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July 29, 2010 Chanchamayo, Peru. Group of native Ashininkas welcome tourists in their village. - Image ID: 2T64KWW (RF)

Picture research help page

Customer help hub | All results

Search Smarter, Find Faster

Alamy's advanced search features make it easy to find the exact image you need using Boolean logic.

  1. Use single quotation marks for exact phrases or known locations, in combination with other words. For example, for images of the Golden Gate Bridge at night use: ‘Golden Gate Bridge’ night

  2. Combine keywords with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) to refine your search. For example, for images of dogs, but not puppies, use: dog not puppy

  3. Create complex searches with brackets. For example, if you’re looking for two people hiking, use: (2 or two or pair or couple) (man or male or woman or female) (hiking or trekking or rambling)

Sort and Filter Your Results

Easily refine your search with our sorting and filtering options.

  1. Sort by:

    • Newest:

      Images are sorted by date taken, the most recent images will appear first.

    • Relevant:

      Images most relevant to your search terms will appear first.

    • Oldest:

      Images are sorted by date taken, the oldest images will appear first.

  2. Filter by:

    Image size, orientation, type, number of people, and more.

Need Expert Help?

Our picture research service can assist key accounts in finding the perfect images. Contact your account manager to learn more.

Picture Research FAQs

How do I find the perfect content for my project?

Searching for the perfect image is essential, and we've got some tricks of the trade to help you find the perfect content quickly:

  • Use quotation marks to group phrases or words together, like 'Golden Gate Bridge.'

  • Employ 'or,' 'and,' 'not' in your search to include or exclude keywords. For example, 'Dog NOT puppy.'

  • Use brackets to create search strings, such as (2 or two or pair) (man or male) (woman or female) (hiking or trekking or rambling).

You can also use our sort buttons for different results: New, Relevant, and Creative. Filters, an advanced search tool, and even external help are available for your research needs. Please read our full article for more tips and tricks.

There might be times when you need extra help or don't have the time to carry out your own research. For key accounts we provide a free super-fast picture research service - talk to your account manager if this applies to you.

How to filter the images and videos by size and resolution?

Alamy has an easy way to filter images and videos if you have specific file size requirements to help you with your search for the perfect image or video clip. It's all about ensuring they meet the desired quality with just the right resolution and dimensions.   

  1. Resolution (DPI): Think of this as the clarity you want for your image. This stands for "dots per inch" and indicates how much detail is included in every inch of the printed image. Great resolution means a crisper, cleaner image. 

  2. Dimensions: This is about the size of your image when you print it out. Bigger dimensions mean a larger print but make sure to match the resolution accordingly to avoid any quality loss. 

If you want to narrow down to your specific needs quickly, use our file size filter on our search page. This feature allows you to select a minimum size or resolution, filtering out lower-quality content from your search results. 

For more tips on picking the right file size, check out our handy blog post which offers extra information on all your file size questions.   

Can I search images and videos by category?

Find the perfect image or video on Alamy, no matter your needs.

Global brands, picture buyers, designers, and everyone in between can search our massive collection of royalty-free creative and editorial content. From stunning photos and illustrations to live news and video clips, we have it all.

Why choose Alamy?

  • Huge selection: Over 400 million images and 25 million video clips sourced from award-winning contributors and specialists.

  • Always fresh: New content is added daily, and our historical archive covers everything imaginable.

  • Easy to use: Dive into our curated categories below to find what you need quickly.

Explore our collections:

Start searching today and discover the power of Alamy.