We all strive to make our blogs as creative, vibrant and appealing as possible. Sometimes, we need an extra boost to really spice things up, but it can be frustrating when you do not know where to look for high-quality aesthetics. Many sites charge fees for the use of their photos, while others watermark their images if used for free. Neither of these scenarios may be desirable to you, so the search for quality, free imagery becomes the best route. These five sites offer great access to stock-free photos, giving you the ability to make your website shine without spending a dime.

FreeDigitalPhotos

Offering images for use in both corporate and personal settings, FreeDigitalPhotos boasts an expansive collection of images that cover most major categories. While images are free, there is a small credit in the lower portion of the photo. Fortunately, there are no watermarks or other obstructive elements in each image. They also offer versions of each photo without credits for just $3 per image. You can download the images instantly and there is no requirement to register or join the site.

Flickr

Definitely one of the most popular photo publishing and sharing sites on the web, Flickr has millions upon millions of images to browse and use. Advanced search options allow you to select photos that can be used without crediting, and you can even search images by color and size. Those who seek to have a consistent color scheme fitted with like images can use these features to find hundreds of suitable choices in just a couple of minutes.

Microsoft Images

If you need a variety of images – whether that be clipart, photos or sketches – Microsoft Images is a great site to use. With easily labeled categories and intuitive search features, you can quickly find an image that is suited for your site. Downloading images and photos is easy, with no registration needed. You can also utilize this same platform through the Microsoft Office suite of software; inserting photos into letters and projects is just as easy as finding them for your blog!

EveryStockPhoto

Boasting millions of stock-free photos that can be found using tags and colors, EveryStockPhoto makes finding your perfect image that much simpler. Not only can you search by category, but you can also find images based on specific keywords (Tip: Keyword suggestions for your blog can be obtained through Pingler’s Keyword Suggestion Generator). Each licensed photo has clear instructions on what information must be displayed in conjunction with the photo, giving you a standard way of determining how to credit the owner.

Stockvault

What it lacks in quantity is more than made up for in quality. Stockvault offers nearly 30,000 high-quality images that can be examined in a variety of ways. For starters, those who need access to EXIF data can easily find it displayed alongside each image. You can also rate each photo, giving others an idea of the overall quality. These photos can only be used for personal or non-commercial use, so do keep this in mind when browsing Stockvault.