Images for Website Develops

[Biopharm]

Is there a list of recommended sources for photos to use on websites? And instructions on how to properly post photos onto your websites. My wife and I run a website design biz and would obviously wish to continue to provide for our little ones

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

there is no list.

either take your own images or purchase images, be sure to always read / understand and print the license and keep receipts... or what I do and inform your client to supply any images, explain the proper way to obtain them. This makes them responsible for licensing, after all the stock companies are going after the domain/site owners.. Having it done this way eliminates you altogether.. If you purchase the images, you'r client may still get a letter, and have to drag you into it.

[Biopharm]

I've had 2 separate designers say using images from: http://www.sxc.hu/  is OK.
I'm reading that they are owned by Getty...'RED FLAG' !?
Says these images are all royalty free and allowed to be used on websites in digital format.
I'm safe to assume these are OK to use then?

@budhappi - Do you have any contract which you have your clients sign releasing you from any of these infringements? Do you have any recommendations? Thanks.

[Robert Krausankas (BuddhaPi)]

I've had 2 separate designers say using images from: http://www.sxc.hu/  is OK.
I'm reading that they are owned by Getty...'RED FLAG' !?
Says these images are all royalty free and allowed to be used on websites in digital format.
I'm safe to assume these are OK to use then?

@budhappi - Do you have any contract which you have your clients sign releasing you from any of these infringements? Do you have any recommendations? Thanks.

ASSUME NOTHING - you are not correct in this thinking!

I think you are confusing "royalty free" with "public domain"..
Royalty free DOES NOT mean you can just use them for any purpose, it means you pay for a license, but do not have to pay royalty's on them.. IE you can purchase a royalty free image and use it for multiple purposes, website, print, etc...bottom line 99% of anything on the internet is owned/copyrighted by someone, there is very little in the public domain...

I explain in great detail to my clients the risks of getting images from the web, yes I have a disclaimer in my contract that releases me, I also have a clause in my hosting policy.. Do a search for hold harmless agreement, to get ideas on how to craft your contracts

[Oscar Michelen]

Buddhapi has nailed this again sxc is Getty owned and you have to pay and maintain the license for the use of the images you buy. The gov't has some websites with images in the public domain but as Matt has said many ties over taking the images yourself (or hiring a photog to do so) is your best option.