Photography Licensing

Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Photography Licensing

When you enter the photography business, you enter the world of photography licensing. Licensing means that you are selling the usage of a photograph to be used in a certain way for a certain period of time. It can be confusing, but if you can understand some basic common terms, you should be able to handle licensing your photographs.

'Commercial rights' is a term used to indicate the licensing of a photograph for some type of income or commercial endeavor. If one of your photos will be used in a sales brochure, for example, it needs to be licensed for 'commercial rights.' Conversely, 'non-commercial rights' photographs are ones that are used in a public endeavor, but not in order to create an income. An example of this type of photograph would be one that would go in a school newsletter.

Some photographs may be licensed for 'one-time rights;' this simply means that whoever bought the license has permission to use the photo one time only. 'Serial rights' apply to magazines that purchase an image. This type of rights allows the magazine–and only that particular magazine–to use that image.

Be careful about 'non-exclusive rights,' as they can allow someone else to have free usage of your image, depending upon how the license is written. To learn more about photography licensing, visit the links on the left. Chosen by Business.com, these links will provide you valuable information about licensing your photographs.


Purchasing Resources for Photography Licensing

Get Licensed Images

Premium Images from the World's Best Image Providers

Photography Licensing

Find Photography Licensing for immediate download and use.

Photography License

Find Photography License Q&A Results Photography License

Artist Licensing Agent

Representing artists for licensing opportunities with manufacturers.

Wedding Photography&Video

Wedding Photography Wedding Videography

Stock Photography

Royalty free stock foto resource for the Netherlands. Provides professional photos, illustrations, clip art, and video footage.


Copyright Holder Directory

Searchable database of copyright holders such as photographers, writers and artists. The directory is designed to assist buyers who wish to license the copyrighted.


Delphion Intellectual Property Network (IPN)

Free web site for searching, viewing and analyzing patent documents.


Photo File

Licensed sports photography wholesale catalog.


U.S. Copyright Office

Copyright and Other Restrictions Which Apply to Publication and Other Forms of Distribution of Images: Sources for Information Library of Congress online publication of the Prints and Photographs Division with links and information concerning copyright an


Compare Photography Price Quotes and Save!

Step 12
Arrow Icon
Help Info


Download Photography Licensing White Papers


Research White Papers