There is a common misbelief that if you find an image on the internet, that image is “open-source” or “free to use”. This belief is WRONG and it could cost you dearly. Getting an image off of Google Images (or any other website) and putting it on your site is a great way to get sued.
Here’s the truth: USING OTHER PEOPLE’S IMAGES WITHOUT THEIR EXPLICIT PERMISSION IS STEALING!
Not to worry, though.
If you are on a budget, you CAN get very affordable stock photography online, legally. You can get legal, licensed images in the $.10 to $5.00/image range. Cool, right?!
Who do we recommend?
Deposit Photos:
iStockPhoto:
Click the link below.
It will take you to our page on their site. Just type in the photo you are looking for in the search bar at the top of the page.
BigStock Photo:
Stock.Exchng:
This is a completely free site; HOWEVER, each image comes with its own terms (often you must notify the photographer of your use and you will need to give credit on your website.) This can be a pain in the rear-end, and if you ignore those rules, you could find yourself served with “Cease and Desist” legal papers. We recommend using the previously listed stock-photography sites where you purchase the license to use the image free and clear. It will only cost you a few bucks and you can avoid any potential legal issues. With that said, if you REALLY want to get a free photos, this is where you go to get it. (Just follow their rules.)
WHAT NOT TO DO:
Just as a reminder, never assume you can use images you find on:
- Google Images
- BING Images
- any other search engine Images results
- Flickr
- Photobucket
- Picassa
- or any other photo-storage or photo-sharing site.
If you find an image you really like on one of those sites, remember to contact the artist and ask what is required to use their image.
