How can an image library benefit you?
Stock photography is an easy and affordable way of getting hold of premium quality, low-circulation images for your advertising requirements. These images can be bought on online databases called image libraries. As a visitor to an image library, you can search the database for images that fit your specific requirements, using related keywords. There is usually an abundance of photos, with plenty of different subjects, styles and themes from which to choose.
What is an image library and when should I make use of one?
Image libraries are online databases where stock images can be viewed and purchased. Stock images are photographs that are licensed for specific uses and meet the needs of creative jobs or projects. Making use of a stock image is usually cheaper and less time-consuming than setting up a photo shoot with a professional photographer. The fact that you also get to see exactly what youre paying for makes it a more viable option for many people.
Stock photographs may be studio shots or are sometimes shot in outdoor locations like beaches, forests and city areas. They often make use of models posing as professionals and stereotypes, or people in stereotypical scenarios and situations. There are usually an assortment of photos of well-known locations, landmarks and attractions too.
Stock images are either owned by an agency outright or filed at a company that will negotiate the licensing fees. These fees are determined by a number of factors, including the readership of the publication in which they will appear, the duration of usage and the country in which they will appear. The issue of royalties may also need to be taken into consideration.
What are the different types of stock images?
There are two basic types of stock images rights managed and royalty free. With rights managed images, there is a licensing agreement for each individual use of the respective photo(s). With royalty free images, the buyer pays a once-off licence fee and is then eligible to use the photo(s) in an unlimited number of ways. The client may also choose to request exclusive rights, which will enable them to disallow other customers from either using their image for a specified period of time, or from using it/them in the same industry.
How do image libraries work?
Many stock photography sites offer low-resolution images to allow designers and art directors to prepare comps or mock-ups to demonstrate the final product. If the advertiser decides to go ahead and use the image, the high-resolution version can then be purchased directly from the website.
One of the unique features of web-based stock photography is that each photo is embedded with meta-data, allowing you to search the collection with the aid of keywords.
Where does Avant Communication fit in?
Avant Communication has a complete downloadable online image bank of thousands of images. Our own professional team of photographers travels the world to capture photographs that are rare and exquisite. As a selection of the best of these photographs, the Avant Communication online image bank is a visual sensation. Images of grandeur and beauty come together to create a magnificent library.
