Downloading and Using Photos
Can I use these images in my commercial projects?
Yes! Our images may be used in commercial projects like websites, advertising, books, videos, and other commercial presentations. If you would like to give credit to the site and/or photographer, that would be great. If you don't have a way to include the credit, that does NOT prohibit you from using the images. You may not, however, repackage, redistribute, or claim ownership of the images. Do not use the photos in products that rely on the photograph as the main selling point. If you want to use an image in a way not covered, use the Support link to contact us and just ask. We can also write you an exception to use images in ways that may be prohibited by the License.
What about putting the photos on shirts, mugs, mousepads, calendars, and/or toilet seat covers?
No! The right to resell or profit from a reprinting of our photos is a right we reserve for the photographers. This would qualify as "redistribution" and is not allowed. Stock photography agencies of nearly any kind prohibit this type of practice without a special license.
Do you have an API?
Yes! If you are interested in providing access to many thousands of great free photos in your application, we'd love to chat with you. Contact support with information about your application.
Why don't you have any photos of (something you need) ?
We add photos as they are taken, scanned, contributed or otherwise acquired. Some topics are easier to cover than others, and we are selective about what we post - each contributed image is reviewed before it goes live for image quality and accuracy of description and keywords. Images are constantly being added, so perhaps what you need is right around the corner. Click on "Newest Photos" to see the latest photos that we have posted.
Are larger versions of the photos available?
In many instances, yes. We have tried to make the online version of the site as useful as possible. If you would like a photo in a larger or less compressed version, let us know - we will attempt to contact the photographer and provide it.
Are there any restrictions on my use of the photos that I download?
Yes. While our license offers great freedoms and a wide ranges of uses, we do not allow the redistribution of our photos, or allow the use of our photos within products that are mass distributed in any type of archive format. See the License for complete details.
If I sign up for a membership, are there any other fees I will encounter when downloading from the site?
No - a simple login allows you full access to download any photos on our site at no extra charge.
Contributing Photos
Why didn't you post the photo(s) I contributed?
Each contributed photo is evaluated by a reviewer for its usefulness as a stock photo. Since this is not a personal photo sharing site, family photo snapshots generally don't qualify as good stock. We ask that images be around 2400 x 1600 pixels and under 3 megs in file size, though there may be some flexibility in these areas. We've found that this serves the needs of 95% of our visitors and it keeps our bandwidth usage under control.
Images of people will need to be model released, which means you would need ot have on hand a completed model release document from people who appear in your submitted images. Images cannot contain copyrighted corporate logos or other copyrighted materials. So there can be a number of reasons why we cannot or will not post an image you submitted. We try to keep you informed via email when we evaluate your images.