The Real Cost Of FREE Images For Yor Website!
It’s so easy to grab a picture online and pop it onto your website. But recently one of my clients received a copyright claim for using an image that wasn’t properly licensed.
Copyright compliance is serious business. Companies like Immediate Media and Image Professionals actively monitor websites to catch unlicensed image use. Even if the image was added by a designer, a template, or a blog contributor — you (the website owner) are the one legally responsible.
Here’s how to stay safe:
✅ Only use properly licensed images — from trusted sources such as Canva, Shutterstock, iStock, Pexels, or your own photography.
✅ Double-check “free” sites — not all free image libraries allow commercial use. Always read the licence terms.
✅ Keep proof of your licences — save receipts, invoices, or screenshots of where the image was sourced.
✅ Avoid Google Images entirely — it’s not a stock library, even if it looks like one!
✅ Limit image file size — for website performance, never upload images larger than 1MB. Large images slow down your site and can even affect Google rankings. Compress images before uploading while keeping them sharp and clear.
✅ If you’re unsure — ask me. I can help you check whether your site’s images are compliant.
A quick tip…
If you had your website built years ago or you’ve added images over time, it’s worth doing a quick audit now. Removing or replacing unlicensed images could save you hundreds of pounds later.
Need help?…
If you’d like me to review your site’s image use or show you where to find safe, high-quality visuals, just reply to this email. It’s an easy fix that can prevent a costly headache.
Download our FREE Guide on how to correctly format your images for your website.
From large banners to small thumbnails, using the correct dimensions and formats will avoid blurry images, slow load times, messy layouts and an overloaded website and server! Once you’ve selected your images for your website you need this guide.