Images and visuals can really make a post come to life. There are so many beautiful pictures online you’d think they were there for the taking. They’re not. The fact is unless you have permission to use an image you don’t own, you may be breaking the law. The information about image use is available, but too many people skip out on doing the research. One blogger shared her story so that others could learn from her very expensive mistake. Do yourself a favor – don’t just copy and paste images you find on Google. Before you add that awesome picture to your blog or newsletter, learn how to use images wisely, and legally.
The best way to protect yourself before using an image:
- Take the picture yourself;
- Hire a photographer to take it and confirm permissions before posting;
- Request permission from the copyright holder;
- Go to a stock photo site like istock, find the pictures you like, and pay for their use;
- Find a website that offers free images (see the list below for a good start).
Create a folder and get in the habit of adding pictures you like that you can legally use. This way you’ll have a collection you can safely browse when you need just the right picture for your site or blog.
Free images are available. Take a look at the following sites. Remember, always read the terms to be sure you have the right permissions before you use or post an image. Better safe than sorry!
- All The Free Stock (a collection of many great image resources)
- Flickr: Creative Commons
- Creative Commons
- Morgue File
- Pixabay
- Unsplash
