After scrolling through dozens of poorly lit photos with weird angles and outdated styling, you’re probably starting to wonder if you really should just shell out for that brand photoshoot.
I get it. You want your coaching website to look professional, but at this stage of your business, your money needs to go to the right places. The good news? As long as you have a strategic website that guides visitors toward booking with you, it shouldn’t matter whether you’re using custom photography or carefully chosen stock images.
The key is getting the RIGHT stock images—ones that feel intentional, cohesive, and aligned with your coaching style.
Table of Contents
This post is all about where to find free photos for your website.
The Best Free Photo Resources for Your Coaching Website
Some free photo sites will have you scrolling forever through mediocre options, while others consistently deliver images that actually look intentional. Let me walk you through the resources I rely on for client projects, plus how to transform any free photo into something that feels custom to your brand.
Unsplash: The Gold Standard
Unsplash revolutionized free stock photography by attracting talented photographers who contribute stunning, high-resolution images. Their wellness and lifestyle categories are particularly strong for coaches.
Why Unsplash works for coaching websites:
- Captures authentic emotions rather than corporate poses
- Fresh uploads mean current, on-trend aesthetics
- Completely free for commercial use
- Consistent high resolution for any layout
Pro search tip: Use specific terms like “confident woman,” “meditation morning,” “journal coffee,” or “peaceful workspace” instead of generic terms like “business” or “success.”
Pexels: Consistent Quality and Video Options
Pexels offers another excellent source with particularly strong lifestyle collections. Their search functionality helps you find specific scenarios—someone writing goals, practicing self-care, or looking confidently ahead.
Pexels advantages:
- High-quality video content for dynamic website elements
- Well-organized categories save search time
- Multiple download sizes for different applications
- Clean, modern aesthetic across coaching niches
Hidden gem: Their video collection includes perfect background loops—gentle morning light, peaceful nature scenes, or subtle movement that adds life to your hero sections.
Kaboom Pics: Unique Lifestyle Focus
Kaboom Pics specializes in lifestyle photography with a distinctly authentic feel. Their collection is smaller but highly curated, meaning you’re less likely to see the same images on competitor websites.
What makes Kaboom Pics special:
- Distinctive, artistic approach to everyday moments
- Strong focus on workspace and lifestyle imagery
- Less saturated market means more unique visuals
- Beautiful flat lay photography perfect for service sections
Pixabay: Illustrations and Graphics
While Pixabay’s photography quality varies, they excel at offering illustrations, icons, and graphic elements that work beautifully for coaches wanting a more stylized approach.
Best uses for Pixabay:
- Custom icons for your services sections
- Illustrations for blog posts and downloadable resources
- Abstract backgrounds that won’t compete with your content
- Wellness-themed graphics and symbols
Creating Visual Cohesion Through Smart Editing
The difference between a website that looks professionally designed and one that screams “free stock photos” comes down to creating visual consistency. Here’s how to make any collection of free images feel cohesive and intentionally branded.
Light Editing in Canva
Canva’s built-in editing tools can transform disparate images into a cohesive visual story:
Consistency techniques:
- Apply the same filter across all images for unified tone
- Adjust brightness and contrast to similar levels
- Use the same saturation settings to match color intensity
- Add subtle overlays in your brand colors for cohesion
Canva’s magic tools:
- Background remover for creating consistent image treatments
- Built-in filters that you can apply across multiple photos
- Easy cropping tools to maintain consistent composition styles
- Text overlay options for creating branded graphics
Advanced Editing in Lightroom
If you want more control, Adobe Lightroom offers powerful tools for creating a signature photo style:
Professional techniques:
- Create custom presets that you can apply to any image
- Adjust tone curves for consistent mood across photos
- Fine-tune color grading to match your brand palette
- Batch editing to apply the same adjustments to multiple images
Creating your signature style:
- Decide on warm vs. cool tones that match your brand personality
- Choose consistent contrast levels (high contrast for energy, softer for calm)
- Establish color saturation preferences
- Save these settings as presets for future use
Getting Great Photos of Yourself
Your website needs authentic photos of you—the person behind the coaching. Here’s how to get professional-looking personal photos without hiring a photographer.
DIY Photography Tips
Lighting is everything:
- Shoot near a large window during golden hour (1-2 hours before sunset)
- Avoid direct sunlight which creates harsh shadows
- Ring lights can work for indoor shots but natural light looks more authentic
Composition that works:
- Leave space around you in the frame for text overlays
- Try various angles—not just straight-on shots
- Include some photos where you’re looking away from the camera
- Capture both close-ups and full-body shots for layout variety
What to Wear and How to Pose
Clothing choices:
- Wear colors that complement your brand palette
- Avoid busy patterns that distract from your face
- Choose outfits that reflect how you work with clients
- Bring multiple options for variety
Natural posing:
- Think about an emotion rather than trying to “look good”
- Move between poses rather than holding static positions
- Include props that relate to your coaching (journal, coffee, books)
- Capture candid moments between posed shots
Using Your Phone Effectively
Technical settings:
- Use portrait mode for beautiful background blur
- Turn on grid lines to help with composition
- Take photos in the highest resolution setting
- Shoot in good light to avoid grainy images
Creative approaches:
- Set up your phone on a tripod or stack of books
- Use the timer function for hands-free shooting
- Take lots of photos—you only need a few great ones
- Include some lifestyle shots of you working or in your space
Smart Search Strategies for Finding Perfect Images
Finding the right free photos for your website becomes much easier when you know how to search strategically and create a clear vision for what you need.
Creating a Mood Board First
Before you start downloading random images, create a mood board to guide your selections:
Define your visual style:
- Collect images that represent the feeling you want to create
- Include examples of lighting styles you prefer
- Add color palettes that align with your brand
- Note composition styles that appeal to you
Tools for mood boarding:
- Pinterest boards for easy collecting and organizing
- Canva’s mood board templates
- Simple screenshots saved in a folder
- Physical boards if you prefer tactile planning
Searching by Color
Many free photo sites now offer color search options that can help you find images that naturally complement your brand:
Unsplash color search:
- Use their color filter to find images dominated by your brand colors
- Search for complementary colors that will make your brand colors pop
- Look for neutral tones that won’t compete with your branding
Advanced search techniques:
- Combine color filters with keyword searches
- Look for images with consistent color temperatures
- Consider how colors will look against your website background
Keywords That Actually Work
Instead of searching for: “business woman” Try searching for: “confident entrepreneur morning coffee”
Instead of: “success” Try: “achievement celebration peaceful”
Instead of: “coaching” Try: “mentoring conversation authentic”
Wellness coaching keywords:
- “mindful morning routine”
- “peaceful workspace wellness”
- “healthy lifestyle authentic”
- “self-care routine natural light”
Business coaching keywords:
- “confident professional home office”
- “strategic planning workspace”
- “entrepreneur lifestyle authentic”
- “goal setting peaceful”
What to Look for in Website Images
Not every beautiful photo will work for your coaching website. Here’s what to prioritize when building your image library.
Authentic Over Perfect
Choose images that show:
- Real emotions rather than forced smiles
- Natural lighting over studio perfection
- Candid moments instead of obvious posing
- Diverse representation that reflects your actual clients
Avoid images with:
- Overly airbrushed or filtered appearances
- Dated clothing, hairstyles, or technology
- Obvious “stock photo” scenarios
- Generic corporate aesthetics
Technical Quality Standards
Resolution requirements:
- Minimum 1200 pixels wide for hero images
- High enough resolution for crisp mobile display
- Consistent aspect ratios within each section
- Optimized file sizes for fast loading
Composition elements:
- Clear focal points that support your message
- Space for text overlays where needed
- Consistent lighting quality across your selection
- Professional composition that guides the eye
Legal Considerations for Free Photos
While most quality free photo sites offer images safe for commercial use, it’s worth understanding the basics to protect your business.
Creative Commons Zero (CC0)
Most images from Unsplash, Pexels, and similar sites use CC0 licensing, which means:
- Free for commercial use (perfect for your coaching business)
- No attribution required (though it’s always appreciated)
- You can edit and modify images freely
- Safe to use in marketing materials and social media
When Attribution is Required
Some free images require photographer credit:
- Create a simple “Photo Credits” page on your website
- Include in your footer or about page
- Format: “Photo by [Photographer Name] on [Website]”
- Don’t let attribution requirements stop you from using great images
Images to Avoid
Skip anything marked:
- “Editorial use only” (can’t be used for business promotion)
- Images without clear licensing information
- Photos from questionable sources without photographer credits
Start Building Your Professional Image Library
Creating a professional coaching website doesn’t require a massive photography budget—it requires strategy. Start by choosing one or two of these free photo resources and spend time understanding their search functions and image styles.
Remember, consistency matters more than perfection. A cohesive collection of well-edited free photos will always look more professional than a random assortment of expensive images.
Ready to put these strategies into action? Download my free one-page website template. You’ll get everything you need to start building a website that attracts your ideal clients from day one.
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