About Stock Photography

Stock photos are photographs of landmarks, nature, people, or places that can be purchased on a royalty-free basis and used for commercial design purposes. The photographer owns the images, and the designer has limited usage of the photo (as described in the Terms of Service of the stock photo company).  Stock photography is a cost-effective way for designers to obtain high-quality photos without the costs of hiring a photographer.

Once you've purchased a stock photo, it can be used in:

• Advertisements (digital or print)
• Articles
• Brochures
• Multimedia Presentations
• Story Illustrations
• Websites/Blogs
• And much more!

With an extended license, stock photos can also be used for print/electronic items that will be resold (e.g., screensavers, posters, mugs, etc.). There are some restrictions on the maximum number of copies that can be made with a standard license, but if you anticipate needing additional copies, that option is available at additional cost.

For more details, check with the stock photo companies:

Dreamstime (http://www.dreamstime.com/aboutimages) and Fotolia (http://www.fotolia.com/royalty_free_photos)