Top 5 Stock Photo Websites for Luxury Brands

Is it just me, or have you also seen these three photos five thousand times?

I mean, they’re great, and finding the perfect stock photo is like searching for a needle in a haystack. It takes forever! Unless… (drum roll plz) you know exactly where to look.

After literal YEARS of scouring the internet for the perfect stock photo for a huge variety of different projects, we’ve compiled a list of our favourite (free and paid!) stock photo sites that offer unique and high quality images. These are the sites we turn to again and again, and I know they’ll save you hours of searching too.

What are styled stock photos?

Forget the generic images of smiling people in suits. Styled stock photos are a completely different vibe than traditional stock photos.

Styled stock photos — particularly the ones we’re talking about today — are professionally curated collections and they’ve got a modern, consistent aesthetic.

They focus on lifestyle, fashion, and creating a mood… which is gold when it comes to creating a strong brand. They’re perfect for bloggers, social media managers, and any service provider who wants to elevate their visual content!

The benefits of using styled stock photos

Now, here’s the real magic.

You can say goodbye to hours spent sifting through endless stock photo websites for images that actually feel like you.

Oh, and even if you’ve had a professional brand photo session done (we’ve done a few!) — it’s so nice to have something fresh to mix in with that $800 professional headshot. Let’s be honest, you’ve probably gotten your money’s worth out of those photos by now! And it’s so fun to mix & match brand photos with stock photos. See this in action right here on our services page!

When you use styled stock photos, you’ll have a constant supply of stunning visuals for your Pinterest pins, marketing graphics, blog images, newsletters, courses, website, reels… you name it! (WOWZA we need a lot of images these days!) No more “I’ll save this draft till I have the perfect photo” excuses.

Free vs paid stock photos: which one is right for you?

Free stock photo websites are AMAZING for you if you’re on a tight budget. They offer a ton of high quality images that’ll elevate your content quickly. The disadvantage to using these sites is that you might find your photo on 10 other websites.

Paid stock photo libraries, on the other hand, offer a more curated selection (yes plz!) with less chance of running across the same image multiple times. Plus, you’re able to support the photographers who create these amazing visuals!

If you’re just starting out, go with the free photos. But as your business grows, investing in a paid subscription is definitely worth considering!

Okay! On to our favourites!

Why we love Unsplash

Let’s be honest, free is usually a good thing. But Unsplash goes above and beyond with their free membership — their photos are the best quality of anything we’ve seen, and they don’t look like stock photos. Unsplash has a little bit of everything, from landscapes (like, wow!) and captivating portraits to abstract art and patterns. So fun!

Their paid collection is even better — and yeah, it’s a bummer to pay for something that used to be 100 percent free, BUT!! (1) It’s still way more bang for your buck than something like Adobe Stock (which we also use and love) or Getty Images; and (2) when you’re looking for something truly unique or you want even more selection, their low-cost membership is perfect.

👉 Pro tip:

If you’re using the free version, filter out the paid photos or you’ll end up with more FOMO than a cat watching birds through the window.

👉 Price: FREE, or you can get Unsplash+ for $7 CDN per month (also can I just say how much I appreciate a company that converts into Canadian dollars for us!)

Why we love Pexels

It’s like Unsplash, but with a slightly different vibe. And honestly, the free Pexels video library is second to none — so if you’re looking for a video, that’s where it’s at.

👉 Pro tip:

Our personal favourite creator on pexels? @cottonbro. Their library alone is a rabbit hole of goodness that you can dive into — it can almost stand alone as its own separate stock photo / video website!

👉 Price: FREE

Why we love Kaboompics

These guys have been our best-kept secret for literal YEARS and we’re scratching our heads as to why we’re not seeing more of their galleries all over the internet. Not mad about it though, because it gives us access to incredible free images that haven’t been seen a billion times. Love how they always release a collection exactly at the time that we need it.

👉 Pro tip:

Don’t be shy about going through their older stuff! It’s not the same-old-same-old “aesthetic” beige photos that you’ve seen a hundred times. Lots of colour, and lots of variety!

👉 Price: FREE

Why we love Elevae Visuals

Um, hi, the photos are GORGEOUS. And the best part is, they really focus on inclusivity and diverse representation, which we can all appreciate! They add new stuff every single week. We’re also big fans of their social media educational content.

👉 Pro tip:

If you’re not ready to commit, you can peep their blog for a good look at the collections as they drop!

👉 Price: $42/month

Why we love Haute Stock

Haute Stock is a dream come true for fashion, beauty, and luxury brands. Their images are seriously stunning – think minimal, modern, and effortlessly chic. These are the kind of photos that instantly elevate your brand and make it look high-end. We saved it for last, but honestly, it’s kind of our MOST fave.

👉 Pro tip:

Explore their collections for curated sets that align with specific themes or moods. Forget searching for “woman with laptop” – grab a whole collection and you’ll end up with the most vibey brand on the block. (Yes, “vibey” is officially a word now.) The search filters are also super handy if you’re trying to find a photo for something specific!

👉 Price: $499/year

BONUS RESOURCE

Oh, another hidden gem — especially if you’re looking for aesthetic b-roll videos? Etsy! (I know, weird, right?) You can nab thousands of gorgeous videos for less than $10, which is an absolute steal. We don’t recommend making your brand completely faceless, but they’re great for filling in the gaps!