5 Easy Tips for Transportation Stock Photos

Transportation images are those focused on the means of transportation rather than what or who is being transported.

From cargo transport to individual travel and public commuting—images of semi-trucks and cargo boats and planes.

There are many ways to use these pictures in your business, not to mention there are some images that are better than others. Here, you will learn all about the most practical uses for transportation stock photos.

What Are Transportation Photos Used For?

Royalty-free stock photos are used for marketing across all mediums imaginable: websites, landing pages, adverts, brochures, presentations, videos, social media posts, and much more.

Transportation stock photos are a great ally for several activities, such as the public transportation industry, travel companies, and logistics providers. The latter has gained a lot of relevance in recent years with the Coronavirus pandemic that boosts up e-commerce and online shopping and, consequently, local shipping and global logistics.

Plus, a transportation stock image comes in handy in some cases, even if your field isn’t directly related. You can use images of cars, buses, trains, commercial planes, and more to illustrate your blog posts on life during the pandemic, encourage your social media followers to use public transport safely, or accompany your latest travel guide.

What Makes for the Best Transportation Stock Photos?

Digging into why some transport images are better than others, it's all about the engaging power the pictures have.

In 2021, these are the best transportation photos you can choose:

#1. Up To Date

photocase photo id 4264538 square > 5 Easy Tips for Transportation Stock Photos
Copyright: Mego-studio/Photocase.com, all rights reserved

Dated photos are the death of marketing. Whether it is a delivery van, a cargo truck, or a car, unless you're purposely going for a vintage theme, you need to use photos of modern, current vehicles.

photocase photo id 4224136 square > 5 Easy Tips for Transportation Stock Photos
Copyright: Edyta Pawlowska/Photocase.com, all rights reserved

And it doesn't hurt to keep an eye on the future! Unmanned vehicles such as drones and self-driving cars are already walking among us. Including these in your visuals is a good way to show you have a vision. Interestingly, bikes are both a vehicle of the past and the future, as the movement towards green transportation gains traction.

#2. Aerial Shots

photocase photo id 3615212 square > 5 Easy Tips for Transportation Stock Photos
Copyright: Stephan Kelle/Photocase.com, all rights reserved

Speaking of drones, they have made it possible to take incredible aerial views that are oh-so-captivating.

A truck on the road looks a lot more enticing when seen from above as it navigates a labyrinth of routes. The grid effect of car-flooded New York streets in an upside-looking-down perspective can be mesmerizing.

#3. Including People

photocase photo id 3598615 landscape > 5 Easy Tips for Transportation Stock Photos
Copyright: Miguel Perfectti/Photocase.com, all rights reserved

Transportation photos don't really need to include people, but they tend to be a lot more effective when they do!

Photos of people are more engaging and relatable, so try and select them whenever possible.

#4. Long Exposure & Time-Lapse

photocase photo id 3749560 square > 5 Easy Tips for Transportation Stock Photos
Copyright: David Freigner/Photocase.com, all rights reserved

Transportation is about movement. Logically, long-exposure shots of moving vehicles, with that cool motion blur, are very eye-catchy.

photocase photo id 4078299 square > 5 Easy Tips for Transportation Stock Photos
Copyright: Bruno Giuliani/Photocase.com, all rights reserved

Time-lapse shots, especially night-time in urban settings, with the laser beam-like patterns vehicle lights create, are a great choice.

#5. Icons and Illustrations

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Copyright: IngImage/Stockphotosecrets.com, all rights reserved

Vector icons and illustrations with a transportation concept are very useful to easily customize designs. You can use transportation icons in maps, to mark specific routes or point commuting times. They're also a good fit for apps.

Transportation illustrations are great to use in infographics, to enforce a message and fix ideas in a visually impactful way.

Where to Find Great Transportation Stock Images?

From the top stock photo sites on the web, these are the ones we recommend for downloading awesome, royalty-free, transportation stock images in high resolution.

Note: While you might opt for a free stock photo site, we advise against using free images for commercial purposes, as free use licenses such as Creative Commons aren't as safe.
Learn more about how to use stock photos safely!
www.photocase.com homepage

Photocase – An Artsy Twist

Photocase is a German stock photo site with artistic, fun-loving and highly-curated images. Their transportation photos are so unique!

Learn more in our Photocase review, and grab the Photocase coupon for cool savings!

Stockphotos.com – A Budget Option

Stockphotos Logo Tight

Stockphotos.com has high quality images at budget-friendly prices for small and medium-sized businesses. Their nice selection of transport-themed photos is perfect for you!

See the Stockphotos.com review for more info; don't miss the popular Club Easy offer, and make sure to grab the Stockphotos.com coupon to get more downloads at no added cost!

Shutterstock – All The Images

wwww.shutterstock.com homepage

Shutterstock is the king of stock photo variety, with literal millions of transportation images to choose from.

Learn more in our Shutterstock review, try it out for free with the Shutterstock free trial, and make sure to save some bucks with the Shutterstock coupon code!

iStock – A Higher-End Alternative

www.istockphoto.com homepage

iStock is renowned for their curated catalog that offers both budget images and high-value, exclusive photos. You will find lots of transportation pictures in both categories!

More information in the iStock review, and don't forget to grab the iStock promo code for a sweet deal!

Adobe Stock – A Trendy Image Source

www.adobe.com homepage

Adobe Stock is a stock photo service by Adobe with a strong focus on trending creative content. This is where you find the most current and inspiring transportation stock photos.

We'll love to see the way you use transportation stock photos in your work!

Header image: Copyright by Stephan Kelle/Photocase.com; dispo/Photocase.com; Katinka Tulpenzwiebel/Photocase.com, all rights reserved.

Ivanna Attié
Ivanna Attié

I am Content Manager, Researcher, and Author in StockPhotoSecrets.com and Stock Photo Press and its many stock media-oriented publications. I am a passionate communicator with a love for visual imagery and an inexhaustible thirst for knowledge. Lucky enough to enter the wonderful world of stock photography working side-by-side with experienced experts, I am happy to share my research, insights, and advice about image licensing, stock photography offers, and the stock media industry with everyone in the creative community. My background is in Communication and Journalism, and I also love literature and performing arts.

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