📸 Let’s face it
Most stock photos scream... well, stock photo.
Overly posed. Overly polished. Weird smiles. Beige backdrops. Zero vibe.
The good news? There are great free photo sites out there - if you know where to look.
Whether you're a food blogger, coach, designer, or content creator, these resources will give your visuals a fresh, on-brand feel without costing a penny.
Today’s Business Example: A Food Blogger
You want to post a tip about prepping healthy snacks for busy weeks - but you didn’t photograph your own.
What you don’t want is a sterile image of a salad on a white plate next to a smiling stranger with a spoon.
Here’s what to use instead.
✅ 5 Free Stock Photo Sites That Don’t Feel Stocky
1. Unsplash
Minimal, clean, high-res. Great for lifestyle, food, interiors, and moody flat lays.
https://unsplash.com
2. Pexels
More modern and diverse than most. Great for real-life looking people, city shots, and food prep.
https://pexels.com
3. Kaboompics
Colourful, styled, and slightly editorial. Fantastic for food, flat lays, and creative textures.
https://kaboompics.com
4. Moose (by Icons8)
Quirky, fun, and very brandable. Use when you want a slightly offbeat or more illustrated look.
https://icons8.com/photos
5. Reshot
Ideal for startups, creators, and anyone who wants that non-cheesy stock vibe.
https://reshot.com
✅ Tips for Finding the Good Stuff
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Search using mood or story, not objects. Try “busy desk” instead of “laptop.”
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Look for overhead, close-up, or candid shots
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Add your own overlays (text, branding, filter) in Canva or Adobe Express to make them feel original
✅ Bonus: Use AI to Suggest Image Pairings
Stuck on what photo to use with your post? Try asking ChatGPT:
“Suggest 3 photo themes I can use with a post about [your topic]. Keep it on-brand and visually interesting for [platform].”
🎯 Why This Works
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Helps your feed look pro, even when you’re short on content
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Builds consistency across posts, blogs, emails, and pins
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Keeps things fresh without having to shoot new content constantly
🔧 Tool of the Day
Use Canva to upload and brand your stock images with your colour overlays, text, and subtle filters.
Or use Adobe Express to animate or resize them for Stories, Reels covers, and Pinterest pins.
📣 Want Help Building a Custom Brand Photo Guide?
I help creators and business owners build content kits that include photo guidelines, custom Canva frames, and go-to stock sources that feel original.
📩 Let’s work together
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Daily AI Prompt to Try
Type this into your favourite AI program.
Today’s Business:
A food blogger creating content about healthy snacking.
“Suggest 5 stock photo ideas that match a blog post about quick healthy snacks. Include mood, style, and angle (flat lay, lifestyle, etc).”
Swap “food blogger” for your business and give your next post an instant visual upgrade.
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