My favourite sources for free stock photos

by | Sep 20, 2016 | Graphic Design, Web Design

stock photos
Hi, I'm Teresa, owner and Chief Designer here at TotaleSolutions. I have been a web design professional for over 20 years. With a passion for web design and marketing, I have helped hundreds of small and medium businesses establish their online presence. Need help with your online business? Call me on 0408 721 441.

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Great images for blogging, websites and social media are an absolute must. If, like me, your photography skills leave something to be desired (we can’t all be great at everything right?), there are some great stock photos available for downloading free (and copyright free) images for both personal and commercial use.

Check out my favourite free stock photo sites below in no particular order:

https://unsplash.com
Awesome quality, free to use, no attribution required – what more could you ask for?

http://www.gratisography.com
Free high-resolution pictures you can use on your personal and commercial projects. Not your average stock photos, these photos ooze character and charm.

https://picjumbo.com
Providing free photos for personal and commercial projects, there is a large variety to choose from. Free and premium photos available.

http://www.splitshire.com
Excellent quality stock photos that are completely free to download for both personal and commercial use.

http://www.jaymantri.com
Completely free to use and to do whatever you want with. This site features some stunning landscape images.

http://picography.co
Stunning images depicting every-day life at a different angle, free to download and use as you wish.

https://pixabay.com
Quality images that are completely free to use. Most images on Pixabay require no attribution. Videos are also included.

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is an address that is used on the Internet to locate a website, for example totalesolutions.com.au. You need a domain name to be able to access your website on the internet.

What is Web Hosting?

Web Hosting is essentially data storage space, accessed via the Internet, used to host web sites and data files. Every website requires a Web Host to store their website on.

What is “responsive” design?

A responsive website changes its appearance and layout based on the size of the screen the website is displayed on. This can include larger text to accommodate smaller screens, and mobile friendly navigation for easier browsing on smaller screens such as smartphones and tablets. All new websites built by TotaleSolutions are designed to be mobile friendly – this is standard and included in the quoted price.

What is a Content Management System (CMS)?

A CMS is a computer program that allows publishing and modifying content of your website from a central interface. No special software is required, all that is needed to access a CMS is an internet connection and a username and password. The CMS is integrated with the website at the time of building by your web designer.

How Much Will a Website Cost?

There are quite a few factors that are going to affect the ultimate cost of your website. These factors include how many pages you are going to have, if you will sell products on your website, the graphic work involved, and how interactive your website will be. Each website is unique which is why we do not offer set price “packages”. Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we will be happy to provide an obligation free quote based on your individual needs.

Are there any ongoing costs associated with the website?

Domain name registration and hosting are ongoing costs. Generally hosting is paid annually and domain name registration is paid bi-annually. Depending on your requirements, there can also be costs involved in maintaining the site information and keeping the software up-to-date. Content Management Systems are available if you would like to manage the content yourself. We are happy to discuss your requirements.

Are there any hidden costs?

No. We provide a fixed price quote based on your individual requirements. If additional pages or content are requested to be added, or additional functionality is required by you, these will be charged at the hourly rate that is detailed in the quote.

How long will it take for my website to be designed?

The timescale of a website design project is often dictated by the client. If you have a deadline we will endeavour to meet it for you. The most common delay in the creation and completion of a new website is waiting for content (text/images). If you are thinking about getting a website it is a good idea to have all your text and images ready to go – this will speed up the process significantly.

Who creates the content?

No one knows the business better than the person running it, so we leave all text and photos to the client to provide. However, we have made over 100 websites so can offer some handy tips on content creation, which will save you time and make things much easier. We can also recommend professional photographers and copy-writers if required.

Can you re-design an existing website?

Absolutely! If you have an existing website that looks a bit tired or needs a complete overhaul we can help.

How do I update my website?

There are many different methods which can be used to update websites. The method you choose and the functionality we build into your website design is solely up to yourself although of course we will be glad to advise you which method will suit your needs and budget. If you have a small website consisting of just a few pages and will only wish to make changes very infrequently, then it may be more cost effective to have TotaleSolutions to carry out these changes for you. Alternatively, we can provide an online Content Management System (CMS) where you can either update individual products/pages/services or particular sections of your website. e.g. company news. We use the popular content management system WordPress.

Do you offer Maintenance Plans?

Yes! We have WordPress Maintenance Packages available which include regular backups, plugin, theme and core WordPress updates as well as support and content changes if required. Not sure if you need a maintenance plan? Read more about it here.

Why can’t I find my new website in the search engines?

Once your site has been submitted to the top Search Engines they may require several weeks, or even months to actually spider and list your website in their directory. How fast your site is listed depends on each individual Search Engines database update schedule. TotaleSolutions submits each website they create to all the major search engines, which significantly reduces the time it takes before your website starts to appear in search queries.

Who has ownership of the Intellectual Property of my website?

The content of the website is your intellectual property. We will include a disclaimer on each page of your website stating this. Any code, images or graphics created by TotaleSolutions remain the intellectual property of TotaleSolutions. We include at the base of each page the comment that the website was designed by TotaleSolutions with a link to our website. We request that this comment remain unless the site is changed considerably from our initial design by another web designer outside the employment of TotaleSolutions. No code or images created by Total e Solutions can be sold or passed onto others without our express written consent.