Royalty Free Photos

Dreamstime Images • iStockphoto Images

"Stock Photography"

Essentially, stock photographs are existing photos that their owners license for use by other organizations or individuals.  Today, via the Internet, it is easy to find and use stock photos.  Many stock photographers upload their photos, along with relevant descriptions and keywords, to searchable image databases where digital image users can easily find them.  Potential buyers can search these databases, using keywords as well as image-type and image-orientation parameters.  Once a buyer has found a suitable photograph and paid for an appropriate license, the photograph can be downloaded and used.

The term royalty free refers to a widely-used method of licensing copyrighted photographs.  In most cases, a photograph's copyright belongs to the photographer.  In order to use a copyrighted photo, the buyer must get permission from its photographer and pay a license fee.

A royalty free license is one way to acquire stock photograph usage rights.  Royalty free licensing is usually priced according to a photograph's size rather than its intended use.  There are few, if any, limitations regarding where and how you use the photograph, or how many times you use it.  Of course, royalty free photographs aren't actually free.  A licensing fee must be paid to use them.  However, that fee is usually minimal in comparison to other types of photo licensing fees.  Below, to the right, is a sampling of royalty free photographs that are available on the World Wide Web.

RoyaltyFreePhotos.us features a directory of stock photography suppliers who offer royalty free photographs for commercial and personal use.  You can freely search their galleries of watermarked images.  If you find a photo or gallery you like, you can purchase a royalty free license or subscription.

Royalty Free Images Suppliers

• Getty Images
  
  This imagery, film, and digital services provider features contemporary photography, illustrations, and archival images for creative use.
  www.GettyImages.com
• Corbis Images
  
  This digital media firm provides digital image licensing options and rights services for digital arts professionals and their clients.
  www.CorbisImages.com
• Shutterstock
  
  This diverse and extensive collection of royalty free photographs and illustrations is accessible on a subscription basis.
  www.Shutterstock.com
• iStockphoto.com
  
  This fast-growing collection of royalty-free images features popularly-priced photographs, vector illustrations and flash files.
  www.iStockphoto.com
• Alamy
  
  Alamy features a large collection of royalty-free and rights-managed images from specialist collections and independent photographers.
  www.Alamy.com
• SuperStock
  
  Offers a selection of Royalty Free and Rights Protected Photography.
  www.SuperStock.com
• ThinkStock
  
  Find millions of royalty-free digital images in several file sizes.
  www.ThinkStockPhotos.com
• Can Stock Photo
  
  Millions of stock photographs and royalty free stock footage clips.
  www.CanStockPhoto.com
• Dreamstime
  
  Offers an extensive selection of stock photos and royalty free images at low prices.
  www.Dreamstime.com
• iCLIPART
  
  Over 6 million digital images, including clipart, original photographs, web graphics, and animations.
  www.iCLIPART.com
• Painet Stock Photos
  
  Provides Managed Rights images to advertising agencies, publishers, and other image buyers.
  www.PainetWorks.com
• CFG Photo
  
  This stock photography collection specializes in horticultural, botanical, and agricultural images.
  www.CFGPhoto.com
• Animation Factory
  
  Offers 3D animations, clip art, and PowerPoint™ templates.
  www.AnimationFactory.com

Royalty Free Image Collections

• Media Bakery
  
  Search millions of rights-managed and royalty-free images from brands such as Photodisc, Digital Vision, Stockbyte, Bananastock, and many more.
  www.MediaBakery.com
• Fotosearch
  
  This image search engine enables you to search stock photography, illustration, and video footage from multiple publishers.  Find an extensive selection of royalty free and rights managed images.
  www.Fotosearch.com

Stock Photography Organizations

• ASPP
  
  The American Society of Picture Professionals is a community of image experts that are committed to sharing their experience and knowledge throughout the industry.  ASPP provides professional networking and educational opportunities for persons and organizations who create, edit, research, license, manage and publish pictures.
  www.ASPP.com
• DMLA - Digital Media Licensing Association
  
  The Digital Media Licensing Association is a North American trade organization that represents the interests of stock agencies and others who license images and other forms of digital media for commercial reproduction.
  www.DigitalMediaLicensing.org

Related Photography Website

• Photo Printers - photo printing products and services.

Royalty Free Photo Guide and Directory - Stock Photos