Sharing photos on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter is a great way to make your posts more visually engaging. However, there are rules around using stock photos from sites like iStock and Getty Images on social media. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about legally and properly using stock photos on your social media accounts.
The Basics of Stock Photo Licensing
When you purchase a stock photo from a site like iStock, you are buying a license to use that photo, not the full copyright to the image. The license will outline how you are permitted to use the photo. There are a few key things to understand:
- Rights-managed vs. royalty-free – Royalty-free images can be used multiple times by multiple customers. Rights-managed images are licensed for a single specific use.
- Limited vs. extended license – Limited licenses allow use in a single project like a blog post or social media graphic. Extended licenses allow use across multiple projects.
- Commercial vs. editorial use – Commercial use is promoting or selling a product or service. Editorial use is non-commercial like a news article.
When licensing a stock photo, pay close attention to the license type and terms of use. This will determine how you can legally use the image.
Using Istock Photos on Personal Social Media
For personal social media use like your individual Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts, here are the rules on using iStock photos:
- Royalty-free standard license photos can be shared non-commercially.
- Make sure “social media” is allowed in the license terms.
- Don’t use photos labeled “editorial use only.”
- Don’t edit or alter the photo at all.
- Give photo credit to iStock and the photographer.
As long as your use is non-commercial and falls within iStock’s standard license terms, sharing their stock photos on your personal accounts is perfectly legal.
For example, an inspiring nature photo with a quote added could be used in your personal Instagram feed. You would need to give credit like “Photo credit: iStock.com/photographername.”
However, if you tried to sell a product like a t-shirt with the nature photo on it, that would require an extended commercial license.
Using Istock Photos for Business Social Media
For business or brand social media accounts, there are additional considerations when using iStock photos:
- An enhanced license is required for commercial/promotional use.
- Make sure the license terms specifically allow “commercial use in social media.”
- Don’t use editorial use only images.
- Don’t significantly edit or alter the photo.
- Give proper photo credit.
So if you want to promote your product on Instagram or share content related to your business on Twitter, an enhanced commercial license is a must. This allows brand promotions and driving sales through social media.
You’ll also want to double check that the specific license terms allow commercial use on social media sites. Some licenses may limit this type of use.
Giving the photographer credit is also essential whenever using an iStock photo for business purposes on social media.
Do I Need a License for Editorial Use?
What if you want to share an iStock photo in a social media post that doesn’t promote your business – like commenting on a news event or posting an informative article?
For non-commercial, editorial use, iStock states that an editorial license is not required. You can share royalty-free images on social media without a license if your post is editorial, not promotional.
However, you still need to ensure the photo is designated royalty-free and gives the photographer credit. Don’t use images labeled as editorial use only.
So sharing a news photo on your personal Twitter or using an iStock photo in a non-commercial Facebook post about current events would not require any license.
But using photos editorially on a business account could get tricky. Best practice is to purchase an editorial license if there is any chance the use could be perceived as connected to your brand promotions.
What If I Don’t Give Photo Credit?
Failing to provide proper attribution to the photographer and iStock is a violation of the license terms. If you share an iStock photo on social media without any credit, a few things could happen:
- iStock may send you a warning or request you add credits.
- Your account could be restricted or suspended.
- You may have to pay additional licensing fees.
- In cases of copyright infringement, legal action is possible.
Giving credit protects photographers’ copyright and ensures you stay compliant with your license terms. Even if your use case means you don’t need a paid license, always credit iStock images appropriately.
Best Practices for Social Media Use
To safely and legally use iStock photos on social media, follow these best practices:
- Review license terms closely and purchase the right license for your use case.
- Only use royalty-free images.
- Don’t edit or alter photos extensively.
- Give photo credit for photographer and iStock in your posts.
- Link to the iStock photo page in your credit if possible.
- Get an editorial license if unsure whether your use is 100% non-commercial.
- Consult iStock Customer Service with any questions.
Taking the time to understand licenses and follow attribution guidelines will keep your social media presence legal and ethical when using great iStock photos.
Tools to Automate Photo Credits
Manually adding photo credits to all your social media posts can be a tedious hassle. Using automation tools can save huge amounts of time:
- Canva – Design platform that adds credits automatically.
- Adobe Spark – Easy attribution tools for social posts.
- Hootsuite – Option to add default photo credit text.
- Buffer – Add credits seamlessly as you schedule posts.
Check to see if your favorite social media management platform has options to streamline attribution. This makes it fast and simple to use stock images legally.
Common Social Media Use Cases
To summarize, here are answers to some of the most common questions around using iStock photos on social media:
Can I use an iStock photo as a Facebook cover photo?
Yes, with the proper royalty-free license and photo credit. Make sure the terms allow “use as a social media cover image.”
Can I pin iStock images on Pinterest?
Pinning and sharing photos on Pinterest requires at least the standard royalty-free license. Proper attribution is also legally mandatory.
Can I post an iStock photo on multiple Instagram accounts?
You’ll need an extended license for use across multiple Instagram accounts. The standard license only allows use on one account.
Can I use an iStock photo in a tweet?
Yes, royalty-free images can be tweeted. For business accounts, a commercial license may be necessary depending on the account’s purpose.
Conclusion
With the rise of visual social media, stock photos have become very popular to use in posts and profiles. iStock has clear guidelines on legally using their photos on social platforms. The key rules include:
- Royalty-free only.
- Right license for usage – personal, editorial, or commercial.
- Don’t edit or alter image extensively.
- Always credit photographer and iStock.
Automation tools can make it simple to stay compliant by adding credits to any iStock photos you share on social media. Carefully following the attribution and licensing requirements keeps your accounts legally protected and supports photographers’ copyright.