Digital stock photos are available for use under license agreements, with varying fees and terms. Photographers can specialize in stock photography or license their work. Instant accessibility and lower costs are benefits, but originality may be a concern. Exclusive licenses are more expensive.
A digital stock photo is an image file that is available for use by people who are willing to abide by the terms of a license agreement. People may be able to use stock photos for free or for a fee, depending on the use and image, and the images are available for anyone to use. Stock photography is available for a variety of purposes ranging from news reporting to package design, and a number of companies offer digital stock photos.
There are a number of sources for stock photos. Some photographers specialize in stock photography and may travel to take photographs of various locations around the world in addition to creating studio shots for staged scenes. Photographers can also agree to license their work for stock use, even if it was not shot with that use in mind. Many photojournalists, for example, allow their work to be distributed and reprinted, and some do so through digital stock photo companies.
The digital stock photo will come with a license agreement specifying the terms of use. The person buying the photo may need to credit the photographer or meet other terms, such as not doing certain types of edits. People who sell stock photos usually sign a basic agreement with a company, allowing the company to handle licensing issues, and they may not have much control over how, when and where people use their images. Photographers interested in maintaining greater control may work with an agent or personal representative to protect their interests.
One benefit of using a digital stock photo is instant accessibility. People can sign licensing agreements electronically, transfer funds, and instantly download a high-resolution version of the image to use. Many companies also allow people to download watermarked test images that they can use in layouts and proposals to see if customers like the image before paying for the license. This allows people to play with the placement of different images in a design to achieve the desired effect.
The rates you pay for a digital stock photo can vary. Licensing images is less expensive than hiring a photographer, but the downside is that the same image is available to everyone. People concerned about originality might consider hiring a photographer or consulting with a stock agency about obtaining an exclusive license for an image. Exclusive licenses are more expensive, as they limit the ability to sell the right to use the image to another person.
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