What Is a Stock Image? Uses, Creation Process, and Legal Tips

Ever wondered what a stock image is? Learning more about them and uncovering the best practices for using such images 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!

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What are stock images?

Stock image—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.

What are stock photos used for?

Creative stock images 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 12.4% of marketers spend the highest share of their visual content budget on such visuals.

Most often, you can find them in the following:

1. Social media content: brands and influencers use such visuals to make posts look polished.

2. Websites and blogs: on websites and blogs, stock photos break up text and add visual appeal.

3. Presentations: in PowerPoint or pitch decks to make them look more professional.

4. Advertising and marketing materials: for instance, digital ads, flyers, posters, and email campaigns.

5. Educational and training content: visuals used by teachers, course creators, and e-learning platforms to make content easier to understand.

6. Product mockups and online shops: for lifestyle imagery or product-in-use mockups. High-quality visuals can help increase sales, especially as 67% of customers believe the quality of a product image is very important for their purchasing decisions. 

7. News and editorials: where no real-time image is available.

How are stock images made?

How exactly are creative stock photos and other pictures made? This largely depends on the type of visual. 

How are paid and free stock photos for your blog and other purposes created

Photographers 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).

How illustrators or graphic designers create smart stock images

Such 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.

How to use stock photos legally

Now that you know how stock photos work, you might wonder how to use them without violating licensing terms. Here are the best practices on how to use stock photos and other visuals safely and correctly.

Understand the license type

Sometimes, 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.

1. Royalty-Free (RF) 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.

2. Rights-Managed (RM) 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.

3. Free For Commercial Use/Creative Commons Zero (CC0). 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).

Check if a visual needs attribution

The answer to the question “Can I use stock images on my website 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.

Keep model and property releases in mind

If 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.

Avoid the most common mistakes 

Why can you face legal issues while using stock photos? Most often, due to the following mistakes:

• A person claims a visual as their own creation;

• A person uses an image in offensive or misleading contexts;

• A person resells a photo or uploads it to other stock websites;

• A 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.

To sum up

Stock 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.