Stock FAQs

what does royalty free stock photos mean

by Noel Murazik Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Free and royalty-free images
A common agreement is a 'royalty-free' image licence. This does not necessarily mean there is no cost for the licence to use the image, but means that the image can be used without paying additional royalties (basically a payment each time the image is reused) to the copyright holder.
Jul 8, 2022

Full Answer

Where can I get free stock images?

Stock images have a bit of a bad reputation, but Unsplash is reinventing the stock photo. We accept only the finest quality images, so that you can get free stock photos without sacrificing on quality. Download free ( do whatever you want) high-resolution photos.

Where can I get free stock pictures?

Gratisography is the perfect place to stock up on some high-quality free stock images for any print project. The site mainly features imagery of people posing with some exaggerated features, and in certain interesting situations. If you are looking for free quirky pictures for social media posts, blog posts or others then this is the perfect site.

What is the best free stock image site?

  • Top Sites to Find Free Stock Images
  • KaboomPics. Kaboompics is the first choice for lifestyle, interior design, and travel bloggers. ...
  • Pixabay. Pixabay is a community of creative people sharing free images and videos. ...
  • Gratisography. ...
  • Burst. ...
  • Pikwizard. ...
  • Libreshot. ...
  • Pexels. ...
  • Unsplash. ...
  • Foodiesfeed. ...

More items...

How much can you make selling stock photos?

What It Takes to Make $500 per Month Selling Stock Photos

  • Keep Your Expectations in Check. Although James earned his first stock photography income within just a month of uploading his first batch of photos, you shouldn't expect to make a ...
  • Take Great Photos. ...
  • Know What Sells. ...
  • Make Sure You Stand Out. ...
  • Choosing Where to Sell. ...
  • Knowing How to Sell. ...
  • Patience and Perseverance. ...
  • Getting Started. ...

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Are royalty-free images free to use?

Royalty-free is not free of charge – The image license has a price, that you must pay in order to use the copyrighted material. It is not a free-to-use license. Royalty-free is not free of terms or restrictions – The license terms are to be followed in order to make legal use of the stock images under this contract.

Does royalty-free mean copyright free?

Copyright free and royalty free music aren't the same thing. Although we threw both terms together, we do want to make a clear distinction that copyright free has no copyright and royalty free means the music has copyright.

Can I use a royalty-free image in my logo?

While it may be appropriate and lawful to use royalty-free images in most graphic design projects such as web design (please carefully read the license rights so that you understand whether you have the legal right to use the image), there are often specific restrictions on using royalty-free images for logo design.

What is true about royalty-free images?

Royalty-free images aren't necessarily free. In most cases, you'll have to pay a one-time fee to obtain the rights to use the image. Then you can use it as many times as you like. The “free” in “royalty-free” only means that you do not have to pay royalties to the owner of the image every time you use it.

What is meant by royalty-free?

Royalty-free (RF) material subject to copyright or other intellectual property rights may be used without the need to pay royalties or license fees for each use, per each copy or volume sold or some time period of use or sales.

What does royalty-free mean Shutterstock?

Shutterstock's entire collection of imagery and video is royalty-free, which means that buyers have wide leeway in how they use the images, subject to the limitations in our Terms of Service.

Are stock images copyrighted?

Royalty-free images are copyrighted, meaning the author of the image retains its ownership. When you buy a license from a stock photo agency, you get Royalty-free copyrights, that enable you as a buyer to use the photo but under certain conditions.

Can you sell royalty-free photos?

– No, you can't. Royalty Free images are sold under a paid license, regardless of your intended use being commercial or non-profit. You cannot use Royalty Free images for free, because it's an unlicensed, and therefore illegal use.

Can stock images be used commercially?

Stock photos for commercial use can be placed on websites and in marketing materials and editorial work – in fact, some stock photos can be used only for editorial purposes. The only real limit is that they cannot be used in materials related to illegal or morally sensitive areas, nor can they be resold or distributed.

How does a royalty free license work?

Royalty Free (hereafter, RF) means that after the initial permission is secured, usually through money, additional uses can be made without payment. RF is multiple use free of royalties. Pay once, put the photo on a t-shirt, upload it to your website, print out some fliers, get it tattooed on your forehead.

What does royalty free mean?

Q: What does “royalty-free” mean, anyway? A: “ Royalty-free ” refers to a licensing method under which image rights are sold at a flat rate for almost all purposes. This is in contrast to rights-managed licensing, when an image license is priced based on how the image will be used.

Is royalty free stock photography?

Royalty- free licensing became popular with the rise of digital image distribution, and today the vast majority of stock images are licensed as royalty-free. Royalty-free images offer buyers both greater flexibility and affordability than rights-managed.

Is Shutterstock royalty free?

Shutterstock’s entire collection of imagery and video is royalty-free, which means that buyers have wide leeway in how they use the images, subject to the limitations in our Terms of Service.

What is royalty free photography?

Royalty Free is a type of license used by stock photography agencies to sell stock images. This license type grants the buyer a determined set of rights to use the image in multiple ways, for a flat, one-time fee.

What is royalty free?

The “Free” in “Royalty Free” concept refers to the fact that you don't have to pay royalties to the owner of the image (nor to the agency selling the license) every time you use the photo, nor every time the photo generates your profit.

What is RF license?

Worldwide – RF license lets you use the image anywhere in the world, there is no geographic limitation associated with usage of royalty free photos unless it's specified by the agency who licenses it. Multiple use – RF license lets you use the image in a wide range of usages.

What is the basic concept of stock photography?

The most basic concept you must know to work with stock photos is that you are acquiring the right to use a photo in a certain way, not the property of the photo itself. The photographer who created the photo is still the owner of the photo.

How many copies can you print on a commercial license?

Most agencies also limit the distribution allowance. In present-day most of them put the reproduction/print run limit at 500,000, but others put it at 250,000 copies. Commercial RF licenses are very wide in their accepted uses.

Can I use royalty free photos?

You cannot use Royalty Free images for free, because it's an unlicensed, and therefore illegal use. Note: Most stock agencies offer their members some free images periodically, and some also have free photos collections, that are available to use for free (make sure you read all the conditions before using them).

Is royalty free stock photo royalty free?

Now that we defined that Royalty Free (or RF for short) images are not free, it's also important to note the most remarkable rights and restrictions that apply to them. Each stock photo agency specifies their own terms in their licenses, but here are the points that most of them have in common for their RF images:

What is the difference between royalty free and royalty free?

What is the difference between royalty and royalty-free? Royalty-free refers to the content sold under a royalty-free license. Upon a one-time purchase of royalty-free content, it can be used multiple times, without any further payment. The purchase fee of royalty-free content is called a royalty.

What is royalty free license?

Royalty-free license is the most basic license used by stock photo agencies to sell stock images, videos, and illustrations. RF license grants a life-time permission to use purchased images, videos, or illustrations, but with certain restrictions. While it grants you the right to use the image, you do not receive its ownership.

What is commercial RF license?

Commercial RF licensed images can also be used to illustrate books and book covers, magazines, T-shirt, packaging, etc., but within the reproduction limit. Editorial RF license is a lot more restrictive than a commercial. While you still pay the same as for the commercial RF license, its uses are restricted.

How much reproduction is allowed on RF images?

Any sort of profitable use is forbidden. Additionally, several agencies put a limit of reproduction even on Editorial RF images at 250,000 up to 500,000. Extended RF license has all the same uses as a Commercial or an Editorial RF licenses, but with an unlimited reproduction number.

What is RF material?

Royalty-free (RF) refers to any material or content that you can use multiple times without having to pay for each use. To gain access to RF material, you (usually) have to pay a one-time fee, which grants you a royalty-free license for the purchased content. Do not let the “free” part of “royalty-free” mislead you because it refers to ...

What does "free" mean in RF license?

Although the name consists of the word “free”, the part that may confuse some people. The “free” in “Royalty-free” refers to the payment and use type, rather than the cost of the image.

Can I use RF images anywhere?

Worldwide use: RF license stock images are not geographically limited. You may use them anywhere in the world. Multiple-use: RF license is not limited to a single-use. You may use it in as many projects as you want to and use multiple redistribution methods.

What is stock video?

Stock video is often used as a backdrop for all kinds of presentations. If you go on YouTube right now, you can find many informational and entertainment videos that consist of:

Can you use royalty free content?

Unless you specifically use royalty free content, it is unlikely you will be able to use it freely. If the content isn’t labeled “royalty-free” you will probably have to pay royalties or go through legal action against you.

Why is it important to have royalty free images?

A strong, compelling image will make your collateral stand out in a sales presentation, keep your blog post more engaging, and enhance your overall brand story. Royalty-free images are a low-cost option for projects that need to make a big business impact.

How many times can you use an image on iStock?

Again, iStock offers an Unlimited reproduction license for packaging that will be printed more than 500,000 times.

Is royalty free a monetary value?

Royalty-free images are not free in a monetary sense. Creators invest money and time in the content they make and deserve to be compensated. Typically, image libraries have legal agreements with content creators that allow image services to grant royalty-free licenses to their customers.

Can you use royalty free images on iStock?

Your royalty-free license will likely prohibit certain uses. At iStock, the use of royalty-free images for pornographic, obscene, or libelous content is not allowed. Other royalty-free stock photo sites have the same stipulation.

Is royalty free image commercial?

An image that is royalty-free is not necessarily free for commercial use — that is, any use that could lead to buying or selling something. The most reliable image services require you to pay a fee for a license that allows you to use the image for commercial or non-commercial uses, as long as you follow the terms.

Does royalty free license have limits?

Just like any license, a royalty-free license has limits. If you are planning a massive print run — like an ad running in a national magazine — you should check your license. At iStock, we offer an Unlimited reproduction license on products or print runs of more than 500,000 copies.

Can you resell a product that is royalty free?

Products for Resale. Standard royalty-free licenses may not allow you to resell a product you create that prominently features a licensed image. One example of resale would be labeling a physical product (say, putting the image on a mug and selling it online).

What is royalty free stock photo?

Royalty Free stock photos are in many cases interpreted as free photos. This is not true. Royalty Free means that the purchaser can use the photo multiple times on multiple projects with few restrictions, and without having to pay further royalties for said use. Royal free photos can be used in a project, campaign, or on multiple print materials.

What is Getty Images?

Getty Images is one of the most renowned stock photography companies in the world. With over 20 years in business, they dominate the market in worldwide media distribution. Their strong global presence and first-class content, including a large Editorial imagery service and exclusive access to cream of the top events in various fields, has helped them become such a prestigious supplier for Rights Managed images.

What is istock photography?

iStock was the pioneer company selling Royalty Free stock photography online. Since years backed by parent company Getty Images, this agency is famous for their detailed curation process and for offering a huge selection of exclusive content.

What is the most popular online photo agency?

Shutterstock. Shutterstock is one of the most popular online stock photo agencies, and a well-established one. They pioneered in the space introducing the stock photo subscription, a buying model most agencies use today.

What is rights managed photo?

Rights Managed is a onetime charge for the use of a photo, one time, and can be purchased as an exclusive or non-exclusive photo. If the user wants to use the image for additional projects, the image needs to be re-licensed again and outline the new use for the image. The Rights Managed agreement allows multiple copies of the image under one project, but new uses need to be renegotiated. As a real time example, you can use a Rights Managed photo for a brochure, but if you want to use it for a poster you will have to purchase a new licensing agreement that outlines the rights for poster distribution and use.

Can you use a rights managed photo for a brochure?

As a real time example, you can use a Rights Managed photo for a brochure, but if you want to use it for a poster you will have to purchase a new licensing agreement that outlines the rights for poster distribution and use. What makes a Rights Managed licensing agreement attractive is the option for exclusive or non-exclusive use.

Is royalty free copyright?

The downside to Royalty Free images is that they cannot be purchased on an exclusive basis, so other stock photography purchasers may end up using the image you purchased for their campaign as well. Royalty Free is a non-exclusive copyright license.

Overview Of Key Features Of Royalty-Free Licenses

Each stock image website (or agency) will have its own specific terms and rules regarding their royalty-free licenses, which you find in the license agreement.

Royalty-Free Licenses Have Two Different Labels: Editorial And Commercial

A royalty-free licensed image can be labeled either editorial or commercial, and this will determine whether you can use the image to sell or promote a product or service.

The Most Common Uses Of Royalty-Free Licensed Images

Royalty-free stock images are today used by a large number of different users, such as bloggers, website owners, graphic designers, advertisers, etc.

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What Is A Royalty-Free License?

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Royalty-free license is the most basic license used by stock photo agencies to sell stock images, videos, and illustrations. RF license grants a life-time permission to use purchased images, videos, or illustrations, but with certain restrictions. While it grants you the right to use the image, you do not receive its ownership. The RF lic…
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Are Royalty-Free Images free?

  • Once you pay the initial fee for the royalty-free license, you are free to use the content multiple times. This means that you do not have to pay for each individual use. Don’t let the name of the RF license, mislead you. Although the name consists of the word “free”, the part that may confuse some people. The “free” in “Royalty-free” refers to the payment and use type, rather than the cos…
See more on photutorial.com

Royalty-Free License Terms of Use

  • Every stock photo agency has its own terms and conditions of use, and even different names for RF license, but some key features are universal across all stock photo agencies. 1. License is not transferrable:When you purchase a RF license, it’s yours only. You cannot share it, resell it, or even re-gift it. Only you can use it. 2. RF images are not exclusive:Everyone who purchases an RF licen…
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How Much Does A Royalty-Free Image Cost?

  • RF images prices differ based on the stock photo agency, subscription plans, size, and payment methods. The range of RF stock images is between $0.16/image and $125/image. I encourage you to check my list of the cheapest stock photo sites, to find the best option for yourself. The majority of stock photo agencies sell RF images with subscription plans, a cheaper but less flexi…
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Allowed Uses For Royalty-Free Licenses

  • There are three different types of uses of RF licenses: Commercial, Editorial, and Extended. Commercial RF licenseis the most widely used RF license, that can be used both for physical products and as a part of graphic designs, but it has a reproduction limit between 250,000 and 500,000, based on the agency that sells it. In some cases, it’s difficult to guess the number of im…
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Restrictions to Royalty-Free Licenses

  • A royalty-free license comes with a few additional restrictions, that are based around morality and scams, for the most part. 1. You may not resell or redistribute the image as it is. You may only use it as a part of a bigger design. 2. You may not share the image with others, store it on a shared drive, or gift it. 3. You may not use the image in adult content, such as sexually explicit scenes. 4…
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Royalty-Free Images Use

  • Royalty-free images can be used as a part of a bigger design, such as: 1. Online marketing campaigns 2. On websites and for web ads 3. For illustrations and covers of books, ebooks, CDs, DVDs, magazines 4. For prints on T-shirts, mugs, etc. 5. As a part of creative projects 6. Print banners and interior design Keep in mind, that this information is just a summary of several licen…
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FAQ About Royalty-Free

  • RF is a simple license with a lot of details once you start going down the rabbit hole. I tried answering all your questions, as to make sure that you don’t break any rules.
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Royalty-Free License Summary

  • In conclusion, RF license is the most basic and inexpensive premium stock license available. Consequently, its uses are very limited and are seldom appropriate for bigger commercial campaigns. When you known you’ll have a larger audience (500,000+), you should always purchase an Extended RF license.
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