How to ethically source images for your content creation

Sourcing images ethically for content creation is something I covered in an IG post a while ago, but it's always relevant, so I'm sharing it again today!

A lot of images we come across on the internet are either AI or protected by a strict copyright license.

AI means that the image is produced by stealing aspects of human artists' works, something which I am absolutely against, but it can often be hard to determine unless there are glaring errors within the images. Pinterest is one place that has a constant influx of AI-generated images.

Copyright means the image is illegal to use without obtaining the proper permissions - an extremely difficult thing to get when it's not always clear who made the image. If the image has a Creative Commons license attached, you can check to see whether it is 'Rights-Free' - this means the owner already consents to it being used.

So, how do you make sure you don't use AI or copyright material?

1. Get images from a stock image site or app:

   • Some great ones that I use are Canva (free or paid version; beware - AI images not labelled), Pexels (free; AI images labelled), and Unsplash (free; AI images labelled) - these stock images are all Rights-Free

   • There are also more professional paid stock image sites such as Shutterstock (AI images not allowed to be uploaded, but has an AI generator; less expensive option), and Getty (AI images not allowed to be uploaded, but has an AI generator; more expensive option) - these are more for large companies and media outlets

     
     

2. Ask an author, cosplayer, artist, or photographer if they will let you use an image:

   • If you are on an author's street team, you may get free access to these images to use for promo purposes. It's always best to tag and mention the author and artist every time you use the image

   • You may be able to get images direct from a creative, sometimes for free, but often paid. Be sure to check what the terms of use are

     
     

3. Make or take an image yourself! You can use your own images however you see fit

Where do you get images for your content?

x Tempest