Guide: Using other people’s content

Understanding copyright

Even though it’s easy, and many people do it, you can’t just grab any image or video off the internet. It’s often illegal and unethical. Most images and videos are protected by copyright, and you need to pay a fee to the creator to use them. Other times, images and videos are free to use but may require attribution or specific permissions. If you are unsure, don’t use the content or find a way to contact the creator to get permission. Remember, you would want the same if somebody were using your content. Some places offer photos and videos for free use. We have compiled a list of them below.

Fairness and ethical considerations

Even if you own the rights to other people’s content, you still have to use it in a fair and ethical way. First of all, remember to always give “attribution,” which means letting others know who created the content and linking back to the original piece or the creator. Secondly, make sure you are using the content in the right context. If someone took an image of hooligans at a football game, you can’t use it to illustrate a point about protesters at a climate rally. This is just one simple example, but there are many ways you can use things out of context, so remember to always ask yourself if you are fair to the original intent of the content. If you are using images or videos showing individual people, make sure these people are okay with showing up in a new story that you create.

Using quotes and clips

It’s a really great idea to build on quotes from other people’s stories. You can copy a text section or record a video or podcast clip. Just as long as you remember to create proper attribution. You should always mention where you got the quote and preferably link back to the original article, video, or podcast.

Using AI content

For documentary stories and journalism, it generally works best to use real-life images. Should you choose to use AI-generated photos or videos, it’s important to state them clearly. There is a big difference between images of real life, where you document a moment that’s actually taken place and images that just illustrate what could have happened in real life. AI-generated photos and videos are the latter. They are illustrations, not documentation. Pretending something took place, if it did not happen, is lying and is highly unethical. Remember that.

Places to find free images and video

This is a list of places where you can find free images and videos. Each of these sources offers unique advantages, from specific footage types to archival content, so you should have a broad set of options for different documentary needs. If you need to add or make corrections to the list, please write to us at contact@duckling.co

Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/

  • High-quality, freely usable images covering a broad range of subjects.

  • Particularly useful for creative shots and lifestyle photography, though there are also editorial and documentary-style images.

Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/

  • Offers free stock images and videos with a mix of artistic and documentary-style shots.

  • Easy to search for specific subjects and collections, and frequently updated.

Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

  • Provides a mix of images, illustrations, and videos.

  • Good for finding versatile, high-quality images, including people, places, and nature.

Flickr Commons: https://www.flickr.com/commons

  • Features a collection of historical and archival images from institutions worldwide.

  • Ideal for documentary projects that require historical context or vintage visuals.

Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/research-centers/main/collections/digital-collections/

  • A vast archive of historical photos, drawings, maps, and prints.

  • Excellent for research-based documentary projects needing historical images.

New York Public Library: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/

  • Offers high-resolution downloads of historical images and documents.

  • Great for local history, urban documentary projects, or thematic research.

FreeImages: https://www.freeimages.com/

  • Has a wide variety of categories and can be good for more niche or specific shots.

  • Images may vary in quality, but it’s a useful supplementary resource.

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org

  • Extensive repository of media files, including photos, historical images, and artwork.

  • Useful for public domain and Creative Commons-licensed images.

ShotStash: https://shotstash.com/

  • Small but curated collection of free photos that are well-suited for creative or lifestyle projects.

  • Works well for supporting documentary work that needs more subtle, background visuals.

The Gender Spectrum Collection (VICE): https://genderspectrum.vice.com/

  • A stock photo library of LGBTQ+ people to support more inclusive storytelling.

  • Perfect for projects focused on diverse representations.

NASA Image Library: https://images.nasa.gov/

  • Free and public domain images of space, Earth, and beyond.

  • Unique for science, nature, and environmental documentary work.

Google Creative Commons search: https://www.google.com

  • Many Google creators license their photos under Creative Commons for reuse.

  • How to search for Creative Commons: 1) Perform your search. 2) Click on the “image” tap 3) Click on “tools” and select “creative commons” on the “license” dropdown.

Places to find free videos:

Videvo: https://www.videvo.net/

  • Has a mix of free and premium stock videos, including some unique, lesser-seen footage.

  • Good for both everyday scenes and specialized B-roll footage, such as aerial and slow-motion shots.

Coverr: https://coverr.co/

  • Free video footage geared towards website backgrounds but also useful for documentaries.

  • Simple interface to find natural scenes, urban life, and conceptual visuals.

Mixkit: https://mixkit.co/

  • High-quality videos available across a range of categories, updated regularly.

  • Great for short B-roll clips and supporting footage with a professional aesthetic.

Vidsplay: https://www.vidsplay.com/

  • Free stock footage library with new clips added weekly.

  • Ideal for general-purpose footage like landscapes, time-lapses, and close-up shots.

Motion Places: https://www.motionplaces.com/

  • High-quality travel footage from around the world, categorized by location.

  • Great for documentary projects with a focus on place-based storytelling or global themes.

Pond5 Public Domain Project: https://www.pond5.com

  • A selection of free public domain video clips, including archival and historical footage.

  • Valuable for projects needing historical context or vintage footage.

YouTube Creative Commons Videos: Youtube.com

  • Many YouTube creators license their videos under Creative Commons for reuse.

  • How to search for Creative Commons: 1) Perform your search. 2) Click on "Filters" (usually near the top left of the screen, right below the search bar). 3) Under the "Features" section in the filter options, select "Creative Commons.

Internet Archive: https://archive.org/

  • A vast digital archive including old movies, newsreels, and public domain videos.

  • Perfect for historical footage, news, and rare archival content.

Dareful: https://dareful.com/

  • Free high-quality 4K footage, mostly focusing on nature, urban, and time-lapse videos.

  • Good for crisp, professional-grade visuals, particularly nature and outdoor scenes.

SplitShire: https://www.splitshire.com

  • Free videos with a natural, authentic feel, created by photographer Daniel Nanescu.

  • Great for adding authentic visuals to documentary projects needing less “stocky” footage.