How to Get Free Stock Photos for Your Pitch Deck (Quick Guide) (2023)

How to Get Free Pitch Deck Stock Photos (Quick Guide) – Summary

  • Why do we need free pitch deck stock photos?
  • What is a Stock Photo?
  • Where do Stock Photos Come From?
  • How to Find the Best Stock Photos
  • Why You Should Avoid Copyright Infringement
  • How to Get Stock Photos for Free
  • How to Get the Most from Paid Stock Photos
  • Wrap-up

We’ll start off by explaining:

  1. Why we need photos
  2. What stock photos are
  3. How to find the free stock photos
  4. How to utilize paid stock photos

Free pitch deck stock photos are something every business will need. And although we’re mostly focused on pitching and pitch decks, in general, visual imagery and stock photos are an essential part of your business’ communication. They help make your message more clear and get the responses you are looking for.

For your pitch deck and pitch specifically, we really hope you are using images in your deck. Images are essential for a making a great pitch.

Why Do You Need Photos For Your Pitch Deck?

It’s really important to add images and stock photos into your pitch deck. As humans, we see the world like pictures. So, adding photograph visualsmakes things tangible and easier to understand.It alsoreduces potential barriers like lack of attention, lack of time, and the feeling that this doesn’t apply to me. Visuals make your messaging feel more real and easier to grasp.As you are putting together a pitch deck it’s essential to have images incorporated throughout.

When we are pitching, the pitch deck is either going to be behind us or sent ahead as a visual document to generate interest. The key words there are “Visual Document”.Pictures speak a thousand words and your visual document or pitch deckis going to be telling your story directly or helping you tell it. Rather than expecting your audience tocipher a deck full of text, adding great images throughout your deck makes it much easier for your audience to relate to and grasp.

How to Get Free Stock Photos for Your Pitch Deck (Quick Guide) (1)

What is a Stock Photo?

A stock photo allows an artist to sell their picture to someone who needs to use it. It eliminates the need to pay royalties to the artist for every use and rights are granted to the buyer for the use of the image.

Where do Stock Photos Come From?

Stock photos come from a photographer or artist who has taken or created photos or visuals. They put these images on a stock photo sites with the intent to sell them to many people who want to use them.

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They sell you the stock photo and the license to use that photo. Usually it’s a license for a certain kind of usage so make sure you double check those licenses and usage limits.

When you purchase a stock photo, it allows you to use that photo without the risk of copyright issues. You also don’t have to pay royalties to the photographer who took the photo. Otherwise, you would have to pay royalties to them.

How to Get Free Stock Photos for Your Pitch Deck (Quick Guide) (2)

How to Find the Best Free Pitch Deck Stock Photos

In general, you want to find the best images that captures and convey your message in an immediate way. Using great visuals makes it easier for your audience to understand your message. You can use stock photos and images in different ways throughout the pitch deck.

You can take your own pictures, or find millions of stock pictures online. Online stock photo sites are where you can find thousands of paid stock photos, as well as (to a lesser extent) free stock photo pictures.

How to Avoid Copyright Infringement

Not all pictures are free for you to use. If you go to Google and you start looking for pictures, you can’t use those. It’s not good. Especially when you are putting together a presentation, this is a document that you are using for your business, for the profit of your business and for your own profit.

You cannot use a photo that you just found, that somebody else took. You can’t even use it with citing them on the photo because they may or may not have license rules on whether or not they are allowed to get royalties on the use of that image. Please pay really close attention to that.

Howto Get Free Pitch Deck Stock Photos

How to Get Free Stock Photos for Your Pitch Deck (Quick Guide) (3)
How to Get Free Stock Photos for Your Pitch Deck (Quick Guide) (4)
(Video) How to Make a Killer Startup Pitch Deck?

Unsplash

FYI – We have no monetary incentive or affiliation with Unsplash, although we are users of their site from time to time. We just think it’s great.

If you don’t want to spend money on photos, how do you get free ones? One of my favorite stock photo sites to get free stock photos isUnsplash.com. Unsplash is entire free and they have a vast selection of, really, really interesting photos!

In general, these photostend to be a little bit more on the hipster side of things.

For more solid,clean-cut,business imagery, you’ll have less options on Unsplash although you may find some. If you’re looking for great pictures of coffee shops, mountains [scenery] or travelers in a bustling city like at a market, Unsplash will be a great resource. We’ve seen tons of really good images around these topics. That list is by no means comprehensive and there are a ton of options. It’s really easy to go on there and search for what you’re looking for.

How to Get Free Stock Photos for Your Pitch Deck (Quick Guide) (5)
How to Get Free Stock Photos for Your Pitch Deck (Quick Guide) (6)

Pexels

Another really good free site isPexels. Pexels has a great selection of paid and free images. Pexels is a bit different, as their business model is more like a “premium” image model. They have free and paid images often interwoven together, so that you will have to sift through the free and paid options at the same time. If you fall in love with a picture, it’s possible it will end up a paid photo instead of a free one. Keep that in mind.

How to Get Free Stock Photos for Your Pitch Deck (Quick Guide) (7)
How to Get Free Stock Photos for Your Pitch Deck (Quick Guide) (8)

Google

(…Read on for how to avoid Google Pitfalls with Images)

If you wanted to find free photos and you can’t find what you are looking for on Unsplash, you can look on Google.Butyou have to make sure you have your settings right!

You can find some free options in the search in Google. They are pretty limited I will say and it’s not the best option. You really should go to a stock photo site like Unsplash to get free photos.

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Make Sure You Only Use Licensed Content

On Google when you do a normal Google search, not all of those free pitch deck stock photos are usable. In fact, most of them probably aren’t. They are all licensed photos. They might be on stock photo sites, they might be on people’s sites and you’re able to see them so the person who has posted them on their site has the license, not you.

Although a lot of people and businesses use these images without a license,Don’t Do It!It’s immoral, illegal, and you could possibly be exposing your business to financial liability in using them. See this case in point where theUS Postal Service used an unlicensed version of the Statue of Libertyon their stamps and ended up owing ~$3.5M in royalties. While nothing like that is likely to happen to you, we think it illustrates our point about why you don’t want to use images you don’t have a license for.

Use “Usage Rights” Settings in Google Searches

What you do on Google instead of searching by default is to use theUsage Rights Filter. In your Google Image search you’ll see a a little button for Tools.

1. Open tools and select “Usage Rights”

2. Mark “Usage Rights to Available for Re-use”

After following the above steps you can find images that are listed as legal to use. BUT – still make sure to double checking the licenses where you can, because you just never know, and you want to be careful.

How to Get the Most from Paid Stock Photos

Now that we’ve covered getting free images, we can turn our attention to paid stock photos. There are a lot of paid stock photos out there and they are not too expensive. If you are not finding what you need from free sites, try looking for stock photos that you can purchase. There are some great sites for that and they usually charge by the photo, through a subscription, or a combination of both.

One-off Photo Purchases

Usually paid stock photos don’t require as much searching to find what you’re looking for.In general, if you’re going to buy them one-off, they tend to be around $10, likeShutterstock.com(no affiliation).

You may also find some really expensive ones, like onGetty images(no affiliation). They can be somewhat better, but not always. Even Adobe Stock has premium photos that are around $500 or more. Photos related to trending topics or something in the news can be even more expensive.

Subscription based Photo Purchases

If you have a lot of photo needs, you might also consider paying for a subscription. With a subscription to something like Adobe Stock photo (no affiliation), which has a vast content library, you have the opportunity to us the site as a one-stop shop for photos and images on going.

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Wrap-up

Thanks for checking out our quick guide on how to get free photos for your pitch deck. You definitely want to use photography and custom images in your pitch decks, one pagers, and pitch presentations. There are many places you can go to get those. Again, one of our favorite free sites isUnsplash.comand our favorite paid site isAdobeStock.com

(Again,besides being their customers,we have no affiliation to any option we’ve presented in this guide)

Please Share your Experiences with Stock Photos

If you have other places that you’ve used free pitch deck stock photos, we would love for you to add some links in the comments for people to be able to find. If you have other thoughts on stock photos or why to use pay vs. free photos, we would love to hear your comments below.

Submityour Requests for Additional Topics

If you have ideas you would like us to cover, definitely let us know. We have a link down below to submit your suggestions and would love to hear all of your ideas and questions. Please keep them coming, we love to see them!

Happy Pitching!

Suggest an Upcoming Pitch Hack here:https://info.pitchdeckfire.com/pitch-hack-suggestions
For even more pitch hacks visit us here:https://resources.pitchdeckfire.com/tag/pitch-hacks
**Subscribe for more Pitch Hacks in your inbox every week**

Need help with your pitch? Pitch Deck Fire specializes in pitch deck design and presentation preparation. Sign up to speak to a project lead about your pitch deck, sign up here:https://pitchdeckfire.com/pitch-deck-project-initial-steps/

Seeking funding or preparing for a pitch? Find more resources, check out our other helpful articles and posts here:Resources.PitchDeckFire.com

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FAQs

How do I find stock photos? ›

24+ websites to find free images for your marketing
  1. Unsplash. Unsplash — Free image search. ...
  2. Burst (by Shopify) Burst – Free image search, built by Shopify. ...
  3. Pexels. Pexels – free image search. ...
  4. Pixabay. Pixabay – free stock photos. ...
  5. Free Images. Free images – stock photos. ...
  6. Kaboompics. ...
  7. Stocksnap.io. ...
  8. Canva.

Can you copy stock photos? ›

Stock photos are copyrighted, meaning someone owns them. In order to use them legally, you need permission. Such permission is known as a license, a contract that authorizes you to use the image in certain ways. Without a valid license, you cannot use a stock photo.

How do you pitch an investor in under 2 minutes? ›

But you can tell stories especially small quick relevant stories in the beginning of a presentation

How do I find an image without copyright? ›

Where can I find free public domain images and pictures?
  1. Free Images. FREEIMAGES - Free Images is one of the best sites to locate free stock photos. ...
  2. Google Images with usage rights. ...
  3. Wikimedia Commons. ...
  4. Flickr: The Commons. ...
  5. MorgueFile. ...
  6. StockSnap.io. ...
  7. Unsplash. ...
  8. Picjumbo.
16 May 2020

What is the best stock photo website? ›

Top 10 Stock Photos Websites
  • Freepik.
  • Burst by Shopify.
  • PixaBay.
  • Flaticon.
  • Unsplash.
  • Adobe Stock.
  • Pexels.
  • iStock.
8 Sept 2022

Are Google images stock images? ›

Google Stock Images and Buy From Stock Agencies

Google does not sell stock images, but it is useful to find them for sure. As long as you understand you cannot get any image from Google directly (neither for free nor paying for it), you can use it to search for stock photos.

How do I search Google for stock photos? ›

Utilize Google Images search tools to find stock photos

While it is often illegal to download photos directly from the Google Image search, because it does not only show just public domain photos, you can use the search engine to find images to then purchase from stock photo agencies.

Do you have to cite free stock photos? ›

Image that requires an attribution

The license states that the image is free to use but attribution is required. To use the image as a figure in an APA Style paper, provide a figure number and title and then the image. Below the image, provide a copyright attribution in the figure note.

Can I put my logo on a stock photo? ›

You can even add your logo manually on stock photos, but we'll explain that later. Tie all the photos together with a visual theme. This could be a dominant color, or something more abstract, like people smiling.

What happens if you use copyrighted images without permission? ›

If you use a copyrighted work without authorization, the owner may be entitled to bring an infringement action against you. There are circumstances under the fair use doctrine where a quote or a sample may be used without permission.

What do investors look for in a pitch? ›

The pitch deck should include details of who the people behind your business are, the problem you are trying to solve, your product or service which acts as the solution to that problem, traction, the current market and your competitors, as well as details of your business model and how any successful investment will ...

How long should a pitch last? ›

Keep your presentation to 18 minutes or less and let your audience decide how much further they want to take it.

How can I get free stock images without watermark? ›

Part 3: How to Download iStock images Without Watermark for Free?
  1. Step 1: Visit Google Web Browser. ...
  2. Step 2: Upload iStock Photo. ...
  3. Step 3: Select to Download. ...
  4. Step 1: Go to the TinEye website. ...
  5. Step 2: Upload your iStock Photo. ...
  6. Step 3: Select to Download. ...
  7. Step 1: Go to Downloader.la Website. ...
  8. Step 2: Paste URL of iStock Photo.

Are Pinterest images free to use? ›

Except in unusual cases, Pinterest is not the copyright holder in the images that users pin on the site. Where necessary, you should get permission to use an image from its copyright owner.

Is Canva stock free? ›

Only the highest quality free stock photos. Enhance any design project with the perfect image. Browse and find your match from Canva Photos—a diverse library of millions of free and premium stock photos and assets you can use all the time.

How do you avoid copyright? ›

Six steps to protect against copyright infringement claims
  1. Do not copy anything. ...
  2. Avoid non-virgin development. ...
  3. Avoid access to prior design work. ...
  4. Document right to use. ...
  5. Negotiate for enhanced warranty and indemnity clauses. ...
  6. Document your own work.

How can I legally use copyrighted images? ›

It's by no means impossible to use an image that is copyright-protected – you just need to get a license or other permission to use it from the creator first. In most cases, using the work either involves licensing an image through a third-party website, or contacting the creator directly.

Who pays most for stock photos? ›

Stock photo agencies pay $0.32 per sale of a royalty-free license on average. Stocsky pays the highest commissions, up to $200 per royalty-free sale and $8,100 per extended license. The Shutterstock Contributor program pays out the most money to photographers.

How much is a stock photo? ›

How Much Does a Stock Photo Cost?
Number of ImagesPriceAvg Image Price
200 XXL Images$99 Buy now$0.49 per Image
25 Images$229 Buy now$9.16 per image
60 Credits or Images$520 Buy now$8.67 per image

How much do Shutterstock pay for photos? ›

You earn between 15% and 40% commission when one of your images or videos is downloaded at Shutterstock. This means you get paid $0.10 to $5.80 for images, $10.20 to $39.80 for extended licenses, and $1.25 to $47.92 for each video. In other words, Shutterstock pays you based on your current image and video levels.

Where can I find copyright free images on Google 2022? ›

Here's how you can do that:

- Click on 'Tools' to get the filter menu. - Now, click on 'Usage Rights' and you will see the option to sort images by their license - Creative Commons or commercial use. Google also tells you now how to obtain rights for a licensed image directly from its description.

How do I get free images on Google? ›

Find images with info available on how to reuse them
  1. On your Android phone or tablet, go to images.google.com.
  2. Search for an image.
  3. To narrow results to images with available license info, under the search box, tap Filter Usage rights. ...
  4. Tap the image you want.

How can I download images from Google for free? ›

You can search for images at https://images.google.com or in the Google app. Tap and hold the image until a menu appears. Tap Download Image on the menu.

Are Google Images copyright free? ›

17. Can I take an image from Google search? You cannot download or use images from Google without seeking permission from the copyright holder, unless your use falls within one of the exceptions or the work is distributed under an open licence such as Creative Commons.

What images do you not need to cite? ›

Like written sources, images also need to be properly cited. Images taken from the free Web, an online database, or scanned from a book must be cited in proper form. Images from royalty-free clip art need not be cited.

Do you have to cite stock photos from PowerPoint? ›

According to APA, clip art images from Microsoft programs such as Word and Microsoft PowerPoint do not need a full citation.

Are PowerPoint stock images copyrighted? ›

Not every stock image is protected by copyright, since copyrights protect them only for a limited period of time. That's when it gets into the public domain and you may use it freely without permission. However, since PowerPoint doesn't tell you (for sure) how the image is licensed, you never know.

Are stock photos staged? ›

Yes, they're as real as the photographers taking them, they're as real as the models they're picturing, they're as real as your expectations. With such a large community of creators of so many different professional backgrounds, social statuses, cultures and habits, you will find real photos for sure.

What kind of stock photos sell best? ›

Landscapes that were inaccessible before are now at the top of the stock photography trend. Images that have strong leading lines will continue to be in demand for stock photography. Photos that capture relaxing scenes like beaches, snow-capped trees and fields of flowers will be the most popular.

Why is it called stock photo? ›

Stock photography is existing photos –already created– made available for license by paying a fee to both the artists that produced them and the stock agencies managing them, acquiring the right to use them legally in different ways, while the author retains the copyright of their work.

Can you go to jail for copyright? ›

Can I go to jail for copyright infringement? Yes, violation of copyright laws is considered a criminal offense if the violation is willful and involves a certain amount of commercial profit. Offenders can receive up to 5 years in prison.

How much can I quote without violating copyright? ›

Unfortunately, quoting or excerpting someone else's work falls into one of the grayest areas of copyright law. There is no legal rule stipulating what quantity is OK to use without seeking permission from the owner or creator of the material.

Can I copyright my own work? ›

The practice of sending a copy of your own work to yourself is sometimes called a “poor man's copyright.” There is no provision in the copyright law regarding any such type of protection, and it is not a substitute for registration.

Are stock images free for commercial use? ›

An image that is royalty-free is not necessarily free for commercial use — that is, any use that could lead to buying or selling something. The most reliable image services require you to pay a fee for a license that allows you to use the image for commercial or non-commercial uses, as long as you follow the terms.

How do I get copyright free images on Google? ›

Find images with info available on how to reuse them
  1. On your Android phone or tablet, go to images.google.com.
  2. Search for an image.
  3. To narrow results to images with available license info, under the search box, tap Filter Usage rights. ...
  4. Tap the image you want.

Where can I get free graphics for commercial use? ›

20 Sites to Get Free Stock Images for Commercial Use
  • Unsplash.
  • Realistic Shots.
  • Pixabay.
  • Life of Pix.
  • Gratisography.
  • Free Nature Stock.
  • Magdeleine.
  • Snapwire Snaps.
27 Feb 2015

Is Pexels copyright free? ›

Search through thousands of royalty free images on Pexels. You can use all images for free, even for commercial use. All images are completely royalty free and licensed under the Pexels license. Use them for any project you want.

Can you use stock photos without permission? ›

Stock photographs are readily available images that come with licenses for commercial purposes. Instead of hiring a photographer, you can take these 'ready to use' images and utilize them on various projects. They go hand-in-hand with professional copy. But to use the photos, you need proper permission.

Is downloading images from Google illegal? ›

You cannot download or use images from Google without seeking permission from the copyright holder, unless your use falls within one of the exceptions or the work is distributed under an open licence such as Creative Commons.

How do you avoid copyright? ›

Six steps to protect against copyright infringement claims
  1. Do not copy anything. ...
  2. Avoid non-virgin development. ...
  3. Avoid access to prior design work. ...
  4. Document right to use. ...
  5. Negotiate for enhanced warranty and indemnity clauses. ...
  6. Document your own work.

Where can I find copyright free images on Google 2022? ›

Here's how you can do that:

- Click on 'Tools' to get the filter menu. - Now, click on 'Usage Rights' and you will see the option to sort images by their license - Creative Commons or commercial use. Google also tells you now how to obtain rights for a licensed image directly from its description.

Can I legally use stock photos on my website? ›

As long as they are labeled for commercial use, you can use stock photos in multiple designs and projects with a for-profit purpose, including websites, marketing and advertising, branding, and more.

Are Canva images copyright free? ›

What is allowed? All free photos, music and video files on Canva can be used for free for commercial and noncommercial use. If a photo, music or video file contains an identifiable person, place, logo or trademark, please ensure you check the image source or contact us if you're unsure.

Can I use Google images for commercial use? ›

Unless you have either received express permission from the copyright holder or are using public domain images or images that hold the necessary Creative Commons license, using Google images for your website is violating copyright law and you could be prosecuted.

Are Pinterest images copyright free? ›

Using images on Pinterest

Except in unusual cases, Pinterest is not the copyright holder in the images that users pin on the site. Where necessary, you should get permission to use an image from its copyright owner.

Is Pexels safe from virus? ›

✅ Our security analysis didn't find any cloud or infrastructure risks, which means that Pexels - should be safe to use and relatively protected against cyber-attacks and data breaches caused by hackers. ✅ Our community analysis shows that this app has a decent following.

How does Pexel make money? ›

Business model

Using and downloading the media is free, the website generates income through advertisements for paid content databases. There is also a donation option for users, and while attribution of the content creator is not required, it is appreciated.

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