In a world where representation matters, finding high-quality stock photos featuring African Americans can be a challenge. It's important for businesses and content creators to have access to a diverse range of imagery that reflects the world we live in.
Including diversity in your website and digital marketing is crucial for building a more inclusive brand. If you're looking for royalty-free pictures of Black and Brown people, this post has got you covered. We've compiled a list of stock photography websites that feature a diverse range of African American images. Let's dive in and explore these valuable resources.
1. Nappy - Free
Looking for high-quality, free stock photos of black and brown people that don't look like stock photos? Look no further! These stunning and unique images are perfect for any project. With a convenient search feature and categories like Active, Food, People, Places, Things, and Work, it's easy to find the perfect photo for your needs. Best of all, these images are completely royalty-free!
2. CreateHER Stock - Free Options or Subscription
As a content creator, I'm always on the lookout for unique and diverse stock photos, and CreateHer Stock is one of my top picks. This website offers a wide variety of stock photos, with a focus on black women. What sets them apart is their emphasis on natural hair, making them a great option if you're looking for authentic and inclusive visuals. CreateHer Stock caters to a variety of niches, from wellness to seasonal photos and flatlays, all with content creators in mind. You can browse their free gallery or upgrade to their premium subscription starting at just $10.00/month for access to over 2500 images.
3. PicNoi - Free
PicNoi provides a decent assortment of images featuring people of color, aiming to address the lack of diversity in stock photography and empower creators to represent the vibrant world around us. What sets them apart is their convenient "Download All" feature, which allows you to easily access and use their images while on-the-go.
4. Tonl - Free, Paid or Subscription
Tonl is an amazing site that offers high-quality and inclusive stock photos featuring individuals of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Their main aim is to challenge the traditional, monotonous look of stock photography by showcasing the beauty of everyday people.
Tonl has a free section under the category "Take" where you can access some incredible photos that you can use for your blog posts or other creative endeavors. Additionally, they have premium plans that offer you access to more high-quality stock photos. You can purchase a single photo a la carte for $25 or opt for a subscription starting at $29 per month, which gives you access to 15 photos. With a subscription, it's essential to download your 15 photos to get your money's worth.
5. Mocha Stock - Paid
Mocha Stock provides a range of affordable and royalty-free stock media that highlights people of color. Though their images require payment, they offer a wide array of unique and diverse options. If you're unable to find the perfect image on other sites, you may find exactly what you need on Mocha Stock and be willing to invest some money to obtain it. Their prices range from $11.00 to $450.00 depending on size, but the smallest size is likely sufficient for most blog-related purposes.
6. Pexels - Free
Pexels has an ever-growing and pretty inclusive selection of free stock photos and videos, making it a go-to site for diverse images.
7. Unsplash - Free
Discover a beautiful selection of diverse images on Unsplash, showcasing a variety of POC. Simply enter your search query in the bar and start exploring!
8. Raw Pixel - Free (limited) or Subscription
Raw Pixel has a stunningly unique collection of diverse images. While they offer a free section with up to 5 images per day after registration, additional photos can be obtained from their very affordable subscription service. For personal use, such as blogging and social media, the subscription cost is only $5.00 per month.
9. Women of Color in Tech - Free (must attribute)
These stock photos are ideal if you're searching for tech-based stock photos or anything in a business/office environment! Curated by Women of Color in Tech, these photos can be copied, distributed, and displayed as long as you attribute #WOCinTech Chat or wocintechchat.com.
10. Jopwell - Free (must attribute)
Jopwell, a career advancement platform for people of color, offers an extensive collection of free stock photos that feature diverse and inclusive people of color in various business settings. These images can be copied, distributed, and displayed with attribution to Jopwell or Jopwell.com.
In conclusion, representation matters. It's vital that we showcase diverse images in our marketing and website design, and these stock photography sites make it easy to do so. With a wide range of high-quality, royalty-free images available, you can effectively communicate your message and connect with a broader audience. Don't limit yourself to the same old stock photos; explore these websites and discover the beauty and richness of diversity.