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STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

Discover over 400 million high-quality diverse stock photos at your fingertips.

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Why licensing stock photos matter

Instant access, endless possibilities

Need photos fast? Skip the photoshoot, skip inauthentic AI-generations, and download high-quality original images from ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏin seconds. Know what you're getting instantly, and find the perfect visuals for your project without the hassle.

We capture the real

We're one of the few photo agencies who are committed to championing photographers and artists who work in the real world. We do not accept AI-generated imagery of any kind, and you can be assured that the photos you find show real people, real places and real things.

Think global, find local

Need stunning visuals for your next campaign? Cut down on air travel and emissions by licensing photos from Alamy's diverse and worldwide community of photographers. Explore our vast collection of authentic, localized content to discover unique imagery.

Curated photo collections

Our Curation Team have used their expertise to create these photo collections, helping you discover exceptional visuals quickly. Explore a treasure trove of over 50 curated collections below.

For the very latest trends and for more image-inspiration check out our 'Fresh Picks'.

Explore Fresh Picks

Level up your knowledge with trending articles

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Alamy’s commitment to championing authentic photography

We share why original photography and authentic imagery will always be valued across our news, editorial, archive and creative content.

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Why you shouldn’t just use imagery you find on Google

Because it can be all-too-easy to save an image and insert it into your own marketing.

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The comprehensive guide to buying stock photos

We take a deep dive into licensing, releases, pricing, file sizes and much more.
Aerial view of Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) lunge-feeding, with mouth open and throat pouch distended, southern Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Baja California, Mexico.

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Stock photos frequently asked questions

What are stock photos? 

Stock photography (or stock photos) refers to images that are licensed to buyers based on the intended usage. They’re usually uploaded to a stock library-such as Alamy-where users can search for images based on keywords.

Are stock photos copyrighted? 

Yes, the photographer still owns the copyright to the image. The purchased licence simply serves as formal permission to use an image for the specified use.

Why do people use stock photos? 

Stock photos are used because they’re cheaper and faster than booking a bespoke photoshoot. Furthermore, stock libraries can provide an abundance of choice to ensure you can find the perfect picture.

In summary, these are just some of the reasons why you’d use stock photos:

  • Cheaper than a bespoke photoshoot

  • Faster than doing it yourself

  • High-resolution quality suitable for printing

  • Seemingly unlimited choice

  • Peace of mind regarding any legal concerns

  • Easier to get the right licence

  • Constantly updated

  • Useful for mock-ups to check if the picture you chose works for you or your client

  • Some libraries have additional services like picture research

What does royalty-free mean? 

RF image licences are broad and don’t have any restrictions besides the size of the image. They offer great flexibility as they can be used multiple times across different projects without incurring any extra costs.

You simply choose the image size you need and away you go! You can now use that image anywhere you want, however many times you want. This versatility is what makes RF images so popular today.

Furthermore, if you think you’ll be using the image in multiple places but not sure where or when, then RF images give you freedom as you don’t have to commit to any licensing decisions besides the image size.

What does rights-managed mean?

Rights-managed image licences require you to specify exactly how, where, and for how long you’ll be using any particular image. So the licence agreement is much more specific and if you discover that you need to use it in another way that isn’t specified in the licence, then you’ll need to get a new one. RM images are efficiently priced due to how specific the licence is.