What exactly is Unsplash? Unsplash images are free stock images that can be used by anyone. So how does it work, are there rules for using free images and what are the pros and cons? Read on..
The Good
- It’s free to use – Unsplash is a great resource if you’re on a budget.
- All the photos on the website are free to download and use, and there are no restrictions on how you can use them.
- You can use them for commercial or non-commercial purposes, and there’s no need to give attribution.
- If you are a photographer, the website gives you great exposure to put your work in front of millions of users.
- You can get clients from your portfolio on Unsplash.
The Bad
- The website doesn’t allow over-edited or over-saturated photos on its platform.
- There are a lot of photographs on the website, and chances of getting noticed are low.
- The website has many images, so finding the right image for your project might be challenging.
Verdict: Unsplash Images are free to use and there are millions of options. For photographers, it’s a great way to get exposure.
Introduction – Unsplash Images review
In today’s internet-driven world, having high-quality, professional photos for your website or blog is more important than ever.
However, finding a good picture that is both affordable and legal can be a challenge. Fortunately, several online resources offer royalty-free stock photos that you can use for your personal or commercial projects.
In this blog post, we’ll review one such website, i.e., Unsplash; we will answer all the frequently asked questions about Unsplash.
What is Unsplash?
Unsplash.com is a website that offers free, high-resolution photos. The site was launched in 2013 by a team of photographers who wanted to create a source of high-quality, royalty-free images.
Since then, Unsplash has become one of the most popular sources of stock photos, with an estimated 31 million users per month.
The website features a curated collection of pictures from various categories, including nature, travel, and architecture. Users can search for specific images or browse the collection by category.
Whether you’re looking for free stock photos for your blog or paid membership for access to exclusive content, Unsplash is a great option. There are similar sites out there also with free stock images, such as Pexels and Pixabay.
Is Unsplash really free to use?
Yes, Unsplash is free to use! All the photos on the site are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license, meaning you can copy, modify, and distribute them for any purpose – even for commercial use – without asking for permission.
This makes Unsplash one of the best sources of free stock photos on the web. However, you cannot compile photos from Unsplash to replicate a similar or competing service.
How does Unsplash work?
Unsplash allows photographers from across the globe to upload photos on the website; anyone can upload their photos. The process is pretty simple – once you create an account and upload your photos, they will be available for anyone to download and use.
There is no fee for uploading your photos, and you retain the copyright to your work. However, submitting your photos to Unsplash grants the site a non-exclusive, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute your image.
You need to follow specific guidelines while uploading the pictures; make sure your photos are high-quality and meet the Unsplash standards. Once approved, your photos will be available for download on the site.
Over 300,000 creators contribute to the website, making it one of the most extensive collections of free stock photos.
Not only that, the website has a constructive community that anyone can join using slack. The Unsplash chat room makes it simple to interact with the community in real-time, whether you’ve got a question, want feedback on your latest photo, or need pointers on where to shoot.
“The “free” in “royalty-free” only means that you do not have to pay royalties to the owner of the image every time you use it.”
buffer.com
What can you find on Unsplash?
It offers a collection of stock-free photos that anyone can download and use for personal or commercial purposes. Many different types of images and 3D renders are provided on the platform.
Some of the best and trending categories of photos on Unsplash include nature, landscape, buildings & architecture, business, people, animals, food & drinks, and many more.
The photos are high resolution and come with multiple licenses; you can use the pictures for your website, blog posts, social media posts and for commercial purposes.
Another great feature Unsplash offers is to search via images, i.e., you can upload any image, and it will provide you with similar or better-quality pictures. This is an excellent feature for bloggers as they can directly find the photos they are looking for without spending time on Google search.
How does Unsplash make money?
Unsplash makes money by displaying sponsored advertisements on its platform. The firm collaborates with Microsoft and SquareSpace to provide a variety of ad spots.
It also makes money via affiliate marketing; until 2017, Unsplash was a lead-generating system for its parent firm Crew, a marketplace connecting designers and developers who needed its services.
Users would go to Unsplash to discover photographs, and if they needed design or development services, they would engage freelancers from Crew.
The company also makes money via brand deals; in late 2019, the website released the strategies that generated revenue for the site. It started collaborating with companies like Google, Harley-Davidson, Square, Boxed Water, Le Creuset, and Timberland.
Now the website is one of the most famous stock-free image sites and gets millions of hits per day, making it a lucrative ad inventory for many prominent organizations.
What are the benefits of uploading photos for use on Unsplash?
There are a lot of benefits of uploading photos on Unsplash. As a contributor, you can get your name and profile photo in front of millions of people who use Unsplash daily.
It’s an excellent way to build your portfolio and showcase your work to a broader audience. And since you retain the copyright to your photos, you can use them however you want, whether on your website, blog, or social media.
Plus, it’s a great way to get started in the stock photography business. So if you’re looking to make some extra money from your photos, Unsplash is a great place to start.
It will not only help you get feedback for your photography skills but will also help you focus on what type of images are in demand. Uploading photos on Unsplash is a great way to get started in the stock photography business and build your portfolio.
Are there rules for using Unsplash images or videos?
Yes, Unsplash has laid down some guidelines that users need to follow while using the images from its website.
● When it comes to commercial use, you can use the photos on your website, blog, or social media as long as the primary purpose is not to sell them.
● There is no such requirement for a specific camera or equipment. Anyone with a mobile phone camera can also start uploading photos on Unsplash.
● The website only allows the submission of images and 3d renders; 5 megapixels is the minimum number of pixels for a standard landscape orientation photograph. You’ll need at least 2500 by 2000 pixels to shoot a picture in this format.
● The website doesn’t allow over-edited, over-sharpened, and over-saturated photos on its platform.
● You must be the original photographer of the image you submit to Unsplash. The website doesn’t allow stock images; all submitted photos must be your original work.
● Nudity and pictures containing sexually explicit content are not permitted on Unsplash. Your submission to Unsplash must not have any watermarks, logos, or brand names.
● The site also doesn’t allow images with hateful, violent, or discriminatory content.
“Unsplash is home to a growing community of photographers—from hobbyists, professionals, emerging brands and everyone in between.”
unsplash.com
Advantages of using Unsplash
There are a lot of benefits of using the Unsplash website; here are some of them.
- It’s free to use – Unsplash is a great resource if you’re on a budget.
- All the photos on the website are free to download and use, and there are no restrictions on how you can use them.
- You can use them for commercial or non-commercial purposes, and there’s no need to give attribution.
- If you are a photographer, the website gives you great exposure to put your work in front of millions of users.
- You can get clients from your portfolio on Unsplash.
Disadvantages of using Unsplash
Apart from the advantages, you should be aware of some disadvantages of using Unsplash.
- The website doesn’t allow over-edited or over-saturated photos on its platform.
- There are a lot of photographs on the website, and chances of getting noticed are low.
- The website has many images, so finding the right image for your project might be challenging.
FAQs about Unsplash Images:
Who is the owner of Unsplash?
Gettyimages acquired the Unsplash website in March of 2021.
Can I use Unsplash images on my website?
You can use the images on your website, social media, or any other project for free.
Do you have to join Unsplash to use their images and videos?
No, you don’t have to sign up or join the website to download the images; one can go to the website and download the pictures as per their requirement.
Are Unsplash images safe to use?
Yes, It is one of the trusted websites on the internet, with millions of users visiting it every month.
How much is Unsplash worth?
Unsplash received $31.3M in funding before it got acquired by Gettyimages. The amount of acquisition by Getty was not disclosed by the company.
Captain FI is a Retired Pilot who lives in Adelaide, South Australia. He is passionate about Financial Independence and writes about Personal Finance and his journey to reach FI at 29, allowing him to retire at 30.
