Believe me , I am not trying to call anyone out at all when I ask this and if you want to PM me your answer, I would definitely understand. I see so many talented D/A in here who do the things that I want to do such as these fantasy works with unicorns and castles. How or where do you get all the images needed to collaborate to make this possible? Just wondering because $25 USD for just 1 photo seems like a lot. Maybe its not and maybe its average. I don't know. Do you actually pay for all of these photos from like fotosearch or getty images?  Some I am sure are your own stock photo. I am willing to pay fotosearch or whatever website to get what I need, but if there is another way to do it (legally) please share...if you want.

My favorites for free stock imagery:

cgtextures.com
sxc.hu
browse.deviantart.com/resources/

Wow thanks you guys/gals. I knew I was being short sighted and giving up too easy. I really appreciate it.

I create my own, and shoot what I need..........
I shoot my subject in studio and then shoot my
backgrounds separate...if that helps

25$ for 1 photo is not a lot. Considering the hours of work that usually go into something like that.

There is also www.everystockphoto.com that can search thru multiple free stock photo sites ar once.

Besides what has already been said/posted -
there are - perhaps - some other possible options available, too:

- Purchased stock packages (in case you need/use many different images and the investment is worth it).  With some subscribtion plans - some microstock photobanks are pretty cheep (per image) when images are purchased in some larger/bulk amounts.

- Or (if applicable) you can also exchange your own images for other images, within a photobank you contribute to (in case you are - or decide to become - a contributor).

As a stock image contributor (provided you are generating some income/earnings) - you can exchange part (or all, if you may wish to) of your earnings/credits for some other photographers´ images as an option, instead of being paid.
That´s what I sometimes do/use,
for some images that I am not able to paint/shoot myself.
Works fine.

..
As for free DA stock photos provided by DA members - in my experience - that is a nice resource place, nice and active community there, but - when looking for some particular image/motive, you may have difficulties, though.

I also - from time to time - use some ´free images´, provided by various photobanks/resources - but - I would still advice to proceed with care with that type of ´free images´, though. Not all of them (though it may look like that) are actually ´free´ - since many of those ´free´ images are actually aimed/provided for free just for personal use only, in fact.
So, in case you plan some commercial use, prints etc., just double check the licence/terms of use.
a.

Deviant Art would be a great start, it;s a cool place and tehre are a lot of images free available...depending on what you are looking for.