June 8, 2026
Do you have a favorite site for free photos to use with your writing?
Or do you use paid photos?
When I first started writing blogs, ages ago, one of the first pieces of advice was to include illustrations. Back then, it could be hard for me to find a picture that wasn’t tied up in copyrights. It’s still hard depending on the topic, but not as hard as it used to be.
In forums along the way, I’ve come across several sites with royalty-free photos. I’ve lost track of some of them, and others shut down. That has left me with only two pages bookmarked.
The first is Pexels.com. It offers a mix of photos, drawings, and AI illustrations. It used to have a wide selection of illustrations, but these days it partners with IStock photos and the user needs to be careful about the pictures they choose.
The second is my favorite. Pixabay.com. It’s my go-to. It offers a wide selection of pictures and artists. Yes, users are requested to make a donation to the creator, but it’s not required. And pictures can be downloaded in different sizes, whichever fits the platform being used.
When it comes to covers, my cover artist uses paid photos. We’ve spent hours going through pictures, picking the perfect ones for her to use to create the design. Then she does her magic.
What sites do our authors use? Find out by following the links below.
As always, until next time, please stay safe.
Goal Update! I did it! I have finished the first draft of the Donovan File, The Edwards Investigations. It took longer than I’d expected, but the it’s also longer than I’d plan. It ended up at just over 64,000 words. I’ll likely lose several thousand of those in my first attack at diting.
June 8, 2026
Do you have a favorite site for free photos to use with your writing? Or do you use paid photos?