We included this page about stock photography to help you navigate the world of buying stock imagery. We hope it helps!
Stock photography, according to Wikipedia is “…the supply of photographs, which are often licensed for specific uses.” True, but it is a bit more complicated than that. Stock photos are pictures that are taken (or created) on spec. That is, the photographer has no guarantee that anyone will ever license them and many images never do sell and others sell hundreds of times. It is a crapshoot and you never know which photo will do well.
Currently there are different categories of stock photography relating to how those images can be licensed and how they are priced. Those categories include: Rights Managed, Royalty Free (very poorly named), and subscription in which, for a monthly, or other specified time period, a fee is charged for a maximum number of photo downloads (this model is generally good for the stock agencies and very bad for professional photographers).
Rights managed, or RM photos, are licensed according to the use and take into consideration such aspects as the duration of use, the category of use, the distribution, the size of reproduction, the industry of use, and so forth. Rights Managed can offer the end user varying degrees of exclusivity. Some may feel it is cumbersome and restrictive but in certain circumstances, it is necessary, for example…most of our animal imagery is RM because we have greeting card contracts that need to be honored. Unfortunately, as a result of the commoditization of photography, in general, RM is fading in popularity in favor of Royalty Free photography.
“Royalty Free” imagery is not free but rather is licensed and priced via image size. There are usually some restrictions (i.e. not for use on on-demand products), and once an image is licensed it can be used forever. Gaining popularity is the use of “market freeze” in which a limited amount of exclusivity is offered. In that case, for a fee, the image is pulled from distribution for a given time period. Also gaining in popularity are “Extended Licenses” which allow for the uses that are generally excluded from normal RF licensing. So the trend is to make RF a little more like RM.
Virtually all of our Animal Antics images are Rights Managed, as we have exclusive contracts with greeting card companies…though the images are generally available for licensing for all other uses, from puzzles, calendars and coffee mugs to advertising and editorial uses.
In addition to our funny, anthropomorphic Animal Antics stock photos we have a deep collection of concept and business concept stock photos and we have travel images from Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, China, Turkey, Peru, Cambodia, Laos, Jordan, India, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Socotra and the Galapagos Islands.
ALL OF OUR IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHTED and must be licensed before they can be used. Beware…there are sites on the internet promoting free images but many of those images are being offered without the photographer’s permission and if you are caught using them, it won’t matter that the site claimed that they are free to use. You can still be liable for substantial damages if those images have registered copyright protection.
You can buy (or more accurately license) our stock photography in several ways. The majority of our images are available at Getty Images, however, most of our Animal Antics images are available only directly through us. Our motion (video) is available through Dissolve and Getty Images.
Unless stated otherwise in the Invoice, upon receipt of full payment of the Invoice Fee, Photographer grants to Licensee a non-exclusive, non-sub-licensable and non-assignable right to reproduce, display, broadcast or transmit the work(s) identified in the Invoice (“Works”), solely to the extent the use is explicitly stated in the Invoice. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.
The use of the licensed Work(s) is strictly limited to the use, medium, period of time, print run, placement, size, territory and any other restrictions specified in the Invoice. You may not use nor permit the use of the licensed Work(s) beyond the express terms of the Invoice without first obtaining an additional license, including any electronic reproduction (e.g., web site, social media, mobile applications, e-reader) or promotional rights.
You shall not (a) use any Work in a manner that is defamatory, pornographic or obscene, whether directly or in context or juxtaposition with specific subject matter; (b) incorporate the Work(s) in any logo, trademark or service mark; (c) make the Work(s) available in any medium in a manner intended to allow or invite a third party to download, extract or access the Work(s) as a standalone file; (d) archive, republish or transmit any Works on any database or to a network, social networking site or bulletin board or otherwise distribute or allow any of the Work(s) to be distributed to or used by anyone other than the authorized users, without prior written consent from Photographer; or (e) use the Work(s) in any manner prohibited by any export laws, restrictions or regulations.
Any use of Work(s) in a manner not expressly authorized by this Invoice or after expiration or termination constitutes copyright infringement, entitling Photographer to exercise all rights and remedies available to it under copyright laws around the world. Licensee shall be responsible for any damages resulting from any such copyright infringement, including any claims by a third party. In addition, and without prejudice to Photographer’s other remedies under this Invoice or the law, Photographer reserves the right to charge, and Licensee agrees to pay, a fee equal to five (5) times Photographer’s normal license fee for unauthorized use of the Work(s).
This License is deemed to be entered into in the State of California and governed by U.S federal law and the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict of laws principles that would require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction. Licensee consents to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of California for the resolution of any and all disputes and claims arising in connection with this License. If Photographer is obligated to go to court to enforce any of its rights, the Licensee agrees to reimburse Photographer for its legal fees and disbursements if Photographer is successful.