Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Ask.com. are common search engines used every day. Whether you are posting materials on the web or distributing flyers for an upcoming event, when you create and share to an authentic audience, you really need to consider copyright laws. Creative Commons is a licensing body that has attempted to bridge the gap between free Public Domain works and copyright protected artistry.
According to many resources “A Creative Commons (CC) license is one of several public copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work. A CC license is used when an author wants to give people the right to share, use, and build upon a work that they have created.”
But it’s hard to understand complex licenses. It can also be time consuming and costly to gain reuse permission from an artist. And we all now know that using Google Images is really not an option. To avoid confusion and possible legality issues, I strongly suggest the use of any or all of the free photos sites listed below.
Unsplash 
Pexels
Pixabay
Photos For Class
Openclipart
Pics4Learning
https://www.wpclipart.com
http://www.clipartlord.com
My personal favorite is Pexels. All photos on Pexels are licensed under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license. This means the pictures are completely free to be used for any legal purpose. So, attribution is not required. Also they have a huge selection of great quality pics!
On occasion when you download one, it is suggested that you include attribution to the artist, which is a courtesy and a good habit to get into regardless of the legal license issues.
Use images as background and/or to enhance your message!
Make your own Compositions with free images!
Try one of the following Graphic Design websites to “modify, reuse and distribute a unique work” all your own. 
This process can be lots of fun and a great way to get creative. Templates are available to help you create anything from a snapchat post to business cards to promotional brochure!
To learn more about Creative Commons, try:
https://help.vimeo.com/hc/en-us/articles/224969988-What-is-Creative-Commons
Or https://sarafhawkins.com/creative-commons-licenses-explained-plain-english/
From Kathleen Morris http://primarytech.global2.vic.edu.au/2013/06/02/creative-commons-infographic/
And Ronnie Burt https://www.theedublogger.com/2017/01/20/copyright-fair-use-and-creative-commons/
Note: Creative commons licenses cover more than just Images. Video, audio, educational resources, and music are all also protected.
