If you have photos you have taken or images you have created, you can use them freely in your website. When you consider using others’ photos or images, you’ll want to consider the following:
- Cost
Stock photography and illustration is available for a fee. The cost to use a photo depends on whether the image is royalty-free, rights-ready, or rights-managed. Some popular sites for stock images include Getty Images, Veer, Punchstock, Fotosearch. - Free or nearly free
Some images are available free on the internet. Often you can get permission to use them by asking the owner. Northeastern has stock images that are free to use in Northeastern-related publication. stock.xchng offers free images and Big Stock Photo has images for as low as $1.00. - Copyright
If you created something, it belongs to you. If you did not create it, it belongs to someone else. You must either pay to use it, ask permission, or whatever the owner requires. - Model Release
If people appear in an image you wish to use, you must acquire their permission to include the image in your materials.