Using stock images in blogs and other promotional materials is a practice that’s prevalent amongst many brands and businesses. However, while the process may seem fairly straightforward, there are certain rules that apply.
To ensure that you don’t run into any problems with stock images that you download for use, here are some rules that you should keep in mind.
Stick with Reputable, Professional Stock Image Websites
With thousands of sources of stock images online, it can be a real challenge to discern legit websites from shady ones. If you’ve just started using stock images, some legit websites to consider include Pixabay, Pexels, and Adobe Stock. These offer millions of high-quality stock images, and the latter offers flexible subscription plans to suit different requirements.
Adhere To The License Guidelines For Image Use
Before you use a stock photo, pay special attention to what type of license it has since this specifies where and how the image can be used. There are numerous types of licenses, with each having their own specific guidelines. This means that you should know beforehand where and how you want to use the image. Will you only be using it for your online promotional material or website, or will you also be using it in print?
Proper Attribution
Typically, you’re only required to link the image to its original source depending on the type of licensed you’ve purchased. However, most websites specify clearly how they want the attribution to be done. If you don’t know how to attribute images, or you’re using ones that haven’t been purchased directly from a stock image website, Creative Commons offers has specified an approach called “TASL”—Title, Author, Source, License.
The attribution should, at the very least, include a link that leads to the image source.
If You Commit a Usage Violation, Correct It Immediately
If the owner of an image ever contacts you complaining about copyright infringement or incorrect attribution, correct the issue immediately instead of getting into an argument. If, for some reason, you can’t agree to make the change, remove the image from all the places it has been used.
Remember, in the shared image world, attribution is extremely important, and you can be fined a lot of money if you don’t do it properly.
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