Free Reference Photo Packs

What "free" means here

A free pack is not a preview or a watermarked sample. You get the same kind of files as in a paid pack: full-size photos, with the photographer and camera listed on the product page.

Free packs are free with every license type, including Small Studio and Large Studio. So a studio can test the files with its whole team before buying. The usual terms apply: royalty free, unlimited projects and no expiration. You cannot resell the packs or the photos.

Rocks, water and ice

Most of the free nature packs were shot in New Zealand and Australia, and they are good material for texture and environment practice.

• Limestone Arch: 41 photos of a large natural arch on the Great Ocean Road, in several lighting conditions. Telephoto close-ups show the rock surface, and wider shots show the whole form.
• Rust Sand: 66 photos of unusually bright orange beach sand with gray rocks, on New Zealand's South Island.
• Red Granite River Banks: 44 photos of red granite cliffs along a river.
• Alpine Waterfalls: 46 photos of waterfalls fed by melting glaciers.
• Icicles: 37 photos of sparkling icicles, useful for VFX and material studies.

Machines, vehicles and old equipment

Hard-surface modelers and scale modelers can practice on real mechanical subjects.

• Turret Assembly: 27 photos of a gun turret removed from an armored vehicle for repair. You can see its inner structure and the devices around it. This pack is Editorial content, for reference use only.
• Derelict Chevrolet Coupe 1930: 35 detailed photos of an abandoned car, useful for rust and weathering studies.
• Abandoned Wooden Threshing Machine: 78 photos of a wooden farm machine from the late 19th century.
• Abandoned Coal Mining Equipment: 63 photos of rusting equipment at an old mine dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
• Soviet Ekranoplan A-90 Orlyonok: 21 photos of a Soviet ground-effect vehicle.

Places, props and a 3D scan

• Eiffel Tower: 60 photos of the tower by day and at night.
• Sinking Veranda: 32 photos of an old abandoned veranda near a Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand.
• Pier Bird Colony: 59 photos of seabirds nesting on an old pier, shot at twilight and early morning.
• Wood Piles: 34 photos of large stacked woodpiles on an Australian farm.
• Old Man Classic Statue: a 3D scan of a 19th-century sculpture in Sydney, with 482,663 triangles and an 8192 × 8192 texture, plus a few photos.

Where to go next

If you are learning, our reference photos for art students collection is a good next step. If you want to put these photos to work right away, read how to photobash. And if you are moving away from pin boards, see our Pinterest alternative for reference guide. To hear from us, join the newsletter at the bottom of this page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use free packs in commercial work?

Yes, under the same terms as paid packs: royalty free, unlimited projects, no expiration. Artwork you make from the photos is yours. One exception to note: Turret Assembly is Editorial content, so its photos cannot appear in advertising or on products for resale.

Are free packs lower quality than paid ones?

No. They are real packs at full resolution. The Limestone Arch, for example, is 6000 × 4000. Most free packs are smaller sets of 21 to 78 photos, while paid packs often run to hundreds.

Can my studio use the free packs?

Yes. Free packs are available at no cost with Small Studio and Large Studio licenses too, so the whole team can use the same files.

Who shot the free packs?

Fotoref contributors, the same photographers behind the paid catalog. Each product page names the photographer and, in most cases, the location and the camera.