Can I Use Stock Photos For Commercial Use?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Can I use stock photos for commercial use?

As long as they are labeled for commercial use

, you can use stock photos in multiple designs and projects with a for-profit purpose, including websites, marketing and advertising, branding, and more.

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Can I use stock photos legally?

In order to legally use stock in your advertising, marketing materials, presentation, product, or really anything intended to generate revenue for your business,

you need to make sure it is licensed it for commercial use by the original copyright owner or a distributor who has the right to grant a license on behalf of

What images can I use for commercial use?

  • Unsplash. License: Creative Commons Zero. …
  • Realistic Shots. License: Creative Commons Zero. …
  • Pixabay. License: Creative Commons Zero. …
  • Life of Pix. License: Creative Commons Zero. …
  • Gratisography. License: Creative Commons Zero. …
  • Free Nature Stock. …
  • Magdeleine. …
  • Snapwire Snaps.

Can I get sued for using stock photos?


Most stock websites charge a premium for indemnification

. This is imperative in case either the creator of the asset or the people in the asset (say a photo or video) decided to sue you because they never authorized use of the image.

Can I use Shutterstock images for commercial use?


Yes! The Enhanced License permits you to use images on merchandise

, whether that merchandise is intended for sale, or given away for free. There are no limits on the number of times you can use the image on your merchandise.

Can I use Google images for commercial use?

Unless you have either received express permission from the copyright holder or are using public domain images or images that hold the necessary Creative Commons license,

using Google images for your website is violating copyright law and you could be prosecuted

.

Can you sell free stock photos?

“Do whatever you want” as in “

use photos for free, including for commercial purposes, without permission from or attributing the photographer or Unsplash

.” Just by looking at that bit of the Unsplash license, one can be led to think that any image on Unsplash can be used for commercial purposes.

Where can I get free images for commercial use?

  • Vecteezy.
  • Freepik.
  • Morguefile.
  • Pixabay.
  • Stockvault.
  • Pexels.
  • Picjumbo.
  • Pikwizard.

What happens if you use stock photos without paying?

With copyright infringement, you cannot claim you didn’t know what you were doing.

Infringement of copyright may result in monetary damages, lawsuits, legal fees, and under some circumstances, even criminal charges

. However, most authors are happy to settle out of court with a nice payout.

What happens if you accidentally use a copyrighted image?

Any individual or business that infringes copyright

can face legal action

. Infringement is usually treated as civil offence but can, in certain circumstances, be deemed a criminal offence, with damages awarded by a court. Depending on the severity of the infringement, the result can be a fine or even imprisonment.

Why you shouldn’t use stock images?


Corporate Stock Images Can Look Contrived and Unnatural

Corporate images in particular can look very unconvincing if used to promote a business. As such images are composed to be as widely used as possible, they often have an unnatural feel. The above image showcases what is possible using a professional photographer.

Can I legally use Shutterstock images?


A Standard License lets you use Shutterstock images

: On websites, online advertising, social media, mobile advertising, mobile apps, software, e-cards, e-books, email marketing, and other online media, with no limit on viewers or distribution.

Can you use Shutterstock images without paying?


Shutterstock Photos Are Royalty-Free

Although there is a charge for Shutterstock images, once you have purchased them, they become what is known as royalty-free.

Do I need to credit Shutterstock images?

If you use any images or footage for editorial pieces, you must include a proper attribution.

Using Shutterstock images or footage in an editorial piece requires an attribution to give credit

.

Which images can I use for free?

  • Unsplash. Unsplash — Free image search. …
  • Burst (by Shopify) Burst – Free image search, built by Shopify. …
  • Pexels. Pexels – free image search. …
  • Pixabay. Pixabay – free stock photos. …
  • Free Images. Free images – stock photos. …
  • Kaboompics. …
  • Stocksnap.io. …
  • Canva.

How can you avoid copyright infringement with images?

  1. Understanding Copyright Law. …
  2. Don’t Take Any Images From the Internet. …
  3. Take Images Free From Public Domain. …
  4. Download From Google Changing ‘Usage Right’ …
  5. Be Creative. …
  6. Don’t Trust on “Fair Use” …
  7. Receive Permission. …
  8. Give Credit.

How do I know if an image is copyright free?

  1. Free Images. FREEIMAGES – Free Images is one of the best sites to locate free stock photos. …
  2. Google Images with usage rights. …
  3. Wikimedia Commons. …
  4. Flickr: The Commons. …
  5. MorgueFile. …
  6. StockSnap.io. …
  7. Unsplash. …
  8. Picjumbo.

Can Pinterest images be used commercially?


Pinterest prohibits its members from posting copyrighted material without the owner’s permission

. However, a ridiculous amount of Pinterest’s images are being pinned by those who did not create the content.

Can I use public domain images for commercial use?

A public domain image is defined as a photo, clip art or vector whose copyright has expired or never existed in the first place.

These images can be used by almost anyone for personal and commercial purposes

.

Can I resell Shutterstock images?


You cannot resell, gift or transfer the licensed image to anyone for its use as-is

. This license applies to you only, and you’re solely responsible for its use. Note: You CAN use Shutterstock images in client work –say, if you’re a designer creating visuals for a customer– under the Standard license no problem.

How much do you need to alter an image to avoid copyright?

The

30 Percent

Rule in Copyright Law.

How do you avoid copyright infringement?

  1. Do not copy anything. …
  2. Avoid non-virgin development. …
  3. Avoid access to prior design work. …
  4. Document right to use. …
  5. Negotiate for enhanced warranty and indemnity clauses. …
  6. Document your own work.

Can I sue if someone uses my picture?


In most states, you can be sued for using someone else’s name, likeness, or other personal attributes without permission for an exploitative purpose

. Usually, people run into trouble in this area when they use someone’s name or photograph in a commercial setting, such as in advertising or other promotional activities.

Is it OK to use stock photos on website?


Placing a stock photo on your website doesn’t provide your audience with original content or a good UX

. Not only can these photos feel inauthentic, but it can be a poor experience to see the same picture again and again across multiple websites. This is something Google would like to avoid showing its users.

Can I use stock photos in my book?

Stock photos are cheap, but

not appropriate for use on book covers

. If you use a stock photo, you’ll end up with a less original and impactful cover, you’ll be legally and financially vulnerable, and you’ll run the risk of your image appearing on a competing book.

Should you use stock photos for social media?


Stock photos, videos, and other assets are great for filling out social media posts

, but make sure you’re not neglecting your own branding and style when using them. Even simple things such as adding your logo or text in your brand font can go a long way in making your chosen photos look less ‘stock.

How much is Shutterstock for commercial use?

You will pay each photo between $2.90 and $4.90 depending on the extension you choose. The other small plan is for 50 downloads a month. Priced at $125 monthly and $99 a month with an annual subscription, it’s a great way to get a considerable amount of photos, paying

between $1.98 and $2.50 per image

.

How much is Shutterstock commercial license?

The Shutterstock Standard License is a royalty-free license included with images purchased through subscriptions and standard image packs. It allows you to use photos for commercial purposes but limits you to 500,000 copies and a $10,000 indemnity. Each Standard license image costs

between $0.22 and $14.50

.

Can I use stock photos for Instagram?

How long can I use a Shutterstock image?

Once you have used an image in a project,

it’s yours to use forever

. However, we do have a rule in place to prevent people from unfairly stockpiling images. Images downloaded during the term of your subscription must be used within six months of the expiration of the subscription under which you downloaded them.

What are royalty-free stock photos?

Free and royalty-free images

A common agreement is a ‘royalty-free’ image licence. This does not necessarily mean there is no cost for the licence to use the image, but means that

the image can be used without paying additional royalties (basically a payment each time the image is reused) to the copyright holder

.

Can I post Shutterstock images on Instagram?

How do I cite an image from Shutterstock?


Last Name, First Name M. Title of Work. Year Created. Photograph.

Can I just buy one image on Shutterstock?

Shutterstock Image Payment Information


You can only purchase one Shutterstock image at a time

. Each time you purchase, you have to enter your payment details. Payments are one-time only, meaning that there are no recurring or subscription payments. You cannot purchase the same image twice.

How do I license an image in Shutterstock?

1.

You must give the media licensor permission to license your content to third parties

. The licensor obtains your permission through an agreement between you and the licensor; for instance, Shutterstock’s Submitter Terms of Service.

Can you use stock images for free?

Most stock images are copyrighted: the photographer or designer who created them retains the ownership and intellectual property over the photo or illustration. For this reason,

you cannot use the images without their express permission

, and without paying them the due royalties or crediting them when required.

Juan Martinez
Author
Juan Martinez
Juan Martinez is a journalism professor and experienced writer. With a passion for communication and education, Juan has taught students from all over the world. He is an expert in language and writing, and has written for various blogs and magazines.