What is stock photography? For many professionals, incorporating striking visuals into their projects is a necessity, but sourcing high-quality images can often be a time-consuming and daunting task. Fortunately, the world of stock images offers a treasure trove of readily available visual assets.
Stock images are professionally taken photos that are licensed for use in different projects. They cover a diverse array of subjects including landscapes, people, abstract ideas, etc. These photos are usually captured by photographers and then uploaded to online platforms. From there, individuals and businesses can buy licenses to utilize them in their own projects.
Teenage girl wearing virtual reality headset gesturing by striped wall (Photo by Aflo Images)
These images are commonly stored in online libraries, where users can search for them using keywords. The photographer retains the image’s copyright, even after a license is purchased. The license grants permission for a specified use of the image but does not transfer ownership of the copyright.
In this article, we will look at the types of stock images, pointers for initiating your journey with stock, how professionals across various industries can leverage them and recommendations on platforms to acquire stock images.
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Stock Photography Origin
Stock photography has a rich history dating back a century, but it was the advent of the digital age that propelled it into prominence within the realms of advertising and publishing. Crafted by talented artists and journalists worldwide, stock photography serves as a reservoir of ready-made visuals, catering to diverse creative needs.
Haneda Airport March 21, 1978 (Photo by Aflo Images)
Instead of undergoing the expense and effort of commissioning photoshoots, the notion emerged to offer pre-existing images for licensing. This pioneering approach gave rise to the first stock agencies, which facilitated the licensing process by acting as intermediaries between buyers and photographers. Ultimately, this proved advantageous for all involved. Buyers accessed cost-effective imagery, photographers monetized their work, and agencies earned a share of each transaction.
The transition from traditional film to digital technology created a shift in the stock photography industry, making it more accessible and efficient for photographers and agencies alike. This change facilitated the creation and distribution of visual content on a larger scale. Alongside the rise of digital photography, the demand for video content began to surge, prompting stock agencies to expand their offerings to include a diverse range of media types. As a result, these archives evolved into huge libraries housing billions of images, videos, and other media, catering to a wide spectrum of creative needs and budgetary considerations.
Today, users can access these libraries to find various types of stock images at any price point, sourced from both seasoned professionals and emerging creators.
Types of Stock Images
Public Domain
This offers unrestricted access to images, allowing users to utilize them freely and without limitations. Individuals can employ these images for various purposes, without the need for permissions or payments. This is typically because the copyright either expired, was not renewed, or the author intentionally released the images into the public domain.
Rights-Managed License
Under a Rights-Managed License, buyers pay a fee determined by the intended usage of the photo. Factors such as duration, location, and image size influence the cost. It typically comes at a higher price, but it can provide exclusivity, through ensuring that the image is not accessible to others for the duration of your license period.
Standing Dalmation (Photo by Tierfotoagentur / J. Böcker)
Royalty-Free License
It’s important to note that “royalty-free” doesn’t mean the image can be used without any cost. It simply means that only a single upfront payment is required for image usage rights, without ongoing royalties. The price can fluctuate depending on the size of the images. While restrictions may apply, buyers enjoy flexibility in using the image without renegotiation for each application. Royalty-free photos, though more affordable, lack exclusivity and can be licensed repeatedly to multiple clients.
Man putting a ring on the bride (Photo by Aflo Images)
Editorial vs Commercial
When incorporating editorial images into your projects, it’s important to adhere to certain guidelines to ensure ethical and legal compliance. Editorial images should not be used in a defamatory or morally questionable manner, and should only serve to describe an event in an article or text, refraining from endorsing products or services. Additionally, each editorial image should feature a comprehensive editorial caption, including location, date, factual description, and proper image credit.
Characteristics that may indicate an image is editorial include featuring celebrities, sportspersons, or prominent figures, displaying people who haven’t consented to commercial use, showcasing trademarked items, or being captured on private property.
JACOBS Lamont Marcell (ITA), AUGUST 1, 2021 – Athletics : Men’s 100m Final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by MATSUO.K/AFLO SPORT)
Commercial images, in contrast, are utilized for advertising products or services and typically require a commercial use license. These images can be found on billboards, websites, commercials, and various advertisements, with licensing models such as Royalty-free (RF) or Rights-managed (RM) available.
The main distinction between editorial and commercial images lies in their usage and licensing requirements. While commercial images require model or property releases for each recognizable element, editorial images do not, as they are primarily used for non-commercial purposes.
For a more in depth look into this topic, check out our article on How to Use Editorial Images.
Professionals Leveraging Stock Images
Professionals across various industries rely on stock images to enhance their work and communicate their messages effectively.
Journalists: Journalists often rely on editorial images to accompany news and sport articles, features, and investigative reports. These images provide visual context, depict key events, and enhance the overall storytelling by offering readers a visual understanding of the subject matter.
Documentary Filmmakers: Documentary filmmakers incorporate editorial images into their films and documentaries to support their narrative and provide visual evidence of real-life events, historical moments, and societal issues. These images add depth and authenticity to the storytelling process.
Graphic Designers: Graphic designers often use stock photos to complement their designs in advertising and branding. These images help convey specific messages or evoke certain emotions that align with their design objectives.
Marketers: Marketers use them in their campaigns, social media posts, and website designs to attract attention and engage their target audience. These images help create visually appealing content that effectively communicates brand messages.
These examples represent only a fraction of the professionals who find value in utilizing stock images. In reality, numerous others, spanning from educators to web developers and social media influencers, incorporate stock photography into their work. Regardless of your field, it appears that you too may be intrigued or seeking further insights into integrating stock resources into your professional endeavors.
Getting Started With Stock Images
Effectively utilizing stock photos can significantly elevate your project, making it more appealing to a broader audience. Here are five tips on how to approach using stock in your designs.
Respect the Usage Guidelines
Before downloading images, it is important to be aware of the restrictions and guidelines associated with them. Understanding these terms beforehand is essential before incorporating the images into your commercial projects. Proceeding without doing this could cause you unwanted legal trouble in the future if an image is used beyond the permitted boundaries.
Ensure Relevance to Your Project
Select stock photos that align with the core message of your project. Irrelevant images can confuse or mislead the audience, leading to a loss of engagement and interest. This can also undermine the credibility and professionalism of your brand. As a result, your work may fail to make a meaningful impact or resonate with its intended audience.
Overall, opting for relevant images is crucial for creating compelling and effective work that engage and inform viewers. Consider the preferences and cultural sensibilities of your target audience to ensure the chosen images resonate effectively.
Opt for High-Resolution Images
Begin your project with top-notch images to add a sharp and professional touch. Using high-resolution images demonstrates a commitment to quality and attention to detail, which can positively impact the perception of your company or your brand. Additionally, high-resolution photos ensure clarity and detail even when enlarged, maintaining a remarkable visual appeal across various dimensions.
Tokyo 2020 1st Anniversary Event “Thank you Tokyo! Festival and Ceremony (Photo by Aflo Images)
Stick to Your Brand Guidelines
By adhering to these guidelines, professionals ensure that their projects reflect the brand’s values, personality, and aesthetic preferences accurately. Using non-compliant images can damage brand perception and undermine the hard work and dedication invested in its establishment.
Embrace Diversity in Representation
Incorporate photos showcasing diverse individuals and settings to appeal to a wide audience. Diversity in images can expose your viewers to new ideas and perspectives. They can also help to foster inclusivity and enrich the narrative of your project, making it more relatable and appealing.
Where to Buy Stock Photos
Aflo Images
For those seeking stock images, Aflo Images offers a diverse collection, particularly focusing on Japan, with over 20 million photos and videos available. Aflo works closely with major media companies such as Associated Press, Reuters, AFP, Storyful, Mainichi Shimbun, Yomiuri Newspapers, Nikkan Sports, and the Kingendai Historical Archive.
Aflo’s diverse library covers various themes, styles, and subjects, catering to a wide range of creative projects and commercial needs. Corporations such as Netflix, BBC, Uniqlo, and Apple have turned to Aflo to fulfill their stock image requirements. With a reputation for excellence and a commitment to quality, AFLO Images is a go-to source for premium visual content.
Alamy
Alamy is a reputable stock photography agency known for its vast collection of high-quality images, including editorial and creative visuals sourced from photographers and agencies worldwide. Alamy provides access to diverse visual content suitable for various creative projects and commercial applications.
Other agencies
Shutterstock, Getty Images and Adobe Stock are popular places for people to get stock images. They offer vast libraries of images, illustrations, vectors, and videos, ensuring that creators have a wide selection to choose from.
By understanding the nuances of stock photography types, licensing, and usage, you can unlock a wealth of high-quality visuals to elevate your work. The key lies in selecting images that align with your project’s theme, resonate with your audience, and adhere to your brand guidelines.