Royalty Free Images for Business Blogging – Review & Giveaway
Isn’t Content King? What The Heck Do I Need Images For?
As bloggers blogging for business – selling services, ad space or working towards Brand partnership – we all need our sites to be visually appealing.
A great theme is a must, but what about your posts and pages?
If you haven’t noticed, my posts are pretty wordy. (I can see Eve from Beautiful Spit Up nodding her head). The use of visual elements, images, videos and polls help to break up my text and give it an appealing look.
A year ago my blog posts didn’t have images other than the ones I took myself (which weren’t good). Sure there are a lot of freebies on the web, but frankly, I didn’t want to try and decipher the legal jargon to use them.
Also? My blog WAS just my blog. It didn’t make me a profit in any way, and I didn’t have intentions to do so, so I didn’t see a reason to invest money in Royalty Free (RF) stock photos. But now that this blog has morphed into something else, being visually appealing is a must.
Images For Your Business Blog
Copyrighted Images
In short, this means the owner of the copyright has legal control of how the image is used. They can allow use of the image for specific applications or not permit usage of the image at all. (I’m not sure of all the legalities, but there may be a guest post in the works from someone who is.)
Royalty Free Stock Images
Royalty-free stock photography allows a buyer to use a copyrighted image in a number of ways for a single license fee. (Please check the stock image site for their specific limitations and placement of © copyright info). Some single licenses allow you to use the same image on your website and printed promos for a one time fee.
There are quite a few Royalty Free Stock agencies online. I’ve used Dreamstime.com and iStockphoto.com on and off for 6+ years. Way before having this blog. I’m also a member of PhotoXpress.com and have been using them for the past few months. For the past month I’ve been using Fotolia.com. Read on to find my review of their services.
Budget limits.
When you’re blogging for business, you’re on a budget. You’ve already made an investment in your website/blog by paying for hosting, a domain name and design services for your theme. Some budgets are not big enough to accommodate the bells and whistles. For example, my slider on the home page? I love it, but I would really really love a Slidedeck slider. Not in my budget. Not yet.
My website is used to pitch to potential clients and potential employers, so adding visual appeal to my blog posts is a good idea and tax deductible. By having a budget for Royalty Free Stock Photos, I’m protecting my arse from being sued, I’m protecting my budding business from being sued and I’m giving credit where credit is due by paying the artist and giving them exposure.
I’m not talking about hundreds of dollars a month. Royalty Free stock agencies, some more than others, have made it affordable to make your posts visually appealing. Frankly, we can’t all be great photographers and when you’re blogging at 3am, it’s good to have an image library at your disposal.
Fotolia.com
As I mentioned, I’ve been using Fotolia.com for the past 30 days. I was offered a free 30 day subscription to review their service and ten 14 day subscriptions of 3 free downloads per day (quantity does not apply to vectors) to offer my readers. After using the site for 4 posts, I was hooked and I’m planning on staying a member.
Fotolia offers a bank of over 12 million Royalty-Free images, illustrations, vectors and videos. Here is my personal opinion of their service.
Pricing
It’s free to become a member and I find their per credit pricing affordable for business bloggers.
A size Small image is big enough for my homepage slider and can be scaled down for post insertion in an imaging editing application or website (pixlr.com, photobucket.com).
If I didn’t have a slider, a size Xtra Small is also available and is 346×346 pixels, just a bit bigger than I need for my posts.
All the size Xtra Small images that I found cost 1 credit each and size Small costs 3 credits each. Only my featured posts go on my slider, so most of the time I only need a size Xtra Small image. Five posts per week x 4 weeks per month would cost me $24.00 per month. Your credits are valid for up to one year from the date of purchase, so if you buy 20 credits at the beginning of the month and then decide to fly off to Reno for 3 weeks, you’ll still have your credits to use next month.
Also? Every week, Fotolia.com offers members 15 free images for download. Head over to this link Fotolia.com’s Free Downloads and scroll to the bottom of the page.
I’m not too impressed with this week’s free images so I’m looking forward to next week’s.
Usage
According to Fotolia’s website:
All the files available on Fotolia are royalty free, meaning they can be used:
- With no limits on time
- With no limits on copies
- With no limits on geographical location
Web Usage of Images
According to Fotolia’s website:
- website and blog illustration
- Creation of newsletters, banners, icons…
- Creation of all kinds of professional digital documents (ex : slide show presentations)
- Creation of templates (websites or others) intended for resale (extended licenses)
Interface
Fotolia offers two ways to access their libraries. Through their website and through the downloadable desktop application. As a matter of fact, Fotolia is the only Royalty Free photo stock agency that offers a desktop app and I’ve got to tell you, I just love it. Take a look at the two short videos below comparing the website to the application and see for yourself why I’m digging Fotolia’s Desktop Application.
Quick and Easy Search and Download with Fotolia.com – Online Access
Photo Credit for the image downloaded during this video: © iofoto – Fotolia.com
Quick and Easy Search and Download with Fotolia.com – Desktop Application
Photo Credit for the image downloaded during this video: © Philophoto – Fotolia
The Giveaway
Ten winners will receive a discount code for 14 day subscriptions of 3 free downloads per day (quantity does not apply to vectors). It’s not specified when the images need to be used, just be sure to keep a text doc with the copyright info for each image as a backup.
How to Enter
- Tweet this post and leave a comment letting me know if you use images on your website or not and if you do where they originate from (google, flikr, your own pics). The tweet must contain @VsAfterBedtime so I can keep track. I’ll respond to your comment confirming your entry. You’ll receive an email from me once I post the response. If for some reason I haven’t responded, Let Me Know. = 1 entry
Extra entries (in addition to above entry):
- A comment left mentioning that the giveaway was learned via your tweet = 2 entries
- In your next post, about anything at all, mention entering this giveaway with a link back to this post so others can enter. Just one line is fine and email me your post link by replying to the confirmation email. = 9 entries
Last day to enter: July 1, 2011
Winners will be picked July 2, 2011 via Random.org.
A minimum of 10 contestants is required or contest will be extended to a later date.
Winners will be notified and will receive their discount code and instructions via email.
A post listing the winners will be posted the week of July 4th.
Good luck to everyone!
(Please note this is a sponsored post and Fotolia.com gave me a month’s free subscription to review their site and services and ten discount codes for contest winners. The opinions expressed in this post are completely mine based on my 30 day experience using the service.)
Photocredit:
© iofoto – Fotolia.com (dad with child)
© Philophoto – Fotolia (chalk artist)
© konradbak – Fotolia (girl with butterfly)
Pingback: Fotolia Giveaway Winners! | After Bedtime Blog
When I include photos they are ones that I’ve taken. I never know what images I find on the internet are ok and what ones will land me in a heap of trouble.
exactly! that’s why i jumped at the chance to review Fotolia. I’m totally hooked now. Good luck and thank you so much for entering.
tweeted giveaway, and I usually post my own pictures
jackie recently posted..Parenting Pet Peeve
gotcha entered!
Here is my tweet. Please count me in.
u r entered! good luck!
This is also my problem. I was needing royalty free images too. Then I realized that google images could be able to refine its search and I could be able to use images according to its searches especially if it is not license protected. Anyway, fotolia is also a good site. Thanks for the wonderful insight about that site.
Thanks for playing along. you’ve been entered.
Count me in. Badly need photos for my coming blog.
Currently i’m either using the free stock photos or from flickr. But always good to buy premium stuff and since i can get it free here i dont want to miss the chance.
gotcha covered!
Tweeted via the above user John Smith. Following you on twitter too.
Photography is my hobby. Would like to win an account to look at other peoples work.
Thank you for entering. Good luck and your entry has been submitted
I have a couple of blogs and till now i was using images from google or some other free stock images. WOuld be be great to win this giveaway. Re-tweeted via Jorie_Bell.
thank you! your entry has been submitted
My husband is into blogging and he generally buys images from iStockphoto. If i win i would give this account to him.
Thanks for the giveaway though Vanita.
Thank you for entering. your entry has been submitted
how sweet of you well Thank you for entering. your entry has been submitted and good luck!
Hi. I haven’t got a website yet. I’m into interior designing and as a part of my job i would like to have an account on such stock photo sites for some inspiration. tweeted your post. http://twitter.com/#!/Jorie_Bell/status/85809956938465280
You’re entered Jorie, thanks for stopping by! would like to know how you came across the contest. cheers!
Vanita recently posted..Royalty Free Images for Business Blogging – Review & Giveaway
GREAT post and I LOVE photos in posts, heck i even like nothing BUT photos lol! I usually take my own or use google. Lots of things here I need to think about.
Eschelle recently posted..Man Candy Monday!
here’s another thing you should consider when using photos from google http://www.blogcatalog.com/discuss/entry/is-it-legal-for-you-to-simply-give-a-photographer-credit-for-a-photo
Hi, great review of Fotolia! Did you know that you can use Fotolia right within your WordPress? You can find relevant images while you write blog posts and you then just buy them without leaving WordPress. You may want to give it a try – more details are on http://www.microstockplugin.com (PS: This plugin is officially supported from Fotolia)
What? What? You’re kidding me. Oh i’ve got to check that out. Thanks so much.
wait…no it was @waningwoman that i got this link from she was RTing Christa_L’s response to @vsafterbedtime. I will leave you to decide the entries, but i vote for all three.
Maggie Callahan recently posted..approval and a review!
you know…with all of this RT’ing i got confused the 2nd time. it was @christa_L who referred me. Maybe i should have coffee before attempting intelligent social interactions. *facepalm*
Maggie Callahan recently posted..approval and a review!
Hi! This is very exciting. I have recently started my blog and I use video but have not yet figured out this whole royalty free image thing so this would be a great way to start out.
i found this link via @Christal_L on twitter who was replyig to @VsAfterBedtime, so surely they should both get entries. 
Maggie Callahan recently posted..approval and a review!
congrats on the new blog! i’m sure you’re going to love blogging and fotolia. if you have any Qs or need help, feel free to ask.
you’re entered for 2 entries, 1 for your comment and tweet and one for mentioning christal. christal also received an entry
Vanita recently posted..Royalty Free Images for Business Blogging – Review & Giveaway
Twitter: BeautifulSpitUp
says:
I just tweeted your post!
Eve recently posted..Wild Maine Blueberry Cobbler Recipe
Twitter: BeautifulSpitUp
says:
Nice job, Vanita! But you’re right girl, your posts (including this one) are wicked wordy! I still love you though! LOL I bug you a lot about the length of your posts because I come from a journalistic background and we were always told to be concise whenever possible. I remember my journalism professors saying, “If you can say something in 3 words, why use 10?” I used to write super long articles and he’d cut them down and make them easier to read and more concise. OK, now I’m off topic….anyhoo, I’ve never tried Fotolia before. For my day job I use iPhotostock. I don’t often use roalty free images in my blog, because I like to take my own photos, but I do occasionally pop in a free image. I’ll check them out, your video makes it look so easy! Thanks for the info, Vanita.
Eve recently posted..Wild Maine Blueberry Cobbler Recipe
oy! thank god i don’t write for a newpaper
the editor would hate me.
i really just visualized you nodding your head 
thanks for reading my super long posts and still returning. hugs to you babe. got you entered!
didn’t expect to stumble across the mention, huh?
Interesting post!! Nice giveaways…To answer, sometimes…images do compliment or speak more in vision than what one writes..for instance, it differs from blog to blog.. like for your blog, content is real strong and I don’t see the need for images at all..in fact, I don’t even look at the images..but if you take my blog for instance, at times, my rhymes are quite tough to comprehend and images speak the truth in those verses for readers to understand…! So, kay sera kay sera!
Good sites for images though..I use images for my site from deviantart.com..amazing site..You can always mention the image courtesy in your site and if by chance the original owner of the image is not happy with you using them, you can remove them and replace with something else..alternatives thrive!!
Fiducia! Poet lady, so nice to see you again. By the way, how did that contest go? I did vote for you. your rhymes are definitely beautiful and i like how you use images to compliment them. if you’re entering the giveaway, please be sure to tweet this post.
Twitter: thejackb
says:
That is a good list of sites. I believe that Flickr has a section too where people provide rights to use their images provided that give them credit and do not attempt to make use of them commercially.
honestly? i never found anything on flikr i could use. seriously. there’s great images, but nothing seemed to fit my posts. Jack are you entering the giveaway? If so, please be sure to tweet the post. Thanks so much.
Twitter: waningwoman
says:
I want in! I use pictures in my posts and I’ve found a pretty decent site that lets me use them for free as long as I give credit. None of the images there are as good as the one on Fotalia. I will be doing EVERYTHING possible to get me as many entries as I need, including getting a temporary tattoo on my face!
You are a well of knowledge, Miss Lady!
Waning Woman recently posted..The Winner of the Waning Woman Gotein Giveaway
you’re in, you’re in! Be sure to email me the link to your post!
I just tweeted this: Check out @VsAfterBedtime’s latest post, “Royalty Free Images for Business Blogging – Review & Giveaway “- http://tinyurl.com/3nx6o8y I use photos to add substance to and visually support my blog posts. Currently, I use photoXpress.
Somebody better check it out, too. I say all the time that Vanita has these posts that feature tools that can step any blog up to the next level. I ain’t crazy. I’m looking and booking. The steps are so easy to follow, it makes it hard to mess stuff up. Vanita is the bomb-diggety (ok. i’m old. what do they say now?)
Angel recently posted..My FIRST Guest Post
hahaha. love you Angel and I loved this comment so much that I used it as a testimonial in my email last night. You are just wonderful. and thanks for tweeting and adding the contest to your post!
Twitter: Christal_L
says:
Dude….so cool. I always use at least three photos per post, generally gleened off the net. The problem with this is there is no artist credit given for most of them. As an artist, I feel guilty about that even if it is through no fault of my own. Since you’ve been discussing Fotolio it got me really interested a few weeks back. So this is going to be uber cool
Chrissy recently posted..Restricted Zone
well don’t you dare forget to mention it in a post this week! you are just super cool lady and thanks for that testimonial last night. i hope i didnt take away from your blogging time.
Twitter: switched_scoop
says:
Giggles in corner nodding head
I saw your post about this on Twitter (and retweeted it!). I don’t always use pictures. I’ve taken a few of my own since they went with recipes and found one or two through google (with credit and making sure there weren’t any usage restrictions on them). Oh and I’ve even used a LOLcat. As an artist myself, I’m really conscious about copyright.
Jeanette recently posted..FREE Protein Samples from CHIKE
copyright is extremely important and i’m always happy to give credit for any kind of work. when there’s no copyright info, i won’t use it. thanks for commenting hun, i’ve got you down for one entry so far. by the way, also thank you for telling me it’s sunday, i can’t believe how much time i devoted since thursday on this post. it made me lose track of days. also? thanks for the 411 on Switched Scoop’s new domain. I’ve updated her link in my blogroll thanks to you and had to add yours too cause you’re just awesome like that.
Vanita recently posted..But I don’t like putting crap in my eyes . . .
Twitter: switched_scoop
says:
Hello Lovie
I am VERY excited about this giveaway!!!!
… I love love love pictures in my blog posts, I normally get them through google and give credit but its such a pain in the booty!.. Soo I have been pondering testing out a site like fotolia.com !!!
Maria Switched_Scoop recently posted..Does the Patient Fail the Procedure? Presentation By Dr. Mitchell Roslin
I know what you mean! this is why at first I didn’t even use images. With so many things to do in the day, when do i have time to decipher legal jargon for every image. getting my images all from one place, makes it easier. i know what i can and can’t do and i don’t forget cause it’s the same for every image. got you down for 10 entries so far. thanks for the full post! you ever shrinking over-achiever you!
Vanita recently posted..Royalty Free Images for Business Blogging – Review & Giveaway