Buying Images- Advice

[voyage]

I am looking into buying a couple of pictures that I can use for a advertising campaign I will be running. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with buying images from any of the major sellers and what should I look out for and be expecting to pay?

The Image will be of a builder/tradesman and will be used on my website as a image link to a trade part of the website. It also may be edited/ cropped so it has no background (not sure if this effects the price)
Any advice would be great
Thanks

 

[sally_b]

Hi, I've found istockphoto to be great for images.
All the best,
Sally.

 

[voyage]

Thankyou Sally,
Is there anything I need to look for? Are all images for business use and can I edit them?

 

[Newcott]

It will depend on what lvl of license you want - some you can buy to use for commercial - some will offer exclusivity rights. Either way make sure its Royalty free (as you don't want to keep paying for it every time you use it)

ShutterStock is another good one.

 

[voyage]

Thanks for that advice, I am new to buying images so say I would like to use this image as described in the first post. How would I find out all the information on what I can and cannot do.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-3191252-construction-series.php

 

[Edward Moss]

Alamy is a good place to look.
Depending on your budget, you may want to also consider commissioning your own set of pictures, as then there is no danger of your competition using the same images.

 

[Edward Moss]

Thanks for that advice, I am new to buying images so say I would like to use this image as described in the first post. How would I find out all the information on what I can and cannot do.

http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-3191252-construction-series.php

http://www.istockphoto.com/license_comparison.php

You can purchase the images under 2 licences.

 

[davek17]

www.dreamstime.com is also very good. Seems to be cheaper than iStockphoto and has a lot of the same designers posting on it.

Always buy the Royalty free license and stay away form the common ones because you see them everywhere which really cheapens your brand. I got caught out by this once.

 

[voyage]

I have decided on this image
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-6449206-maintenance-man-series.php

But I am still unsure on the license I require, I have tried ringing up the helpline but after 15minutes they are still busy.

I just dont want to be met with a big fine if I use the image in away they do not permit.

Thanks

 

[Newcott]

Whats it for - website or magazine?

As mentioned above check out this link :
http://www.istockphoto.com/license_comparison.php

Standard license will mean you can show that image just under 500,000 times (either print or website)

If you go think it will go over that then you will need an extended license.

Is it just me or just he look a bit like a younger Alan Sugar ?

 

[voyage]

Thanks for the quick reply

I have checked out the link page but all the multi seat etc got me a little confused as all I want to do is have the image on my website.

I dont think that I will be going over the 500,000 limit any time soon. So does this mean that I can get away with standard. It is a business site.

 

[Newcott]

Standard should be fine then

 

[braddo]

Email the site support for full clarification if you're at all unsure of the terms and conditions of the licence you're considering. I went through this process a few weeks ago, and all six sites got back to me with clear, simple answers within 24 hours of me sending the emails.

 

[garysumpter]

I use Fotolia and love it!

 

[voyage]

I have sent them a email as I was unsure and wanted to make sure.

 

[Dawg]

You will be ok with a standard licence for your web use. iStock will get back to you, and this will be reassure you. (Bear in mind tomorrow is Saturday, and they have usually only got back to me in about 5 working days.) Download a receipt and keep details, don't even think of using on another site or for something else, or at a larger size than you pay for and download, and hey: good to go!
Good luck with your site.

 

[Deleted member 59730]

It will depend on what lvl of license you want - some you can buy to use for commercial - some will offer exclusivity rights. Either way make sure its Royalty free (as you don't want to keep paying for it every time you use it)

Any type of traditional licence can be negotiated to use any number of times.

Some RF licences need paying for more than once. One popular cheap RF site only licence for one use by one designer. If you want to have the same image used by your web site designer, your letterhead designer and your van graphics person you have to pay 3 times.