Best to use your own work on Steemit, I believe. The way Steemit is set up (for-profit), regular stock is not really an option, because of the licensing restrictions on making a profit from the works. It would be different if you were buying stock to sell on a product like a mug or something!

You could use images from the free sites, but you  still have to double check them on Tineye to make sure they are not listed with agencies.

 I love your image of the house!

Great post, very informative, thank you. @tarazkp

I guess it depends on whether or not you are a photographer and mainly posts photos or not.  Someone who is not a photographer at all will still need photos in their articles.  I think it's perfectly acceptable to use photos in that case.  For me, I have also used stock photos in the past and, well, it made me feel cheap afterwards.  Maybe it also depends on the nature of your post? Either way, I don't think the Steemit community at large cares much.  Must be a personal thing.

I use my own Photos.  Even if they are not perfectly suited for the article. 
Sometimes I find one that is better suited.  
Sometimes I have to get creative, and that is priceless.
Some days I take my camera and find a new picture.
I urge you to stay creative and original.  Your photos are unique as speak to your nature.

I don't see anything wrong with using other people's images with the appropriate credit, if they have a better image than yours to illustrate whatever it is you're trying to illustrate.

In the case of where you usually provide your own pictures I would much rather see your angle/take on something but am definitely not going to hold it against you if you decide someone else's image does a better job of projecting whatever it is you're trying to illustrate better XD

Personally I always enjoy exploring posts with original photos far more than stock. Yours in particular are beautiful!

I think it is what is fit for purpose and correct acknowledgement is the most important thing.  I use both my own and stock photos (these come from sources I have paid royalties for or graphics sites I have paid memberships to).  

I don't agree with people using stock photos in photochallenges - that goes against the intent of the challenge though I see it happen.  

In my travel posts I use mostly mine and occasionally will add a photo (and credit it) if it adds to the overall story (this is usually where I've just not managed to get a semi decent photo myself)

Just my two cents :)

Great photos!

Images are my favourite thing on Steemit, I use lots of my own and when I need something different I just go for it.

Like self upvoting some people seem to have guilt issues about this but I have long said these image hang ups are bollocks - in fact my last 1400 comments all include an image, and I tend to use the comments section to let rip - even crediting images is mostly a delusion anyway - I did a post about this ages ago:

 https://steemit.com/steemit/@sift666/i-m-giving-up-i-m-going-to-quit

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmddboe9ov8yZj6jiXoerqgnWCEqzvPmFZRS57ExLP3VBQ/image.png)

Very nice, Will be looking forward to your posts. Up-voted: hope you will visit my blog @tarazkp