The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Free-Use Images for Your Blog
- Katie Dalpoas
- Feb 21
- 5 min read
Tell me if you’ve ever done this before…
You’ve been invited to a party and asked to bring a dish to share. You’re feeling adventurous, so you grab your phone and start scrolling through recipes, looking for the perfect one.
Finally, you find it. This is the one. It’s going to be a hit.
You follow the recipe to perfection, and the whole ride to the party, your mouth is watering, from how amazing it smells. The moment you walk in, heads turn. People catch a whiff, and they can’t wait to try it.
The first person takes a bite, their eyes roll back, and they let out a dreamy, "Oh my gosh, this is so good."
You flash a smile and casually say, "Oh, it’s just something I whipped up real quick."
And just like that—you take full credit for the recipe.
Sound familiar? Maybe not with food, but in some way or another?
I’ll be honest—I’ve done it. And let’s face it, it’s easy to do. When something is freely available on the internet, it’s tempting to just grab it and claim it as your own.
With recipes, you probably won’t get into much trouble if you "borrow" one for a party. But when it comes to sourcing images for your blog? That’s a whole different story.
Image Sourcing Best Practices
The 3 Commandments
Unlike Moses, we only have three commandments to follow when sourcing images for blogs and published work. And trust me, breaking these could get you in more trouble than you think.
#1: Thou shalt NOT just Google an image and use it.
#2: Thou shalt NOT grab an image from another blog or website (shame!!).
#3: Thou shalt ONLY use pictures and graphics from trusted, free-sourced image sites.
You might be thinking, "But Googling an image is so much faster, and no one is ever going to find out."
First off, taking credit (or just not giving it) for something you didn’t create is extremely unprofessional. If you want to be taken seriously, don’t cut corners.
Secondly, you can get caught.
If the owner of the photo or graphic you swiped finds out, you could face a copyright infringement lawsuit—which, spoiler alert, is way more time-consuming (and expensive) than just using a free-use site in the first place.
Luckily, there are plenty of high-quality, free image sources. And with the right keywords and search strategy, you can find almost anything you need.
Where To Source Free Images
After testing a bunch of options, I’ve found these three sites to be the best for free images. Below, I’ll walk you through how to use each one effectively. And remember, once you find the pics of your dreams, don’t forget to add the artist/author attributes in your blog’s alt text or description to give them credit.
1. Pixabay
Pixabay offers free stock photos, illustrations, vector graphics, videos, music, and sound effects. Here’s how to grab an image:
Go to Pixabay.com.
Type your keyword in the search bar.
Be careful—the first few results are sponsored (paid) images. Scroll down until you see "Royalty-Free Images".
Find your image, click on it, hit the green download button, choose your size, and you’re good to go!
2. Pexels
Pexels provides free stock photos and royalty-free videos. It’s even easier to use:
Head over to Pexels.com.
Type your keyword in the search bar.
Scroll until you find the photo you like.
Click the green download button—boom, done!
3. Unsplash
Unsplash is known for its high-resolution, artistic photos. It has one extra step compared to the others:
Visit Unsplash.com.
Search for your image.
Click the “License” button.
In the dropdown, check the “Free” option to filter out paid content.
Download your chosen image.
A Few Things to Remember When Searching
✔ Even free sites sometimes include paid images. If an image asks for a credit card, it’s not free—keep scrolling.
✔ Search functionality on these sites isn’t always the best. Play around with keywords and filters to find what you need.
✔ If you’re unsure, check the license. While most images on these platforms are free for commercial use, some may require attribution.
With these best practices, you’ll always have great, legal images for your blog.
Choosing the Right Image for Your Blog is Important
Pictures are powerful.
They can stir emotions, enhance your message, and explain concepts in ways that words alone sometimes can’t. That’s why picking the right images for your blog is just as important as the words you write.
Put thought into your choice. If the picture doesn’t vibe with your blog, it becomes distracting – and that’s the last thing you want.
Why Images Matter in Your Blog
Most people don’t read a blog word for word. They scan first, looking for the sections that interest them most. Well-placed images and graphics help guide readers, making it easier for them to find key points.
But that’s not all. Images create connection. A good visual breaks up long text, keeps readers engaged, and encourages them to stick around, which means they’re more likely to read (and remember) your content.
Use Images to Rank Higher With SEO
Beyond making your blog more enjoyable to read, images also help with SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
Search engines love content that keeps people engaged, and readability plays a huge role in rankings. A blog with relevant images is more likely to hold readers’ attention—helping your writing rank higher on Google.
Why Image Alt Text is a Game Changer
A big part of image optimization for SEO is Image Alt Text—a simple yet powerful tool.
Alt Text is the must-include description you add to an image that tells search engines (and any visually impaired users) what the image is about. It may seem like a small detail, but it has huge benefits:
✔ Improves accessibility – Helps those with visual impairments understand your content.
✔ Boosts page performance – Helps readers in areas with slow internet, as Alt Text can describe images even if they don’t load.
✔ Enhances SEO – Search engines rely on Alt Text to understand images, making your blog more discoverable.
When done right, your images don’t just make your blog look better—they help it perform better, rank higher, and reach more people.
Use Canva to Customize Images
If you haven’t jumped on the Canva bandwagon yet, what are you waiting for?!
Canva has revolutionized the freelancer's life, making it ridiculously easy for anyone—yes, even non-designers—to create stunning, custom images and graphics with just a few clicks.
The best part? It’s free. And no, you don’t need a graphic design degree to use it.
Canva lets you take those free-use images and elevate them to match your blog’s theme, branding, or message. In fact, it took me all of two minutes to transform this simple picture of a skateboarding dog into the perfect visual for my blog.
If you’re serious about blogging, Canva is a must-have tool in your freelancing arsenal. Give it a try—you’ll wonder how you ever worked without it!
Wrapping It Up: Start Sourcing Smarter!
Using the right images for your blog doesn’t just make your content look amazing. It also helps with engagement, SEO, and professionalism. By following best practices and using free-use images the right way, you’ll keep your blog safe, credible, and visually appealing.
If you’re looking to step up your blogging game and take your writing (and business) to the next level, check out Dez with The Pajama Writer. She’s a mom who’s found her “secret sauce” and has created some great tools and insights to help freelancers like you build a successful, sustainable career.
You can also follow her on socials for extra tips and support on the writing journey.
Now get out there, source those free images, and take your blog game to the next level.
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