{"product_id":"why-should-you-use-stock-images-and-how-do-you-do-this-legally","title":"What Is a Stock Image? Uses, Creation Process, and Legal Tips","description":"\u003cfigure\u003e\u003cimg height=\"416\" width=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfWi5butLp2nK6rAFzsiPxmhF3-H7M5t5vH5sekJ20e6DQzWWjxbCqbnaapPwSLBlQIKTxaW8z2E5Rt7rqPh2920E6oCRb0aIEA-93_V1K43W2czFTyRVCIqtGPnAvEjVT7GPFb3A?key=Bx-h0VYZssjJqk6cTyP4ZUGX\"\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003ePhoto Source: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/depositphotos.com\/photo\/beautiful-cheerful-multicultural-girls-holding-champagne-glasses-celebrating-falling-confetti-243244470.html\" alt=\"Group of women celebrating\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eDepositPhotos.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEver wondered \u003cstrong\u003ewhat a stock image is\u003c\/strong\u003e? Learning more about them and uncovering the \u003cstrong\u003ebest practices for using\u003c\/strong\u003e such \u003cstrong\u003eimages\u003c\/strong\u003e legally can save you time, money, and effort. In this guide, we’ll explain what stock images really are, how they’re created, where you can use them, and how to avoid common legal pitfalls. Keep reading to learn more!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure\u003e\u003cimg height=\"517\" width=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXf7Rj8lqX3aXpjxkXy1Oj6LdyuMY-VZK9cFBUstxPhWVf5HGVrxGABCGfs08NxFNtYnjHKqMUcYAh-8wURMGND9eHjZROSeLWFTwqSJRM_EXI0ZWp5syyVfIHLlg29FWLK41mDIrA?key=Bx-h0VYZssjJqk6cTyP4ZUGX\"\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003ePhoto Source: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/depositphotos.com\/illustration\/watercolor-single-character-mystical-mythical-character-phoenix-isolated-161473980.html\" alt=\"watercolor style phoenix painting\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eDepositPhotos.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can discover high-quality, licensed \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/depositphotos.com\/photos\/phoenix.html\"\u003ephoenix images\u003c\/a\u003e on Depositphotos for your commercial purposes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat are stock images?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStock image\u003c\/strong\u003e—a professional photo, illustration, or graphic that is made available for licensing. They are crafted by various creators who offer visual content that others might need for non-commercial, commercial, or editorial use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat are stock photos used for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCreative stock images\u003c\/strong\u003e can be used for almost any material and medium that needs visuals, especially in situations when creating custom photos would take too much time, money, or effort. They are quite affordable, and the numbers prove that, as only \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/blog\/visual-content-marketing-statistics\/#2024-stats\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e12.4% of marketers\u003c\/a\u003e spend the highest share of their visual content budget on such visuals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost often, you can find them in the following:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSocial media content\u003c\/strong\u003e: brands and influencers use such visuals to make posts look polished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWebsites and blogs\u003c\/strong\u003e: on websites and \u003cstrong\u003eblogs, stock photos\u003c\/strong\u003e break up text and add visual appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePresentations\u003c\/strong\u003e: in PowerPoint or pitch decks to make them look more professional.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdvertising and marketing materials\u003c\/strong\u003e: for instance, digital ads, flyers, posters, and email campaigns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEducational and training content\u003c\/strong\u003e: visuals used by teachers, course creators, and e-learning platforms to make content easier to understand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct mockups and online shops\u003c\/strong\u003e: for lifestyle imagery or product-in-use mockups. High-quality visuals can help increase sales, especially as\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/iipvapi.com\/product-photography-statistics-and-facts\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e 67% of customers\u003c\/a\u003e believe the quality of a product image is very important for their purchasing decisions. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNews and editorials\u003c\/strong\u003e: where no real-time image is available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow are stock images made?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow exactly are \u003cstrong\u003ecreative stock photos\u003c\/strong\u003e and other pictures made? This largely depends on the type of visual. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow are paid and free stock photos for your blog and other purposes created\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePhotographers choose the concept and plan the shoot, thinking about features that are in demand on image stocks. They choose a location, hire models (if needed), style the scene, and then shoot visuals. After that, they edit the visuals, upload them to stock websites, and add titles, tags, and descriptions to help people find the images. Once approved by the platform, the image becomes available for download under specific license terms, and the creator, in turn, earns money per download (on paid platforms) or builds visibility (on free ones).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure\u003e\u003cimg height=\"416\" width=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXdxCCqdXXOr4DgK0aqODrLgbSu7-0F6gslESwUf5c2YKdOEu0pPTOtOwP2jLjb41iBZzlAcHg-vKJ1F8F6UMjBSUzLEMmYL9Oj1q5VP3Jh9vyd9SEtI9mdDrJb8LlD8EqCtAOaPkQ?key=Bx-h0VYZssjJqk6cTyP4ZUGX\"\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003ePhoto Source: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/depositphotos.com\/photo\/photographer-in-beautiful-lake-federa-54044241.html\" alt=\"Photographer taking pictures\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eDepositPhotos.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow illustrators or graphic designers create smart stock images\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuch creators use tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, and AI generators to create designs. These visuals can be icons, infographics, patterns, characters, or abstract art. Then, they clean up their artwork, properly size it, and upload it in formats like PNG, JPG, or SVG. The rest of the process is identical to stock photo distribution: illustrations and designs are uploaded, tagged, and described on stock websites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to use stock photos legally\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow that you know \u003cstrong\u003ehow stock photos work\u003c\/strong\u003e, you might wonder how to use them without violating licensing terms. Here are the best practices on \u003cstrong\u003ehow to use stock photos\u003c\/strong\u003e and other visuals safely and correctly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUnderstand the license type\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSometimes, you can use stock photos for non-commercial purposes but aren’t allowed to utilize them for commercial use without purchasing a special license. That’s why you need to know the main types of stock licenses and how they differ.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRoyalty-Free (RF)\u003c\/strong\u003e license is one of the most common ones. Under it, you pay for a visual once (or get it for free) and use it multiple times. However, you can’t resell or give it away as your own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRights-Managed (RM)\u003c\/strong\u003e license is more specific and restricted. With it, you pay based on image usage—for instance, depending on where you use it, for how long, and how big the audience is. This license is usually used by larger companies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFree For Commercial Use\/Creative Commons Zero (CC0)\u003c\/strong\u003e. These allow you to use an image without attribution, even for commercial projects. For instance, free stock websites like Unsplash or Pixabay usually operate under this license (however, you’re advised to check the terms and conditions additionally per image).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCheck if a visual needs attribution\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe answer to the question “\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use stock images on my website\u003c\/strong\u003e without attribution?” is quite simple: it depends. Some licenses don’t require you to credit the photographer or source, while some ask you to do so. To be safe, always check the visuals’ requirements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKeep model and property releases in mind\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf a stock photo shows a recognizable person or private property (like a house or car), the photographer should have a release form permitting commercial use. Today, most reputable stock websites take care of this. But if you’re downloading a visual from a less well-known or unknown source, be careful and double-check this aspect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure\u003e\u003cimg height=\"416\" width=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXdEZxdKf3LaCglI-47a0T6tNEArczkqSUaWC5nBubyrWjYh6YhLIE44-sPlNEDux8e7cVkUVjpeolj-FQkQ1YNuNnnU3BAlTIXsbN4kYDNfKxR8IHmkk79rJ1UM8uGGkbIuHsKcew?key=Bx-h0VYZssjJqk6cTyP4ZUGX\"\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption\u003ePhoto Source: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/depositphotos.com\/photo\/pensive-blonde-young-woman-sitting-white-grey-272521782.html\" alt=\"Female model in white\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003eDepositPhotos.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAvoid the most common mistakes \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy\u003c\/strong\u003e can you face legal issues while using \u003cstrong\u003estock photos\u003c\/strong\u003e? Most often, due to the following mistakes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA person claims a visual as their own creation;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA person uses an image in offensive or misleading contexts;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA person resells a photo or uploads it to other stock websites;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli aria-level=\"1\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA person uses editorial-only images in commercial projects—for instance, places a celebrity picture in an ad for a product or service that isn’t promoted by this celebrity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTo sum up\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStock images are a powerful tool for anyone who creates content. They help you create great visual storytelling without requiring a full production team or expensive equipment. Just make sure you understand the licensing terms, give credit when needed, and avoid common mistakes. When used responsibly, stock photos can become a valuable asset for you and your business.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SupplyMe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41185477427280,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1418\/0968\/files\/beautiful-girls-holding-champagne-glasses-celebrating-7181906346064.png?v=1749571940","url":"https:\/\/www.supplyme.com\/products\/why-should-you-use-stock-images-and-how-do-you-do-this-legally","provider":"SupplyMe","version":"1.0","type":"link"}