Last updated June 2, 2018
Why Add A Featured Image?
If you are writing a product review or a post targeting something specific, then an image of your topic makes perfect sense and finding the right image is pretty straightforward. However, there are many times that the topic is more conceptual and you want the featured image to impart an emotive or cognitive flavor.
"What problem am I solving by adding a featured image?"
Featured images are a draw, or lure, like the cover of a book. The image needs to match, make sense, and attract. The featured image is a hook that grabs the reader's attention and helps to keep them on the page.
Paid or Free?
If you are an artist or have one on staff, then you can have the perfect image created for you. For the rest of us, we need access to photographs and other artwork. You can get stock photos, depending on the source and subscription options, anywhere from .50 cents to $10 each. Paid catalogs are often much larger and better indexed. However, if you are reading this post then you are interested in the free options. Free options are sometimes eclectic, and not indexed as well, so expect to do more searching for the right fit.
Usage Rights and Licenses
Here is a list of sites that have photographs and images that you can use for your website. Some have images in the Public Domain, some have a CC0 license, and others allow personal or commercial use, but have their own license.
Public Domain: Images in the public domain are images whose intellectual property rights have expired, been forfeited, or are inapplicable. You can read about public domain works at Wikipedia.
CC0: Images with a Creative Commons Zero license have had all rights waived to the extent allowed by law. You can read about the CC0 license at the Creative Commons website.
Per-site License: You should check the conditions of usage before downloading images from sites that have their own license. The sites listed below allow image use for many circumstances, but your needs may vary.
Note that if the image is a picture of a person then you should check to see if you need a model release. If the image depicts a trademark or other copyright image then you should acknowledge that trademark and may need other permissions.
I've tried to pick sites that have free to use images, without the need for attribution. Also, if figuring out the license terms was confusing or difficult to find, then I skipped that site and did not add it.
Check the license and usage rights of each image you download. Although I've tried to be accurate, you are responsible for images you use. You may want to cite the source of the image or keep notes on image sources for your records.
The List
1 Million Free Pictures
Brust
cc0.photo
Coverr
Short, free videos for your website.
Coverr license - free to use for personal and commercial purposes with restrictions
Focus Fitness
Foodiesfeed
FreeImages
Browse thousands of free photos and illustrations.
FreeImages License - Free for Personal and Commercial use with restrictions
GoodFreePhotos
Gratisography
ImageBase
ISO Republic
Jay Mantri
KaboomPics
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress catalog of prints and photographs has a large number of images organized by collection.
Many collections are CC0, but each collection has a "Rights and Restrictions" link. Not all images are free from copyright.
Life of Pix
Morguefile
New Old Stock
New York Public Library
PDPics
Pexels
Photogen
Quality, high-res free stock photos, and images.
Photogen License - free for personal or commercial use with restrictions
PhotoRack
Photos Public Domain
PickupImage
Picography
Pixabay
Pixnio
Public Domain Archive
SplitShire
Startup Stock Photos
Free photos for startups, bloggers, publishers, websites, designers, developers, creators, and everyone else.
CC0 License
StockSnap
Stokpic
Unprofound
Unsplash
Free high-resolution photos.
Unsplash License - Free of personal and commercial use with some restrictions
Viintage
VisualHunt
