights then choose any of the options EXCEPT "Not filtered by license".
- OpenPhotoPhoto sharing site. All images are free under Creative Commons licensing. Check each image for licensing terms.
- PixabayPixabay has their own license arrangement. You may use their images (exlcuding sponsored images from Shutterstock) for commercial or noncommercial purposes, provided you stay with what is allowed under the Pixabay License . (https://pixabay.com/service/license)
- Public Domain Review: ImagesThe Public Domain Review finds items in the public domain and make them easier to find and use. The images in this collection can be used without attribution.
- UnsplashFree high-resolution photos under the Unsplash license which is similar, but NOT the same, as a Creative Commons Zero license. Check the licensing information on the website for details.
- USA.gov- ImagesContains photos from various government departments and agencies such as the Air Force, NASA, and the National Park Service. Most will be either public domain or "United States government work", the rest usually have a Creative Commons license. "United States government work" can be treated as public domain unless the work falls under one of the exceptions listed if you click on the link.
- Wikimedia CommonsProvides access to thousands of public domain and freely licensed photos in a Wikipedia-like online database. Each photo has tools for different functions and usage rights are clearly spelled out using Creative Commons licenses. There are also video and sound files.
