Using Unsplash photos properly: licensing, credit and good taste

What the license allows

Unsplash photos can be used freely, including commercially, without asking permission. Two things you cannot do: sell the photos as-is, and compile them into a competing photo service. Read the current license on the site — terms can evolve, and knowing them takes two minutes.

Attribution is not required but is appreciated, and it costs you one line: photographer's name and a link.

The cliché problem

Because the photos are free and beautiful, everyone uses the same ones. The handshake photo, the laptop-with-coffee photo — your readers have seen them on a hundred other sites, and they quietly signal 'template'.

Dig deeper: sort past the first page, search in unexpected words, and prefer photos with specific, real details over generic perfection.

Watch for the hidden catches

A free photo of a person doesn't come with a model release for every use — using someone's face in advertising implies endorsement and can require permission. The same caution applies to recognizable logos, artworks and buildings in commercial contexts.

When in doubt, choose photos without identifiable people or brands for anything promotional.

Make them yours

Crop boldly, adjust warmth and contrast to match your site's palette, and compress before uploading. A slightly edited photo fits your page in a way a straight download never does.