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Picture Perfect: Five Great Image Resources for DMOs

Savvy marketers know the power of visual content. Tweets with images receive 18% more clickthroughs! But searching for the perfect picture often leads to frustration. We’ve gathered five galleries that can help destination marketers find the ideal image for your tweets, blog posts and websites.

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1. ShutterstockShutterstock-Logo-vector-Image

The Good: Shutterstock’s searchable database of stock photography can’t be matched, boasting more than 60 million images. The site’s collection of place photography, including city skylines, secluded natural settings and recognizable landmarks, is unparalleled.

The Bad: The vast selection of images comes with a price—an individual download has a $9.99 price tag. Subscription packages are more reasonable, but still pricier than comparable subscription services from other websites.

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2. 123RF123rf-logo

The Good: 123RF hosts a wide selection of images that can be downloaded using a subscription plan or by purchasing credits. Users can spend fewer credits for a smaller file if the image is intended for web-only use—a handy money-saving feature.

The Bad: While the site features a good selection of clip art and illustrations, photography options are limited, especially when it comes to high-quality photos of places.

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3. DreamstimeDreamstime_logo

The Good: With every search, Dreamstime shows available free images above those that can be purchased. It’s a great way to save money if the perfect image appears in the free section.

The Bad: Images are priced at one of five credit “levels,”indicated below each image preview. If users aren’t careful when selecting images, they may find their collection of credits depleted more quickly than expected.

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4. ThinkstockPrint

The Good: This Getty Images-operated resource includes an array of creative and editorial images. The site’s search tools, including a new search by image feature, make it easy to find the right visual content.

The Bad: Unlike 123RF and Dreamstime, Thinkstock does not allow users to purchase credits in order to download photos. Either a subscription or the purchase of an “image pack” (which expires after one year) is required.

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5. Public Domain Archivepublic-domain-archive-logo-300x60

The Good: This site offers nearly 30 pages of free high-resolution, downloadable images for personal and commercial use. Many beautiful shots of cities, landscapes and other scenes are available that may be especially appealing to destination marketers.

The Bad: No new images have been added since March, so users will have to find another resource if nothing eye-catching can be found in this comparatively limited collection.

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An additional resource at your fingertips: Don’t underestimate the power of Google Images. The site’s search tools allow users to view images based on usage rights. If an image appears in the “labeled for reuse” category, it can be used legally.

Do you have a favorite resource for finding images? Let us know on Twitter @aboutDCI!

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