4.2.4 WHERE DO I GET THE PICTURES FROM? IMAGE DATABASES

In addition to your own photos and videos, you will also need general image material in your social media communication. However, please note that professional image material is normally not offered for free. When you contract professional photographers or graphic designers, you have to pay remuneration and image rights. Also for pictures from picture databases, you normally have to pay licence fees. By the way, it is absolutely taboo to download pictures using the Images section of Google and use them without permission!

As we have already said in chapter 3.1.4, most images that can be found on the Internet are protected by copyright and may not be used. One solution can be an image database. You can purchase a licence for photos to be used in print media, on websites or also on social media platforms. These are some of the most common, fee-based image databases:

  • Fotolia
  • Shutterstock
  • Istockphoto

Make sure to keep the following in mind when using image databases:

  • Under which creative commons licence was the photo published?
  • For which purpose can the photo be used? Is it possible to use it on social media platforms?
  • Can the photo also be used for commercial purposes, in addition to private uses?
  • How has the name of the image database and/or photographer to be mentioned
  • May I edit images or may I only use original versions?
  • Some images were published under creative commons (CC) licence; do I have to link to the licence in addition to the photo credits when I publish a photo?

Among the numerous image databases on the web, there are a few licensed according to creative commons CC0. This means, you may use high-resolution photos for free for commercial purposes - without having to mention the photographer's name:

  • Pixabay.com: this is the best-known source for free-of-charge, licence-free images, graphics and even videos. All images may be used for commercial purposes without having to mention the source. Downloaded images can be edited without having to ask the author for permission. Great search function!
  • Pexels.com: a photographically more ambitious image database with smaller choice. All images are licensed under CC0. It is not necessary to mention any name; photos can be edited and further used.
  • Stocksnap.com: a metasearch engine for various other websites with licence-free images.

Use of images from Pixelio is basically free-of-charge, as well – however, there are some restrictions. Not all photos on Pixelio may be used for commercial purposes. Furthermore, Pixelio and the photographer have to be mentioned as source.

  • Please note: these are rough guidelines, not legally binding information!
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