Stock Photographs & Video Footage

Best Places to Buy Stock Photos & Video Footage in the US — A Practical Guide to Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Pond5, Walmart and More

Why high-quality stock photos and footage still matter

If you want your blog, ad, or video to look polished, good visuals are non-negotiable. Stock photos and video footage let you get professional-grade assets without hiring a full crew or scheduling a shoot. Think of them as a fast lane to visual credibility — a shortcut that still looks deliberate. Whether you need a crisp hero image for a landing page or a cinematic drone clip for a brand promo, choosing the right supplier affects everything from licensing headaches to final pixel clarity.

Walmart: an unexpected stop for digital goods

What Walmart offers in the stock space

You probably think of Walmart for groceries and home goods, but the retailer also sells a range of digital products through its online marketplace. Some third-party sellers list licensed photo bundles, themed image packs, and even video clips. If you shop at Walmart regularly, this can be a convenient place to browse, compare prices, and pick up stock items alongside other purchases.

When Walmart makes sense

Walmart works well if you value convenience and occasional purchases rather than a steady creative pipeline. If you need a handful of royalty-free images or a single short clip for a one-off project, you can sometimes find budget-friendly options there. Just remember to double-check the license terms — marketplace listings vary, and the onus is on you to confirm commercial usage rights.

Shutterstock: the go-to library for variety and volume

Strengths that creatives rely on

Shutterstock is known for sheer scale — millions of images, vectors, and clips spanning every topic you can imagine. If you need niche content like aerial construction footage or close-up product textures, your chances of finding it on Shutterstock are high. Their search filters (by orientation, color, and even the number of people in an image) help narrow results fast, which is a lifesaver when you’re on a deadline.

Best practices when buying from Shutterstock

Consider a subscription if you consume images regularly; monthly plans cut the per-image cost dramatically. For occasional use, credits can be a better fit. Also, pay attention to resolution and download size: for print work, choose files that scale up cleanly to common print sizes like 8 x 10 inches or 24 x 36 inches without visible pixelation.

Adobe Stock: perfect for designers and Photoshop users

Workflow advantages

Adobe Stock integrates beautifully with Creative Cloud apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro. That means you can preview and license images directly inside the app, slashing back-and-forth time. If you edit a lot inside Adobe tools, this convenience is hard to beat — your assets slot into projects without awkward format changes or stepwise exports.

Licensing and creative freedom

Adobe offers royalty-free licensing with options for extended licenses for merchandising. Their collection includes curated premium images and templates that pair well with design-heavy layouts. If you’re delivering print collateral sized at 11 x 17 inches or building a large poster at 36 x 48 inches, Adobe’s file quality and licensing options should meet your needs.

Pond5 and video-first marketplaces: where footage shines

Why Pond5 stands out

Pond5 is built around video clips — including 4K cinematic shots, drone footage, and sound effects. If your priority is moving images rather than stills, Pond5’s library is curated with filmmakers and editors in mind. You’ll find a lot of exclusive clips from freelance videographers, so the footage can feel fresher than the overused stock you sometimes see elsewhere.

Other video-focused options

Storyblocks (formerly Videoblocks), Artgrid, and Getty Images also offer strong video libraries. Storyblocks is great for subscriptions that include unlimited downloads, while Getty is often used for high-end editorial needs where rights-managed licensing is appropriate. For commercial spots and widescreen video projects meant for a 50-inch or larger display, check bitrates and frame sizes carefully to ensure smooth playback.

Budget-friendly stores: Envato, Depositphotos, and Dreamstime

Value without the sticker shock

Not every project needs a million-dollar budget. Envato Elements offers an all-you-can-download subscription that’s excellent for freelancers who need a steady stream of assets — templates, stock photos, and even music. Depositphotos and Dreamstime are solid for on-demand purchases and frequent sales that lower the per-image price.

When the cheapest option is still smart

These services are particularly handy for startups, social media managers, and bloggers. If you’re creating Instagram visuals or a website hero image sized to a typical laptop display (around 15 inches diagonally), a mid-resolution file from a budget provider will usually do the job without costing a fortune.

Comparing licenses: royalty-free vs. rights-managed

Know what you’re buying

Licensing is where most surprises happen. Royalty-free means you pay once and use the asset multiple times under a broad set of rules, while rights-managed limits usage by duration, region, or medium and can be pricier. If you plan to put an image on merchandise or use footage in national advertising, double-check whether you need an extended license to cover those uses.

Questions to ask before licensing

Ask whether the license covers commercial use, if model and property releases are included, and whether you can modify the asset. A quick checklist before purchase prevents a legal headache later — especially when you’re scaling campaigns across billboards or national TV spots where the stakes are higher.

Practical searching tips: find the right asset faster

Use the right keywords and filters

Keywords are your search engine’s compass. Start broad, then refine with filters like orientation (portrait vs. landscape), color palette, and the number of people in frame. For video, filter by frame rate and aspect ratio — a 30 fps clip may be fine for web, but for slow-motion work you’ll want 60 fps or higher.

Preview at the target size

Always preview assets at or near the size you’ll use them. For print, imagine the photo at 11 x 17 inches or larger; for a website hero image, preview it on a 24-inch monitor or a 15-inch laptop mockup. This helps avoid surprises where an image looks fine in thumbnail but softens when blown up to a 20-inch print.

File types, resolution, and technical details that matter

Choose the right format

JPEGs are fine for most web uses, but for print and high-end design, prefer TIFF or PNG to avoid compression artifacts. For footage, MP4 with H.264 is widely compatible, while ProRes provides higher color fidelity for editing workflows. If you plan heavy compositing, seek out raw or lossless formats when available.

Resolution, aspect ratio, and frame rates

Match resolution and aspect ratio to your final output. For web and social, 1920 x 1080 (full HD) works well; for cinematic feel, aim for 4K if your editing system and delivery platform support it. Frame rate should align with your project — 24 fps for filmic motion, 30 fps for standard web video, and 60 fps or higher for smooth slow motion effects.

How to compare prices across different stores

Subscription vs. on-demand buying

Subscriptions lower the per-asset price when you download frequently. If you need dozens of images per month, a subscription often wins. For occasional use, credits or a la carte purchases can be more economical. Always calculate the cost per usable asset after factoring in licensing limits and potential extended license fees.

Watch for hidden costs

Extended licenses, exclusive footage fees, and editorial-only restrictions can bump up costs quickly. Also, factor in the cost of storage and backup when downloading large video files — terabytes add up fast if you keep high-resolution masters on hand for future edits.

Tips for integrating stock assets into your workflow

Organize and tag your library

Create a simple folder system and tag assets by project, client, and usage rights. This saves hours down the road when you need to locate a specific clip for a revision. For collaborative teams, use shared drives or DAM (digital asset management) tools so everyone pulls from the same approved pool of images and footage.

Edit non-destructively

Always preserve your original file. Work on a copy in your editor so you can revert if a client wants the raw file later or if you need to re-export at a new size for a billboard-sized print or a 65-inch display.

Final recommendations: which store to pick for different needs

Fast, one-off needs

If you need a single image for a blog post or a small social ad, Walmart marketplace listings or budget sites like Depositphotos can be quick and cheap. Just verify commercial use rights and any restrictions before hitting buy.

Steady creative work

For agencies and freelancers who create at scale, subscriptions from Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, or Envato Elements typically offer the best value. Adobe Stock is especially attractive if you already live in Creative Cloud, while Envato gives you templates and assets that speed up project turnaround.

High-end video and broadcast

For cinematic commercials or editorial broadcast, Pond5, Getty Images, and Artgrid provide premium footage and rights-managed options that protect you legally while delivering the quality required for large-screen display and TV distribution.

Wrapping up your decision process

Choosing the right source for stock photos and video footage comes down to a few simple questions: How often do you need assets? What final size and medium will the visuals be used in? And what licensing freedoms do you require? If you answer those honestly, you’ll pick a supplier that matches both your creative needs and your budget. Remember, good visuals amplify your message — they’re not just decoration, they’re the voice of your content.

Conclusion

Stock photos and video footage are powerful tools that save time and raise production value when used wisely. From Walmart convenience to Shutterstock’s massive library, Adobe Stock’s tight integration, and Pond5’s clip-focused offerings, there’s a marketplace tailored to every type of creator. Prioritize license clarity, file type, and resolution based on your final output, and opt for a subscription if you churn through assets each month. With the right strategy, you can build a dependable visual library that fuels consistent, professional-looking content without breaking the bank.