License images you can confidently use for any project (2024)

With our Image Category pages, Shutterstock has anticipated your image needs. Think of each image category page as a curated museum of rich visual content. You can find photos, vectors, and illustrations perfectly suited to your next creative project. From “The Arts” to “Technology” and everything in between, Shutterstock’s Image Category pages make it easy for you to quickly narrow down your image search. Need an image that is of-the-moment? Go to the “Editorial” image category page. There you’ll find high-quality shots from the news and recent current events. Looking for something a bit more timeless? Take a look at the “Vintage” image collection. Subcategory pages such as “Retro styles” and “Antiques/Collectibles” make finding your ideal image that much easier. Many image category pages also include tips on how best to incorporate that type of image into your website, social media platforms, and more.

The term “royalty-free” describes certain types of intellectual property, such as images, that one can use without worrying about paying any royalties. And what exactly are royalties, anyway? Typically, when it comes to copyrighted material, recurring payments or a percentage of earnings made from such material must be paid to the creator or intellectual property owner. These payments are referred to as royalties. If you are planning to use images on your website or social media channels, it is crucial to only select those that are royalty-free, otherwise you must pay royalties to the intellectual property owner. Failure to pay royalties can result in legal consequences for using copyrighted material without permission. Thanks to Shutterstock, however, such worries need never cross your mind. All of our content is royalty-free. Shutterstock compensates its contributors fairly so that you can use the high-quality royalty-free images as you please after paying a single fee.

No, royalty-free and copyright-free are not the same. There are some key differences image users ought to be aware of. When it comes to royalty-free images, users must make an initial payment. After that payment, the image can be used multiple times without the user worrying about paying additional or ongoing fees. The original content creator, or licensor, retains the rights to the image, while the person who paid the initial fee has become a licensee. Copyright-free images, on the other hand, are part of the public domain. This essentially means that a user can utilize the image as they see fit. Attribution or payment to the original content creator is not necessary. There are no legal repercussions one might face from using copyright-free images because there is no one person that can claim sole rights to a given image.

Shutterstock has a number of free image collections filled with royalty-free images for your use. Links to such collections can be found at the bottom of some of the Image Category pages. If you explore the “Abstract” page, for example, you will see a red link to “Download free images.” The high-resolution photos, vectors, and illustrations available in these free collections offer a small taste of the rich variety in our full collections.

With Shutterstock’s powerful search engine, finding high-quality images for your projects has never been easier. Type your keyword into the search bar and explore the vast results presented to you. If you find the millions of images a bit overwhelming, you can quickly and easily narrow your search results by utilizing the filter options. Specify the type of image you want (photo, vector, or illustration) by clicking the dropdown menu beside the search bar that initially reads “All Images.” You can also select the orientation of the image (horizontal or vertical) and a color you want featured prominently in your image. If you are looking for a shot that includes people, click the “With People” filter option. You can further specify by selecting your chosen Age, Ethnicity, Gender, or Number of People from the filter options. With so many filters available, you are sure to find the perfect image for your project in no time.