Royalty-free stock photos and images

Stock photos are professional images created by photographers, designers, and other content contributors. Along with vectors and illustrations, they are distributed through content platforms like DepositPhotos. Stock photos offer a quick and cost-effective way to access high-quality images on almost any topic, suitable for a wide range of projects—from creative to commercial.

Royalty-free stock photography means that images are sold under a license that allows you to pay for an image once and use it for an unlimited period, as specified in the terms of the agreement. This type of license means you don’t have to pay royalties for each additional use. With a royalty-free license, images are available on a non-exclusive basis and can be purchased by anyone.

“Royalty-free” does not mean that images are free to use. Instead, it refers to a stock photo licensing model that grants you image rights after a one-time payment, providing indefinite access without additional royalties for each application.

Although DepositPhotos primarily distributes royalty-free files, we also offer a large collection of free images that can be downloaded at no cost for personal or business purposes. The only requirement when using free visuals is proper attribution of the source.

Yes. If you are a professional photographer or an enthusiast who produces images with commercial appeal, you can upload and sell your photos on content platforms, including DepositPhotos.

To make money from stock photos on DepositPhotos, you need to become a contributor:

Step 1. Register as a contributor on our website.

Step 2. Upload your five best files for examination.

Step 3. After passing the examination, begin building your portfolio with photos.

Important note: To sell photos on DepositPhotos, you must be at least 18 years old.

Stock photography contributor earnings depend on your level and start from $0.25 per download. The more files you sell, the higher your contributor level and overall income. Commissions are also influenced by the type of license under which the photo is sold and the resolution at which it is purchased.

The cost of photos varies depending on the content platform. Prices also differ based on the type of plan and license you select. DepositPhotos offers affordable image plans for both individuals and businesses, with prices starting at just $0.19 per download.

You can find our free stock photography collection in the Images section of the website header (select Free pictures from the dropdown menu) or in the website footer. You can also apply the Free filter in the search bar to display only free DepositPhotos images.

DepositPhotos offers two stock photo license types: Standard and Extended. Both allow businesses to use purchased images across various digital and print materials, including social media, websites, apps, packaging, brochures, and more.

When comparing the Standard vs Extended license, the difference comes down to usage rights:

• A Standard License covers the most common personal and commercial purposes. It allows up to 500,000 copies but excludes items for resale where stock images add significant value.

• An Extended License includes all Standard rights, removes print limits, and additionally allows the creation of items for resale or free distribution.

If your company plans to use stock images for products intended for resale, you’ll need to purchase Packs with an Extended License. Each Pack provides a set number of image downloads (5, 10, 25, or 50), valid for one year from the date of purchase. You can download the files at any time within a year as needed.

The commercial use of stock images requires the right license and an understanding of stock photo license restrictions. The Standard License covers the most common uses but limits print runs to 500,000 copies and excludes products for resale or free distribution where the image adds significant value. In those cases, you’ll need an Extended License.

Choosing the best plan for your business depends on how often you need stock images:

• A stock photo subscription is the ideal option if your company requires a steady stream of visuals for ongoing content creation.

• Image packs are the better choice if you only need visuals occasionally for specific campaigns or projects.

To make your brand stand out, choose images that reflect your brand’s voice and visual identity. If you want to discover niche stock photos, try these tips:

1. Use the “Fresh” option in advanced search filters to find trending files that haven’t been widely used.

2. Browse our thematic collections and curated DepositPhotos blog collections for hand-picked visuals.

3. Follow authors whose style aligns with your brand and search for images directly within their portfolios.

DepositPhotos does not accept AI-generated content from contributors. However, users can create their own unique visuals with our built-in AI Image Generator. Simply enter a text prompt and get four AI-generated stock photos in seconds.

Every DepositPhotos plan includes unlimited generations, with downloads counted the same way as files from the main library. All AI-generated images are provided under the Standard License, ensuring clear AI licensing terms for safe commercial use.

Manually erasing backgrounds, enlarging images, or creating visuals from scratch can take hours. Tools like the Background Remover, AI Image Generator, or Upscaler reduce this to minutes, sometimes even seconds, freeing up time from routine work and helping you optimize your creative workflow.