What is Editorial License?

An editorial license is an image license used to sell stock photos and video footage that have recognizable people, brands, designs and buildings. These photos usually have to be released by the subjects themselves for commercial use.

When an Editorial photo is sold, it’s typically marked as such on the image page (although this does not always happen). However, if you don’t see this mark on an image page, you can still be sure it comes with an Editorial license.

Definition

An editorial license is an image used for news and educational purposes. It can be used in newspapers, magazines or online. Usually, these images run alongside written text to help tell a story or educate readers. They should not be used in conjunction with advertising.

Many microstock and stock agencies commonly mark their editorial photos as “Editorial Use Only” or “Editorial License Only.” This makes it obvious to customers that the photo is not for commercial purposes, but for use in news or educational projects. Editorial images are typically used for articles in publications, blogs and websites (print or digital), news reports, social media posts, or even video or film projects.

These types of images are often used in documentaries, news stories and educational productions like TV shows or videos that involve topics that are relevant to the public interest. These subjects might include a celebrity, sports event, important political event or social gathering.

Some editorial photographs contain recognizable people, logos or trademarks, artwork or property that can be difficult to clear for commercial use. If you’re using these kinds of images, a release from the rights holders is essential.

However, this is not always the case. In some cases, it may be possible to clear these elements without the need for a release. This could be because the subject in the photograph is a member of the general public, or a minor.

Alternatively, the image might be an official government report that has been published in a reputable source and has already been cleared for commercial use. If this is the case, it might be easy to obtain a royalty-free license for the content.

A rights-managed editorial license will provide you with usage terms and pricing tailored to your specific needs. You can also purchase an extended version that allows you to print and embed the image on products, like t-shirts or templates, for sale.

If you’re planning a project that involves editorial content, it’s best to consult our Rights & Clearance team first to make sure the images or footage are clear. This can be a time-consuming and expensive process, so it’s important to ensure that you have the right license to protect your brand.

Requirements

An editorial license for stock photos is designed to allow you to use images for non-commercial purposes, which are essentially educational and informative. These files are often used in publications and newspapers that run alongside written text. Editorial content can include news and celebrity images, sports or public events, trademarked buildings, etc.

These types of images often have a strong visual impact and are more likely to resonate with a wide audience, especially when you can incorporate the scenes into your work. Some scenes can also evoke emotions or memories. This is a very important thing to consider when planning your project.

When using editorial images for commercial projects, you’ll want to make sure that all of the people and properties in the image are cleared for use. This can take a lot of time and expense, but it’s necessary to ensure that your brand is protected.

The key is to ensure that all recognizable people and properties in the image are released for use, which means that they need to be on the model release form or have a property release in place. This will protect you from a license claim for anything that’s not released, which can be very expensive in the long run.

If you’re unsure whether or not the image you’re choosing needs to be released for use, our Rights & Clearance experts can help you determine if the photo is required for your project. We can assess the context of your use and see if Getty Images is able to indemnify you for any unreleased elements within the image, all to ensure that your brand is protected.

This is an extremely important issue to consider, as it could potentially be the difference between your project being accepted or rejected. This is why it’s essential to understand the differences between editorial and commercial licensing, so you can make an informed decision about your project and its requirements.

If your project involves commercial advertising or promotion, then you will need to purchase a commercial license for the image. You can also purchase an Editorial license, but this doesn’t work the other way round. The reason for this is that Editorial images are usually geared towards documenting events, news stories, and social topics that are of public interest.

Licensing options

If you’re creating editorial content, whether for a blog post, white paper or video, there are a few things to consider before deciding what license you want. First, you need to understand what type of content your audience will engage with and how they’ll respond to it. Next, you need to think about the tone and style of your editorial pieces. You can then work with your marketing team to create content that is both on-brand and engaging.

The most common type of stock photo license is royalty-free, which allows you to use the photos in your creative projects for as long as you need them. You can also choose a rights-managed license, which has a specific list of permitted uses and is tailored to your project.

However, if you’re looking for something a little different, you may be interested in an editorial license. These licenses are more limiting than the other two, but they allow you to make a small number of uses for a lower price.

Another important point to keep in mind when choosing a license is that you must make sure that the images you’re using aren’t violating copyright laws. This includes removing any logos, branding or company names that might be in the image.

Editorial clips and photos are a great way to illustrate a news story or to provide a more in-depth look at a topic. These items often do not have model releases and can only be used in editorial contexts, such as documentaries or videojournalism (news).

An example of an editorial clip would be a photo of someone sitting at a table with a beer bottle on top. The person in the photo is recognizable, but it’s not signed, so it’s considered editorial-only.

This is a good option for documentaries, shorts or videojournalism, and can also be used for a variety of non-promotional purposes. You’ll need to obtain a commercial license for any other usage, such as advertising or promoting products.

You can also purchase a digital-only license, which ensures that your content is only available online. This license type is ideal for distributing your images across social media and other online channels.

Pricing

An editorial license is a type of stock photo license that allows the use of images in a variety of publications, including newspapers and magazines. The images can also be used in blogs, books and websites.

When choosing an editorial license, you must be sure to choose one that fits your project needs. This will ensure that you’re using the content for its intended purpose and avoid any potential issues.

The price for an editorial license varies depending on the size of the image and the licensing terms that were chosen. Some agencies offer a standard license, while others offer an enhanced license or an extended license.

For example, Shutterstock offers an editorial image package that costs $99 or $199 for each image. These packages allow you to select up to 25 photos.

Similarly, Pond5 offers an editorial image pack that costs $99 or $199 for each photo. This option also lets you select up to 25 photos and is an excellent way to find images that fit your project’s budget.

However, it’s important to know that an editorial license does not necessarily mean you’re allowed to use the image commercially. If you plan to use the image for a product, such as a t-shirt or packacking, you must purchase an extended license, which removes the restrictions.

There are some cases, such as if a logo or recognizable person is in the image, that you will want to select an editorial license to prevent copyright infringement. Nonetheless, you should be aware that it can be difficult to clear these elements from an editorial image for commercial use.

This can be time consuming and expensive, especially for large projects. If you’re planning to use an editorial image or video for a commercial project, it’s recommended that you contact our Rights & Clearance experts for assistance in the early stages of your project.

We can assist in determining which Editorial images are appropriate for your project, and can even help you clear unreleased elements that may be present. This can be especially helpful for projects that include multiple locations, such as a documentary on a city’s history or a news story about an ongoing global issue.