Best Practices for Using Copyrighted Photos
Photos and other visual content are crucial on websites and digital media.
Here are some of the best practices to keep in mind when using copyrighted photos in website design:
Research the source of the photo. Confirm that it is available to be used for the purpose you are using it for. It is best to link to trusted sources such as Getty Images or Unsplash when sourcing photos.
Make sure you have permission to use the images before you use them.
I recommend that you keep a digital copy of the permission in the same folder as you save the image. Protip: use local or cloud backup to protect against data loss. (See this article for an explanation of the differences between cloud vs local backup.)
Be aware of any restrictions placed on the photo when using it. One example would be whether the copyright release allows for modifications. Another example is whether the photo can be used for commercial purposes.
Ensure that the photos are relevant to the content and are of good quality.
Avoid using photos that are the same as the ones used by other websites in your same niche.
Give credit to the original source of the photo.
To make your website look professional and avoid legal problems, follow these tips for using copyrighted photos.
For more information, see this detailed article from Pixsy.
A few notes about the use of memes. Memes are everywhere on social media. Most often, these are shared, which links back to the original posting, and are not used to create income. Generally, this has no ramifications.
The issue becomes increasingly important when using memes to generate income.
Sometimes memes are posted directly rather than shared. This removes credit to the originator. (Of course, you cannot assume that whoever shared it was the actual creator of the meme. How many times has it been shared before?) Google has a handy search filter for images that you can use.
There are examples of memes where the creator has added their website to the image. Some will crop this off the photo before reposting it to get “a clean look.” If someone created a good enough meme that you want to use it, too, shouldn’t they get the credit for their work?
Read this article from The National Law Review for details on copyright infringement.
To avoid this problem, I recommend that you get creative, and try your own hand at designing your own meme! Canva shows you how in this article. It’s fun, and then you know that the content you are posting reflects your brand perfectly!
Find more information on my process on my WORK WITH ME page.
Ready to talk about your new site? Schedule your consultation call here.
