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Images for websites
ricky8r
posted this on Feb 22 19:45
Hi Guys,
I've recently set up a moonfruit account to do some free lance web design for local companies. I've just got my first draft done (almost), but I am having one problem designing a second. Pictures... If any could help by answering the following questions, it would be very very much appreciated:
1) Where do I get pictures from for websites?
2) How do you guys go about business specific pictures - i.e. pictures of staff, pictures of previous work (for testimonials) etc. - do most people ask the business (whom you are designing the website for) to provide the pictures or do people tend to take pictures themselves (if so, using what camera's?)
3) What restrictions are there for taking images from other sites - copyright etc.
Thanks in advance
Comments
Hiya Ricky
Couple of tips and pointers ref pictures.
1) Always best to set up an account with one of the big royalty free image sites. there are a number online, but one of the most comprehensive is wwwistockphotos.com It doesnt cost a lot for each image, generally only the small or medium sized images required if using for web design. If you build in to your prices perhaps 320 for original copyright images you can always give your sites a good visual boost.
2) Istock has a great library of business specific images , videos and vectors. In regards to who should pay for photos of a business, if at all possible, let your customer pay for them, as they can then use those images and pictures in other forms of marketing such as press ads or brochures. If they pay for the pictures to be done, they can also make sure they get copyright agreement with the photographer. If you have to do them yourself, you will own copyright, unless you release to the customer. This can be another part of the price structure and generally customers accept a charge for photography. Type of camera is own personal choice. Most digital cameras are good to get high quality images, its all about the way a picture looks when taken.
3) Always worth avoiding taking images from other sites. Almost all images / pictures belong to someone as far as copyright is concerned and there is a growing movement to police online copyright issues especially coming in from the States at the moment. Always best to go for copyright free images or images bought from image stock sites.
Hope this helps
I always either use photos that I have taken myself, or purchase them from sites like fotolia.com. This is a stock image site that provides professional images. You can buy points to purchase the images and usually the image starts at 1 point per image. There are other places: Getty Images, Shutterstock, Thinkstock, Vector Stock, etc. When you purchase them, the quality is great and you have a license to use it legally. All of these places give you the option to purchase either a pack of points or a subscription which usually allows you to get a discount, or you can make individual purchases. I agree with prodata - istockphotos is really great, and my second fav is fotolia.com. I am a subscriber to both. A lot of times they might have some of the same images, but when you can't find one in one place, you more than likely find it at the other.
good luck!