Sourcing images for sport news

[RGLTD]

How are you doing it?

I am a freelance writer, so I have always been able to use stock photography as a lot of content is 'evergreen'. Whenever I have dabbled with news, the company has provided me with the images.

I am now tackling this whole affiliate malarkey, and I can't for the life of me know how to find images I can use for my sport tips/game previews.

- Getty Images: I am not paying £100 per image. I could fly to the game and snap my own photos for that.
- PR Companies: they will not supply imagery to affiliate companies.

Any suggestions?

[baldidiot]

A lot of affiliates just steal them. Personally I don't do this and I think it's asking for trouble.

If you want to be legit about it, your choices are:

1. Try and cobble through with vaguely relevant stock photos
2. Use creative commons images
3. Buy a rights managed image license with Getty/PA etc.. - getty is only £100 for one. If you negotiate in bulk it comes down. If buying images make sure you check the lifespan of the license, some are only 6 or 12 months. Both getty and PA will negotiate for life of article though if you ask.

Regarding #3, we're actually in the final stages of agreeing a deal now so we have a lot of fresh info on pricing. Let me know if you want advice on this.

[RGLTD]

A lot of affiliates just steal them. Personally I don't do this and I think it's asking for trouble.

If you want to be legit about it, your choices are:

1. Try and cobble through with vaguely relevant stock photos
2. Use creative commons images
3. Buy a rights managed image license with Getty/PA etc.. - getty is only £100 for one. If you negotiate in bulk it comes down. If buying images make sure you check the lifespan of the license, some are only 6 or 12 months. Both getty and PA will negotiate for life of article though if you ask.

Regarding #3, we're actually in the final stages of agreeing a deal now so we have a lot of fresh info on pricing. Let me know if you want advice on this.

Yeah. Getty is normally my go-to option when I am producing content for others, but I really do not fancy spending £100 several times per week during the growing stages of a website. If you could PM me details bulk pricing you have managed to score, that would be nifty. Probably would help me score more writing gigs outside of affiliate marketing if I had bulk Getty image pricing anyway.

I would never steal images, obviously. I hate when people steal my content, wouldn't like to do it to somebody else.

[Gosu]

Very interesting post and I too have to find a solution for this.

[Renee]

Someone posted something here last week about selling images from their own purchased plan because they were paying and only using a small percentage of what they could. Not sure if that's relevant but could be an option. I will see if I can find the post.

[Progger]

if u want unique pics....use fiver or other 5$ job pages...

Some pics u can find on FB or TW from the live game...this cost u nothing...only time.

[Renee]

Sorry I can't find it anywhere.

I think DanHorvat was one of the people who posted in that thread. Maybe he can help you.

[universal4]

The reason the post is no longer available is that it was removed due to someone selling images against the license usage rights of the copyright owners.

In most cases, you do not have the rights to resell or otherwise transfer the usage rights of images you do purchase.

Rick
Universal4

[RGLTD]

if u want unique pics....use fiver or other 5$ job pages...

Some pics u can find on FB or TW from the live game...this cost u nothing...only time.

That is not a feasible option.

You can't take photographs of most sport events, even for private usage. There are heavy licensing restrictions in place. Premier League games, in particular, have heavy rights management. You can't take photographs of the games unless you are licensed to do so. You may be able to get away with private photography for personal use, but even that is frowned upon and you may be kicked out the game.

[baldidiot]

OP - I'll PM you in a minute, I don't think we're supposed to disclose it publicly.

Someone posted something here last week about selling images from their own purchased plan because they were paying and only using a small percentage of what they could. Not sure if that's relevant but could be an option. I will see if I can find the post.

With rights managed images they're normally licensed to a specific site, so you can't resell them - also makes it a lot easier for them to tell when an image has been used without a license (ie: if it's on a domain that doesn't appear in their list of approved sites for the image, they know it no bueno).

I'm guessing the thread was talking more about general stock images - this would be a lot harder for them to identify (as it's not licensed to specific sites and can be reused), but still against the terms.

[baldidiot]

Probably would help me score more writing gigs outside of affiliate marketing if I had bulk Getty image pricing anyway.

Oh also, you can't do this - assuming you mean sell content with images - the site you're selling to would need to hold a license for the image, not you as the writer. It's effectively reselling.

Unless you're writing large amounts for a small number of sites which you could add to your license? But still, from the other end of the table I don't think I'd rely on writers saying that images they included were appropriately licensed without doing my own due diligence.

[RGLTD]

Oh also, you can't do this - assuming you mean sell content with images - the site you're selling to would need to hold a license for the image, not you as the writer. It's effectively reselling.

Unless you're writing large amounts for a small number of sites which you could add to your license? But still, from the other end of the table I don't think I'd rely on writers saying that images they included were appropriately licensed without doing my own due diligence.

Damn. That rules that part out.

The prices you PMed me seem very reasonable, though. So, thanks for that! (sorry, couldn't respond to the PM as less than 10 posts)

I do write for a lot of smaller sites. If there is a way to add them to the licence that would be great. I do have a few unreleated news websites, so I could easily use it for them anyway.

[baldidiot]

Damn. That rules that part out.

The prices you PMed me seem very reasonable, though. So, thanks for that! (sorry, couldn't respond to the PM as less than 10 posts)

I do write for a lot of smaller sites. If there is a way to add them to the licence that would be great. I do have a few unreleated news websites, so I could easily use it for them anyway.

I imagine you just give them the URL for the license. But.... this isn't a route I'd go down - you'd have images that are licensed to you on a site you don't control. So if the person buying the article decides to use the image in a non compliant way on the site, you'd be the one whose neck is on the line for it.

[BestBonusBets]

Never even thought about this.

Google images is what i've always used and will continue to use.

[Gosu]

Never even thought about this.

Google images is what i've always used and will continue to use.

With all respect buddy - you realize your reply makes no sense with regards to the op whatsoever?

[BestBonusBets]

With all respect buddy - you realize your reply makes no sense with regards to the op whatsoever?

Sorry champion.

Let me clarify.

"Never even thought about this" - Never thought about where to find images, and if it would be an issue. The chances of getting sued over an image online is so small it[s not worth thinking about. Worst case scenario you get threatened and you take it down.

"Google images is what i've always used and will continue to use." Title of thread is "Sourcing images for sport news". Hope this helps buddy!

[Voids]

Sorry champion.

Let me clarify.

"Never even thought about this" - Never thought about where to find images, and if it would be an issue. The chances of getting sued over an image online is so small it[s not worth thinking about. Worst case scenario you get threatened and you take it down.

"Google images is what i've always used and will continue to use." Title of thread is "Sourcing images for sport news". Hope this helps buddy!

Just spoke to a client (not in the industry) Who has recently been sued for using images on the website. It was for a significant amount £30K+.

Put the fear of god into me. Not entirely sure what route to go down. As paying £100's for images will basically wipe out any monthly profits.

[universal4]

Statements of "just use Google images" just means you are using Google image search to find images to steal and or use WITHOUT RIGHTS or permission.

It really doesn't matter where you find the image, using them without the true copyright owner's permission is risky at best.

Rick
Universal4