BigStockPhoto is my new favorite images supplier and most of those that you see in the Featured Content Gallery on the homepage here at NetProfitsToday are from BigStockPhoto. I also use them on 101Date.com and MyEnergyPal.
BigStockPhoto is a royalty free stock photography site that serves up BEAUTIFUL images on the cheap.
You can pick up images for as low as $1 a piece if you purchase 300 credits – $1.40 a piece for 100 credits. 10 credits will cost you $20. Or, you can buy just one credit (photo) for $2.50.
Image downloads cost from 1-6 credits depending on the size of image you want. A typical 900 x 600 pixel images (perfect for the web) costs only 1 credit.
The only stipulation is that BigStockPhoto requests that you abide by a “fair use” policy – eg. that you purchase a new copy of the image if you plan to use it on a different project (site). Fair enough, at a buck, most of us should be able to afford to do that.
Searching and finding images is easy. You may search by keyword, category, subject, DPI, quality, orientation and photographer as well as by:
- Newest Photos Uploaded
- Featured Collections
- Most Popular
Each photo returned shows how many times it has been downloaded.
Photo Collections include seasonal, educational, people, objects, corporate, business, nature, food, animals and more themes.
What I particularly like about the search function is that you can choose to hide graphics (if you want photos only) and select your prefered orientation (horizontal or vertical) which is very handy for the Featured Content Gallery which has a horizontal orientation on this website.
Also handy if you’re setting up a new website are BigStockPhoto’s button collections.
Overall, I’ve found the image quality to be VERY good – not exceptional – but very good, especially for website use.
But best of all, BigStockPhoto is less expensive than other stock photography suppliers. 
About Rosalind Gardner
Hello,
then upon looking round the website the pictures inspired me with ideas and design for my website and I have come away feeling refreshed and uplifted and very excited about it!
Thank you Ros as always your timing was spot on..I am in the intial stages of designing my website and suddenly thought..where do I get my pictures from for my website! sometimes it’s the obvious you miss
I am determined with hard work and study (and alot of learning!) I will succeed with my website..so onwards and upwards..thanks Ros.
Melanie
Thanks for the tip on the site! I use a lot of photos because I post on several blogs that ask for photos with each post. I’ll definitely check it out!
Question – with all the free photo places abounding on the net (some really really good) do you truly feel as if you still have to pay for photos?
Big Stock Photo sounds like a good deal but free sounds even better.
Can you list a few good ones that you have used?
The only I’ve used so far is Google images, but there are TONS available. Hit up a Google search but be prepared for a dizzying amount of return.
I love using pics in my blogs & sometimes it’s not easy finding the best ones for my subject.
I like using free images but sometimes you just gota pay for other ones you like.
I’ve used two different photo sources to date: iStockphoto and Stockxpert. Both of these sites has immense libraries of photos and generally credits go for a $1. Larger images might cost multiple credits, but the majority of web designs will do well for 1-credit purchases.
But with iStockphoto, I found two issues that, over time, pushed me over to Stockxpert. The first was that their licensing is more restrictive if you want to use a photo on a T-shirt, for instance. You can overcome the limitations by purchasing a sort of volume licensing that they offer for use in a merchandising manner. The other was that credits expire! You can get a good deal by purchasing credits in blocks, but they expire if you don’t use them in whatever the time frame is – a year I think. I don’t know about you, but when I deposit money in the bank, I don’t expect the bank to keep it after a year if I don’t spend it! Nor do I believe in expiring credits. I bought ‘em, I expect to use ‘em – on MY terms, and in MY timeframe.
A photographer in Poland, who’s work I particularly liked, told me to check out Stockxpert for less restrictive licensing. I did, and found them to be and excellent alternative source. Their credits don’t seem to expire either.
It pays to have several sources of photos for your web design and merchandising needs, but BE SURE to read ALL of the fine print so you understand the terms of your account and usage you are permitted.
For example i have tried photl.com with their free stock images. SO far havent been disappointed)))