Have you ever needed a photo for your blog post or LinkedIn article and searched Google Photos to find it? I’ll admit, it’s the quickest and easiest way to find that perfect image to make your content pop. You may even avoid any photos that have watermarks, knowing it’s not okay to share them without buying them first.

But did you know that not every licensed photo on the internet has a watermark? If your Google search leads you to a photo on someone else’s blog, for instance, and you download and use it without a watermark, it can lead to a huge headache for you if you’re not clear about the etiquette and rules around giving proper credit for photos you use for your content.

True Story

One of my clients made this mistake a few years ago and shared a simple photo of a calendar on one of her blog posts. About a month later, she received a certified letter in the mail from the company that owned the image threatening a lawsuit. It took her days to research what she had done wrong (because she found the image through a Google search and it was an honest mistake) and hire a lawyer who specialized in these types of cases. In the end, she settled the case out of court, but it cost her more than $3,500.00 when all was said and done.

I’d like to share a few rules to help you avoid that costly mistake yourself. It’s important information because the internet is such a visual medium and you’re probably always searching for appropriate images to share. Here are my top 5 rules for making sure it’s okay to share that photo.

#1 - Use Free Stock Photo Sites

Sites like Pixaby, Pexels, and Picwizard are where I always start when looking for stock images (if I’m not using one of my own). Even if you can’t find a free image you like, many of the larger paid image providers (like IStock) advertise their photos on these sites, so you can always purchase the photo you need with a simple click.

#2 - Invest in Paid Stock Photos for Websites and Public Presentations

If you need more variety and better photos than you can find on the free stock sites, there are some great, affordable paid stock photo sites (Like IStock and Depositphotos) that allow you a certain number of downloads for a specific price, or even unlimited downloads for a monthly fee. These are a great resource if you’re doing a lot of creative work and often need just the right photo but can’t find it on a free stock photo site. Canva also has thousands of great stock photos you can purchase for $1 to use in your projects created there.

Kim Brundage Photography 2022 - I took this at a recent park we were staying at. I shared it on the Facebook group for the park. Someone asked my permission to print and put it on their refrigerator. I appreciated them reaching out and gladly gave them permission.

#3 - Give Credit Where Credit is Due

Most people would never consider copying verbatim a paragraph out of a book without giving the author credit. As a photographer whose work is “out there” on social media, I always appreciate getting credit for the work I’ve done in the same way. Some free stock sites also ask you to attribute their photos with the photographer’s name and information. Be aware that if you don’t do this and use the photo anyhow, you’re in violation of their free terms and could get into trouble.

#4 - Ask for Permission

If you find a photo that you’d like to use but can’t find a way to secure the right to do that, consider reaching out to the person who took the photo (if you can find them) to ask permission. There’s a great tool called Tineye that allows you to upload an image for free and then does a reverse image search to tell you where the photo is being used online. That’s often a great way to find the original photographer or owner.

#5 - When in Doubt, Don’t Share

I can’t stress this enough. If you’re not sure about attribution for a photo, you're best to find a different one that you know is safe to share, either with attribution or because it’s from a free stock site. You’re always better safe than sorry when it comes to this.

*Kim Brundage Photography 2022 - I took this image of the Wild Mustangs in Salt River, AZ*

Hopefully, these ideas will help the next time you’re looking for a photo to use anywhere in your business. It’s also why I love branded lifestyle photos because often the perfect photo for your project is one of the ones you had taken at your last photoshoot!

Would you like to create your own bank of images that you can use for your marketing needs? If so, let’s chat.

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