When looking for photography to use, it can be difficult to know where to look and what is available to use. If you’re a small business owner or getting started in marketing, it can be confusing to know the rules around copyright and fair usage. With most marketers starting with Google for inspiration, it can be all-too-easy to save an image and insert it into your own marketing. However this comes with a raft of copyright issues, and may land you and your business in hot water.
Copyright
Although many images and videos are easily available to download online, this does not necessarily mean you are free to use them. All original creative work is covered by copyright laws in most countries across the world.
Copyright law grants exclusive rights to the creator of an original work, including photographs, to control the use and distribution of their work. This means that businesses must obtain permission from the photographer or their agent before using their photographs for commercial purposes, such as advertising or marketing materials.
Failure to do so may result in legal action and financial penalties and be costly and time-consuming to resolve. As a result, it’s important for businesses and their employees to understand the basics of copyright law when it comes to photography, to avoid infringing on the rights of photographers and to protect their own business from any legal repercussions.
Alternatives to using Google Images
As an alternative, there are many websites available that can provide photography that you can use without copyright infringement, such as Alamy.
The benefit of using stock image websites such as Alamy is that you are guaranteed high-quality images from trusted sources, with the comfort of knowing that you have obtained the proper licence.
Even more so, high-quality images can make a significant impact on your business’s online presence and can enhance their brand perception. When businesses invest in professional images that align with their brand’s aesthetics and messaging, it helps them create a strong and consistent brand identity, which can attract more customers and build trust.
Supporting Photographers
Photographers play a crucial role in the creative industry, and their work should be valued and respected. When marketers and businesses use images from Google without the right permissions, it undermines the photographer’s hard work and creativity, and they lose the opportunity to earn income for their work. This can have a negative impact on the photography industry as a whole.
To support photographers and ensure their continued success, businesses should consider licensing images or commissioning them via the proper routes. By licensing images, businesses can legally use the images for their intended purpose while compensating the photographer for their work. Commissioning photographers directly not only supports their livelihood but also allows businesses to create unique and tailored images that align with their brand’s identity and messaging. Ultimately, supporting photographers benefits everyone by fostering creativity, innovation, and growth within the industry.
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If you’re looking for stock imagery to use, it’s best to avoid taking photographs straight from Google. Whilst it can be a great place for inspiration, you can face serious legal repercussions if you do not have the correct copyright. That’s why it’s best to turn to sites like Alamy.com that guarantee payment for contributors, which further fuels creativity, innovation and diversity of imagery available to use online.