Let's say you have been tasked with designing a layout that requires photographic elements, yet you've been given little to no budget. What's a designer to do? Have no fear, cheap stock photography is here!

Even if you are on a tight budget you can find decent photographic elements for your project. The proliferation of microstock suppliers has made getting cheap stock photos a viable alternative to higher-priced traditional stock photography offerings.

What is considered "cheap"?
At only $1 - 5 per image (price based on image resolution), microstock is the way to go. It doesn't get any cheaper.

Licensing
Cheap stock photography is almost entirely based on the royalty free licensing system, which gives the most freedom of use of the licensing types.

Quality
Overall quality for cheap photos ranges from low to high. Most reputable companies that offer cheap stock do a decent job of weeding out the really amateur imagery.

Selection
Variety of selection is very good. You can find almost any subject matter covered.

Conclusion: With low costs, decent quality, rf licensing, and wide variety, using cheap stock photos can be a viable solution for the budget-minded designer.

Images starting at $1 with no subscription fees.

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