Copyright free pictures are the perfect answer when you need images for an e-book cover, graphics for an information product, or pics for your blogs and websites. You can purchase pictures online, but many pay-per-photo sites charge additional fees for using their images commercially. Then there's trying to understand the legalese and fine print in their terms of use and licenses! Fortunately, hundreds of photographers all around the globe have offered their works to the public domain, and you are free to use them for your business projects!
Some copyright free picture sites host images that were taken mostly from antique or rare books. An example is FromOldBooks (.org) where you can find high resolution, free images, scanned from antique books. An additional storehouse of these types of pictures is KarensWhimsy (.com). The pictures here are usually highly ornate drawings or old watercolors. They'll work for some niches, but if you have a more modern market, you'll want to search elsewhere.
It's possible that a photosharing website such as StockVault could meet your business needs. Please note - regardless of how many times you see the words "copyright free" on the website, make sure you check the terms of use, because various contributors can set their own terms. Stay legal!
Another copyright issue comes up when using images of people. Sites like RepublicDomain offer copyright free pictures, but no model releases. Be sure you can find a model release on the site if you're going to use a photo of a person, unless the picture was snapped at an angle that totally prevents the identification of the individual. This includes photos of infants and children - a release signed by the child's parents or legal guardian is required.
A simple method to locate top-notch images for completely free use is to search for the type of graphic you want plus the word ".gov". For instance, if you're wanting a close up photo of a wolf, do an online search for "wolf .gov". The United States government sites host thousands of pictures in the public domain. Terms of use for the photos are easily found, but if you have a question, simply locate the contact info for the site and ask if you have permission to use a certain photo. Government site webmasters are used to this type of request, so don't hesitate to contact them.
Copyright free pictures often are as high-quality as the professional stock pictures you'd pay through the nose for (as far as commercial use goes). A little research will uncover hundreds of free-photo sites - perfect for your online or offline business ventures!
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Lisa Rae Preston, admitted public domain addict, is the author of the Ultimate Public Domain Sourcebook - a mega 300-page resource of all things public domain, including books, software, images, video, and audios. You can get a free copy of her book at http://www.pdsourcebook.com
