Stock photogrophy...Retarded policy??!?!?!!!

[lanta99]

Hi guys,

Anyone know of a (preferably cheap) stock photography website where I can purchase high resolution stock photos and put them on my website?

I checked out istockphoto, fotolia, and a couple other major ones but neither lets me go above 800X600 resolution whereas I need it to go up to 915X500...and I found out about that AFTER I shelled out about a hundred bucks purchasing some of their photos.

By not letting me go above 800x600 I mean in their TOS it specifically says that webmasters may not use their pictures on a web site with the photo resolution of 800x600 or greater.

Oh, and sxc.hu doesn't have the selection that I need in case anyone was thinking that.

Thanks
George

PS. In their policy is says that I can use it for larger than 800x600 if I make "substantial changes" to it. Does placing a water mark count as "substantial changes"?

[KarlWarren]

Originally Posted by lanta99

PS. In their policy is says that I can use it for larger than 800x600 if I make "substantial changes" to it. Does placing a water mark count as "substantial changes"?

Only their support department could tell you. All they are worried about is people being able to take the photos from your site and use them. The policy is to protect them and their photographers - not so 'retarded' if you're a photographer and want to earn a living.

[musman]

maybe you should try punchstock

[Andyhenry]

I use Shutterstock.

[Fernando Veloso]

Don't understand your problem. We've bought Big resolution pictures from Istock and no problem.

[lanta99]

Originally Posted by KarlWarren

Only their support department could tell you. All they are worried about is people being able to take the photos from your site and use them. The policy is to protect them and their photographers - not so 'retarded' if you're a photographer and want to earn a living.

Hm..well thanks for the heads up, I'll send them an email about that. Anyways, the reason I was frustrated was because they buried the 800x600 rule deep in their TOS instead of plainly stating it on their purchase page.

[lanta99]

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso

Don't understand your problem. We've bought Big resolution pictures from Istock and no problem.

Well if you look at their policy it says that for web use the picture may not be larger than 800x600. (I know, no one looks there right?)

[lanta99]

Originally Posted by musman

maybe you should try punchstock

Hm...I really don't think that $250 per photo will be in my budget.

Originally Posted by Andyhenry

I use Shutterstock.

No luck, they have the same max size of 800x600 for web use.

[Fernando Veloso]

Originally Posted by lanta99

Well if you look at their policy it says that for web use the picture may not be larger than 800x600

Oh Never saw it and never saw a discussion about it elsewhere.

Guess they can sue 1 million users for that %stupid% rule - cause now we use at least 920px wide pictures to headers.

[lanta99]

Originally Posted by Fernando Veloso

Oh Never saw it and never saw a discussion about it elsewhere.

Guess they can sue 1 million users for that %stupid% rule - cause now we use at least 920px wide pictures to headers.

Ok, I'll just pretend that I never saw the rule then if they sue me I'll direct them to your website too

[cashcow]

I think you can use the photos from BigStockPhoto:

Royalty Free Photos, Download Stock Photos and Images Stock Photos Royalty Free Downloads

Lee

[KarlWarren]

How are you planning on using the images?

Displayed in full on your website? or for another purpose? i.e. integrated into a web header?

If it's the latter, there would be no problem at all seeing as making a header from the image would constitute a 'significant change'.

Have to taken a look at dreamstime.com?

Kindest regards,
Karl.

[Fernando Veloso]

Stock photo sites need to update that rule: 2-3 years ago the Header standard size was 800px wide BUT NOW they are bigger, at least 920px wide.

They should upgrade those rules. Just like everybody else.

[lanta99]

Originally Posted by cashcow

I think you can use the photos from BigStockPhoto:

Royalty Free Photos, Download Stock Photos and Images Stock Photos Royalty Free Downloads

Lee

Thanks!

They just got a new customer!

[lanta99]

Originally Posted by KarlWarren

How are you planning on using the images?

Displayed in full on your website? or for another purpose? i.e. integrated into a web header?

If it's the latter, there would be no problem at all seeing as making a header from the image would constitute a 'significant change'.

Have to taken a look at dreamstime.com?

Kindest regards,
Karl.

It will be displayed in full as the background for one of my tabs script.

Unfortunately, dreamstime has the same policy.

Thanks,
George

[lanta99]

Also I have an unrelated question.

I've been avoiding all the stock photos with white backgrounds because my website's theme is dark / black.

But are all the white background stock photos transparent?

~George

[KarlWarren]

Originally Posted by lanta99

Also I have an unrelated question.

I've been avoiding all the stock photos with white backgrounds because my website's theme is dark / black.

But are all the white background stock photos transparent?

~George

No, they are usually supplied in jpeg format which doesn't support transparency. It's very unlikely to find a stock "photo" with transparency. Most designers could remove the background for you for a very small fee. You might find someone here, or on elance etc. You'd probably find someone to do it for less than $10.