Using free images can greatly enhance your website's appeal without breaking your budget. However, it's crucial to understand the licensing rules to avoid legal issues. Not all "free" images are free to use for any purpose.

There are two main types of free image licenses:

• Public Domain (CC0): These images have no copyright restrictions. You can use them for any purpose, commercially or personally, without asking permission.
• Creative Commons (CC): These require you to follow specific rules, like attributing the creator or not using the image for commercial projects.

Always check the license details on the source website before downloading.

Here are some excellent sources for high-quality, truly free images:

• Unsplash & Pexels: Offer a vast library of stunning, high-resolution photos under liberal licenses, often requiring only a simple attribution.
• Pixabay: Provides photos, vectors, and illustrations that are free for commercial use.
• Creative Commons Search: A meta-search tool that filters results by usage rights.

When using free images, remember these best practices:

1. Always verify the license and its terms.
2. Provide proper attribution if required by the license.
3. Optimize images for the web to ensure fast loading times.

By following these guidelines, you can safely and effectively use free images to create a more engaging and professional-looking website.