Alamy logo
Graceful ballet dancer dancing with white cloth, fabric isolated on green background. Art, motion, action, flexibility, inspiration concept. - Image ID: 2JTR01C (RF)

STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

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

Homepage / Image homepage / Photography

Trending this month

Our latest 'Fresh Picks' collections feature glimpses of spring, European cityscapes captured through drone flights, and some of our best fashion photography.

Contributor spotlight

Adrian-Catalin Lazar

Our featured contributor this month shows us dramatic European cityscapes utilising drone and speed lines often taken at twilight. With a focus on historical and recognisable landmarks Adrian has taken these drone photographs from his home country of Romania, across the streets of Vienna, Bremen and Zagreb to the the shores of Lake Como.

Alamy trends

Imagine... Spring!

It's not too early to imagine the blossoms that will join ranks with the snowdrops and daffodils, and count the varieties of flowers that appear as the days get longer. In the quiet depths of winter we can think forward to the green growth of spring and take comfort in our dreams of colourful petals to sweep away the cold, dark-day blues of January.

Alamy trends

Fashion Photography

This collection of images showcases some of our contemporary fashion portraiture photography. With dramatic lighting and dynamic compositions our contributors have captured the subject with a creative edge.

Why licensing stock photos matter

Shoot global, think local

Need stunning visuals for your next campaign? Cut down on air travel and emissions by licensing photos from Alamy. Explore our vast collection and find the perfect images for your project.

Instant access, endless possibilities

Need photos fast? Skip the photoshoot and download high-quality images from Alamy in seconds. Find the perfect visuals for your project without the hassle.

Beyond the ordinary

Expand your horizons with Alamy's diverse community of photographers. From established professionals to rising stars, you'll find unique visuals that stand out from the crowd.

Curated photo collections

Our creative experts have used their wealth of knowledge to create these photo collections, helping you discover exceptional visuals quickly. Explore a treasure trove of over 50 curated collections below.

Level up your knowledge with trending articles

Alamy blog

What is localised content, and why is it important?

We explore the importance of localisation and how it helps you market your brand globally.

Alamy blog

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.

Alamy blog

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.

Can't find what you're looking for?

Search our full collection of photographs

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.