Where do you get legal images for your hub?

1. 59

   Kierstin Carreiraposted 12 years ago

   I am new to hubpags and am wondering where you obtain legal images to post on your hub?  Obviously if the photo's or artwork is yours you are ok, but what about images pertaining to fashion or even art from research.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      summerberrieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      These two hubbers have hubs that answer your question Greekgeek and Wrylit. I believe Greekgeek has a website that has a list too...If she hasn't changed her profile yet just follow the link to her webpage...I don't have time now to go to their profile to find the hubs but it shouldn't be too hard to find. Wikimedia Commons is the one I use the most.

      replyreport
2. 77

   Greekgeekposted 12 years ago

   I use Wikimedia Commons the most. You have to scroll down and see what the exact image use rules are, but usually they just ask for image credit and a link.
   
   To search wikimedia commons, go to Google and type something like:
   
   site:commons,wikimedia.org bull terrier
   
   Replace "bull terrier" with whatever you're looking for.
   
   I also use Stock Xchng a fair amount. Again, scroll down for terms of use. Many of those photographers ask for credit, a link, and would like to see how their images get used, so they ask to be notified. This means leaving a comment thanking them and giving them a link to your hub!
   
   Most photos from U.S. government agencies are public domain, since they're funded with taxpayer money. So on sites like the USGS and NASA, if there's no other photographer or institution in the photo credit, then we can use it. (Look for the caption; sometimes NASA and USGS sites will feature photos by private individuals or other non-government institutions such as, say, a European science lab, which NASA or the USGS got permission to display on their site, but it's not theirs, so it's not public domain.)
   
   I've got a list of ALL the places I've found for getting legal graphics -- ones you don't have to pay for, although they often ask for credit and a link (just put it in the caption and link boxes) of the photo capsule. Google "Free, Legal Web Graphics" and it should turn up.   Of all of those, the other big one I recommend is Open Clipart.

   replyreport
   1. 59

      Kierstin Carreiraposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so much!  I am curious though about fashion.  I would like to continue writing about fashion but using the images I find online seems to be prohibited.  I have a hub that I posted  yesterday where I used images obtained from designers websites where I did put the source.  If this is NOT ok, I am wondering how to go about it.  Thanks again for your help.

      replyreport
      1. 77

         Greekgeekposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Drat. I don't know. Getting legal images of celebrities, trademarked stuff or artwork defeats me.
         
         Unfortunately, the fashion designers AND the photographers they employ own the copyright to images of those outfits. Copyright means they have the right to decide how their work is copied. Professional photographers make a living selling licenses to use their photos, so if you use them without permission -- even if you give credit, it's still without permission, and you're not paying the usual fee -- they can demand you cough up the fee you should've paid the photo, and/or sue you for copyright violation.
         
         I don't know any way around this except to get permission.
         
         Fair Use (basically "mitigating circumstances" for copyright violations which may violate copyright but are a permissible defense in court, like shooting someone in self-defense)  allow you to use a small excerpt of something (a still from a movie, for example) for critique and review. The problem is, I suspect that only gives you some legal standing if the DESIGNER sues you-- you haven't copied the whole dress to talk about it, you're just showing a small photo, so ... Maybe? that's Fair Use? But the PHOTOGRAPHER might still have a legitimate gripe since it's not just an excerpt or thumbnail of the photo -- it IS their photo, the very thing they're selling to make a living -- and you're discussing the dress, not critiquing the photo like an art critic. (See the difference? Yikes, fair use gets complicated in a hurry.)
         
         And on top of all that, if the photo is a photo of a person, especially a celebrity, there's something called publicity rights where that person has some rights to control (or charge money for) use of their image. i don't know that stuff as well as fair use /copyright, because publicity rights vary state to state.
         
         For some copyrighted things, you can solve the problem by becoming an Allposters Affiliate (which has posters of many celebrities, movie posters, and other copyrighted works) and/or an Amazon affiliate, which let you use product images IF you include their affiliate link selling the product. But most high fashion isn't available on Amazon.
         
         (This is one reason why I've gotten distracted with hubs on the space program... It's nearly all public domain, so I don't have to fuss with permissions!)

         replyreport
         1. 59

            Kierstin Carreiraposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Wow!  Thank you for all of this info.  This is a big bummer to me as this is an area I know very well.  I will continue researching this topic too.  I saw on HubPages that someone said if you find something on google images it's fair game.  Do you know if this is fact?

            replyreport
            1. 0

               summerberrieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               No, they are not free game and not there for you to use freely. Try using fashion stock photos images
               
               http://www.123rf.com/stock-photo/fashion.html
               
               You may have to pay a little for some of the photos, but it might be an option for you. Can you go to department stores and put outfits together and take photos of them? Just an idea....

               replyreport
               1. 59

                  Kierstin Carreiraposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  I will check out the site you just posted here.  Unfortunately, when I am talking about couture designs and how they relate to ready to wear fashion, taking pictures in the store isn't a possibility.  Couture is not sold in stores.  I was a designer for ten years and would use images all the time for presentations and inspiration, I guess in this application it won't be possible.  I am curious though, how it is possible to post images from Versace, for example, on Pinterest but I can't use the image in an educational article.  Hmmm....

                  replyreport
                  1. 0

                     summerberrieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     Someone else probably can answer this better, but presentations are not for commercial profit while hubs are. People misuse pinterest and often are pinning images without permission. Your article on hub pages is not just an educational article, there are ads on it that make it profitable for you.

                     replyreport
                     1. 59

                        Kierstin Carreiraposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                        Yep, I thought that's what would have made the difference.  I have already taken the pictures down.  I guess I won't really be able to write about fashion in the way I wanted to.  Thanks so much for your help.

                        replyreport
3. 61

   Xenonlitposted 12 years ago

   I use my smart phone and take my own pictures! These days, the smart phone camera takes care of everything.
   
   With a little imagination, it is amazing how easy it is to find something that will illustrate your hub. Most of my hubs are illustrated with my own photos.
   
   For a dramatic backdrop, keep about 3 yards of cheap black cloth and pin it to a wall behind the object. White cloth or a roll of butcher paper will also give that professional studio look.
   
   If you want to protect your pictures, Photobucket has a text editor where you can put your name and make it transparent. Voila! Instant and cheap watermarks!

   replyreport
   1. 0

      summerberrieposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      

      replyreport