By Amy Klein
As a massage therapist, your website, social media, and marketing materials often serve as a first impression for potential clients. Professional photos can make your practice look polished and trustworthy, but hiring a photographer isn’t always in the budget. That’s where free stock photography comes in. Here are 10 free photo sites you can start using today, as well as basic info on photo rights and licensing to keep you out of copyright trouble.
Copyright Basics
Every photo is automatically protected by copyright from the moment it’s taken. That means you can’t use it unless the creator gives you permission.
Royalty-Free vs. Free
“Royalty-free” doesn’t always mean free of cost. It usually means you pay once and can use the photo multiple times without paying additional fees. “Free stock photography,” on the other hand, comes at no cost—but it’s still important to check the license.
Creative Commons Licenses
Creative Commons (CC) is a system that allows photographers to share their work with certain usage permissions.
• CC0 (Public Domain): You can use the photo for personal or commercial purposes, no credit required.
• CC BY: Free to use, but you must give proper credit to the creator.
• CC BY-SA or NC: These may require you to share derivative works under the same license, or limit use to noncommercial purposes, so double-check before using for business.
Attribution
Even when not required, crediting the photographer is a professional courtesy and helps build trust in your content.
10 Free Stock Photo Sites
These sites offer high-quality, free-to-use images (many under CC0 licenses), perfect for your website, flyers, or Instagram posts.
1. Unsplash—A huge collection of modern, lifestyle-friendly stock photos, including wellness and spa-themed imagery.
2. Pexels—Free photos and videos, searchable by theme (try massage, relaxation, or self-care).
3. Vecteezy—A million free stock photos and a curation team that manually reviews every image submitted to the site.
4. Burst by Shopify—Business-focused free stock photos, great for marketing materials.
5. Kaboompics—Stylish lifestyle photos, including wellness, interior, and spa vibes.
6. Noun Project—Diverse and extensive collection of mission-driven photos that’s trusted by over 10 million marketers, designers, and business owners.
7. Pixabay—All-in-one resource for royalty-free stock photos, illustrations, and videos.
8. Nappy—Standout platform for creators seeking diverse stock photography.
9. StockSnap—Large selection of beautiful, free stock photos and high-resolution images. The site also has a handy search feature making it easy to browse.
10. FreeImages—An excellent resource for small businesses and online professionals looking for free high-quality photos.
Quick Tips
To help make your image search most successful, incorporate these pro tips:
• Search for terms like massage, relaxation, spa, self-care, wellness, and healing touch.
• Use consistent imagery across your website and social media to build brand recognition.
• Avoid overused “cliché” stock images unless they genuinely fit your brand.
• When in doubt, double-check the license before using an image commercially.
author bio
Amy Klein is art director for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals.