Where do they get their photos from?

37 replies
Take a hugely popular site like inc dot com. Each article has a corresponding photo. Do they buy them from iStockphoto or something? Must get mighty expensive if they do.

Are there any cheaper alternatives? Any free ones?

Thanks,

Dave
#photos
  • Profile picture of the author paul nicholls
    dave i used to use i stock photo but quickly realized that i was spending a stupid amount of money just on photos

    i really dont know how i stock can justify there prices as it worked out to $3 - $5 per photo and that is just for a small image too

    i spent ages trying to find a good alternative

    I now use Royalty-Free Stock Photos, Illustrations & Vector Art | Depositphotos®

    there awesome

    they have a huge selection of quality images

    and even better it works out to around $0.50 per image

    this is all i use now to buy photos

    paul
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  • Profile picture of the author DaveSmith2020
    Thanks for the link Paul. I know these sites have different sizes. If I bought a 100x100 size for example, am I allowed to resize it using Photoshop? Or do you have to display it at the size you bought it at?
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  • Profile picture of the author paul nicholls
    i really don`t know about that side of things

    to be on the safe side i would just use the size which you purchase

    paul
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  • Profile picture of the author DaveSmith2020
    The thing is the cost between the sizes makes a big difference so I really need to find out. Unfortunately, I find the wording of the T&C confusing.
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    • Profile picture of the author Loridori4
      I'm pretty sure you are allowed to resize the photos you purchase. Their main beef is don't re sell it.
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  • Profile picture of the author IvinViljoen
    I use free digital photos .net. All they ask is a courtesy source link for the use
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    • Profile picture of the author Dean Thompson
      Originally Posted by IvinViljoen View Post

      I use free digital photos .net. All they ask is a courtesy source link for the use
      Hi Ivin,

      Haven't been to this site yet but thought you may know the answer to this question:

      Where do you have to place the courtesy link on your site. Next to the said photo or at the end of an article that's accompanying the image?
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      • Profile picture of the author paul nicholls
        Originally Posted by Dean Thompson View Post

        Hi Ivin,

        Haven't been to this site yet but thought you may know the answer to this question:

        Where do you have to place the courtesy link on your site. Next to the said photo or at the end of an article that's accompanying the image?
        i would just link the photo itself back to the site

        this is why i dont like using free images

        i only pay $0.50 per image but i know that i own it and i dont have to put any links back to a different site

        $0.50 per image is nothing if your doing a few new posts a week

        paul
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        • Profile picture of the author Dean Thompson
          Originally Posted by paul nicholls View Post

          i would just link the photo itself back to the site

          this is why i dont like using free images

          i only pay $0.50 per image but i know that i own it and i dont have to put any links back to a different site

          $0.50 per image is nothing if your doing a few new posts a week

          paul
          Hi Paul,

          Good point.

          I suppose you can view it as an investment in your business.
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          • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
            I would personally pay $3- $5 or more if I really needed a certain image.

            but here's another solution: use morguefile.com - you can use their images commercially as long as you alter the image somehow.
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            • Profile picture of the author Dean Thompson
              Originally Posted by Karen Blundell View Post

              are you guys serious? People are complaining about paying a photographer a pittance ($3-$5) to use said photos?

              wow...just wow...


              Here's a solution: take your own photos..then you'll see how much time it takes to
              a) take a decent photo
              b) optimize it for the web
              3) publish it

              what's your time worth?


              another solution: use morguefile.com - you can use their images commercially as long as you alter the image somehow.

              Good point Karen.

              But that's the problem in today's world. Bigger organisations working cheaper than small independents.

              People are automatically programmed to look for the cheapest alternative.

              Not always ethically, or even morally, correct but that's what happens.
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              • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
                Originally Posted by Dean Thompson View Post

                Good point Karen.

                But that's the problem in today's world. Bigger organisations working cheaper than small independents.

                People are automatically programmed to look for the cheapest alternative.

                Not always ethically, or even morally, correct but that's what happens.
                yeah, sigh, I know, Dean. that's why I changed my original response, after thinking a few seconds more. lol
                Just because I'm willing to pay top dollar for things I need, doesn't mean anyone else sees it the same way.
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                • Profile picture of the author Dean Thompson
                  Originally Posted by Karen Blundell View Post

                  yeah, sigh, I know, Dean. that's why I changed my original response, after thinking a few seconds more. lol
                  Just because I'm willing to pay top dollar for things I need, doesn't mean anyone else sees it the same way.
                  Hi Karen,

                  I think your original post was spot on.

                  As I mentioned earlier, from an ethical and moral point, your stand is admirable - thinking of the small business owner. Nice touch in today's corporate world..

                  Anyway I don't want to hijack this thread.

                  There seems quite a few options, at varying prices, for people to choose their photos from.
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        • Profile picture of the author fatphotographer
          Originally Posted by paul nicholls View Post

          i would just link the photo itself back to the site

          this is why i dont like using free images

          i only pay $0.50 per image but i know that i own it and i dont have to put any links back to a different site

          $0.50 per image is nothing if your doing a few new posts a week

          paul
          Hi Paul,

          Sorry to correct you, but you do NOT own the photo you own the right to use the photo, there is a big difference!

          The photogrpher owns the photo and unless they sell the copyright to you (which they would not do for $0.50) they still own the photo, you would not be allowed to resell in many cases and certainly not resell the right to use the photo (unless purchased for that reason).

          You are not the only one to be publicising their lack of understanding in this field though.

          Where stock photography is concerned you buy a specific file sized photo so increasing the size nulls your contract and you are breaking terms and conditions and therefore effectively stealing the work.

          When you buy any photo the licence you are granted allows you to ONLY use the image for that purpose, so re-selling could be an issue, using the image on more than one page could be as well (you must read the terms first as many sites vary).

          It is also known in the photography world (something I know very well) that there are sites out there that sell others work (or give it away) so free images may not be as free as you think and you could end up liable for a lawsuit if you use someone elses copyright without permission, even unknowingly.

          Pictures for websites from reputable stock agencies cost pennies (you don't need a huge file size so costs are very low) you would be far better using these than trying to penny pinch. If for nothing else than the more people who do the less photographers of quality there will be in the world.

          Anyway, sorry if this seems a rant, but my industry suffers a lot from mis-information and peoples belief that photos on the net are free for anyone to use as they see fit (not that anyone here claimed that).
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  • Profile picture of the author nasuryono
    Try http://sxc.hu

    They have a large collection of free stock photos.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Rockstar
    I'd recommend trying DepositPhotos, Photolia and PhotoDune.net they all have a good collection of portfolios and their prices are not very expensive.
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    • Profile picture of the author cashp0wer
      You can also use freedigitalphotos.net to find free images that you can use on your blogs. It would get very expensive if I had to buy all of mine
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  • Profile picture of the author paul nicholls
    yeah dean $0.50 per image is nothing especially if the site that your trying to brand or build is a main part of your business

    i wouldnt even bother using free images for the sake of $0.50

    paul
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  • Profile picture of the author williamk
    Banned
    Thanks for the links paul. But do you know any more of them? I am looking for some cheap sources of photos.
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  • Profile picture of the author fatphotographer
    Oh and anyone interested in finding stock agencies I have loads listed on my site fatphotographer dot net - Support photographers
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris-
    You can get free images from sxc.hu, and/or use the Google image advanced search to find images with rights to use and modify commercially.

    Chris
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  • Profile picture of the author alphadesign
    For free images use http://sxc.hu/

    But if you want some high quality photos that cost money then use Royalty-Free Stock Photos, Illustrations & Vector Art | Depositphotos® , they have the lowest prices that I've seen so far.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim Franklin
    Yes as Karen mentioned there are a ton of photos, on http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...OavdZA&cad=rja

    There are different licenses, most say you cannot use them in a standalone manner, (just as it it was delivered to you) so in a video, as part of a book cover, the thing about RF stuff, is that many people do not realize that just because it says royalty Free, does not mean that you have full rights, in fact most of the time there are so many restrictions that you would be hard pressed to use it at all...

    Sort of a bummer, but its all about if you do something they do not like with what they own they will tell you to stop doing it or else,

    A great example would be if you made an adult movie with some of the images you got from say istockphoto and they found out about it, they would go APE, and they should have that right, but the terms are written so legally broad that they could cite just about any excuse at all and claim the same rights.

    Thats what I do not like about these pay by the pic services.

    (disclaimer) I do not engage in nor have ever made adult films, the example was to illustrate a possible action.
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  • Profile picture of the author HorseStall
    You can find royalty free stock photos in large formats (for print) at Photo Wizard Royalty Free Stock Photos the images are only $.99 each
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  • Profile picture of the author Qamar
    If you are interested to get endless supply of free stock photos, do check my sig as I have compiled 280 websites of more than a million stock photos that you can use now all for free. What you need to do is just to check their Terms of Use and you are good to go.



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  • Profile picture of the author sriram rajan
    Thanks for all the awesome links folks..
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  • Profile picture of the author Aksis
    Try jupiterimages dot com

    Hope this helps.
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  • Profile picture of the author MayfairNoble
    Do wish people would stop complaining about the cost of stock images, the photographer has got to eat too you know.

    If it's getting too expensive to pay a few dollars for an image, maybe you are not monetising your sites properly.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheGraphicsGuy
    Another vote for SXC.HU for a free alternate. Its not a huge database but still high res (kind of) and free.
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  • Profile picture of the author J Thornhill
    if you are using the free caution be sure to read the compete tos as sometimes the free photo are for personal use only and cannot be used in commercial a business or website
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  • Profile picture of the author Edk
    I get some good free stuff from dreamstime.com. There's a commercial side to their site also but I've gotten some pretty useful free images from there

    Ed
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  • Profile picture of the author vCr8
    It is an investment for your site, it is the owner's right to have a link back to their site if you have not paid for it. Give them proper credit for their work since you have not paid for it. Be sure to always read terms of agreements with free sites.
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  • Profile picture of the author koolphoto
    Major Websites as well as magazines like INC usually hire photographers. For general stock photos they usually go to a major supplier like Getty Images, Corbis or a few other similar stock photo suppliers. Istockphoto is owned by Getty. And Getty Images was just acquired by The Carlyle Group for $3.3 billion.
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  • Profile picture of the author blazingskull
    It is a myth to think that you need to pay for good quality images. iStockphoto is an absolute thief when it comes to quality photos.

    Use these steps to get great quality photos for free:
    1. go to flickr.com
    2. do a search
    3. click on advanced search options link (not visible without the first search)
    4. select the appropriate creative commons filter and search for the keywords of the image you are looking for.
    5. and BOOM you have great quality images in ALL sizes
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