Search Help:
Help
For Photo Buyers
Buying & Licensing Images
Rights-Managed Licensing
Using the Slideshow
Using the Lightbox
For Photographers
PhotoShelter Multi-User (MU)
Browser Compatibility
Signup Issues
Technical Documentation

Buying & Licensing Images

back to albumback to all topics

Overview

Images on PhotoShelter are for sale directly from the photographer, their representative, agent or subagent. Photographers and their representative, agent or subagent determine which images they want to sell and/or license. Not all images that appear on the site are priced for online sale.

If the image hasn't been priced for online sales, click the "contact photographer" icon.
If an image has been priced, you will see a "shopping cart" icon above the image. For online transactions, all you need is a valid credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Amex) and shipping address to complete your order.

There are 5 major types of image sales, plus unpriced images:

Buy Prints

Buying prints for personal use is easily done on PhotoShelter. Just click on "Buy Prints" which opens overlays a window that displays the product description and the available print sizes. You can use the "+/-" buttons to increment the number of prints at a given size, or type directly into the quantity field. Click the "Add to Cart" button if you want to add images and continue shopping, or click the "Add and Checkout" button if you want to go straight to the checkout process.

You may continue to shop and add different items to your cart. You can select more prints or custom prints from the same photo or buy prints of other photos.

The cart displays a list of images with their quantity and size. Some photographers set a minimum order price, and if you haven't met the minimum, you will see a notification in red in the upper left corner of the screen.

Setting a Crop (printable area)

Sometimes your print size doesn't correspond to the dimensions of the image (e.g. If you want a square print of a horizontal image. Also, even when the orientation is the same, the print sizes doesn't always match up perfectly). If you're concerned about what part of the image will actually print, you can click the "Adjust Crop" link below each thumbnail to view the crop.

The image is set to a default crop that is determined by the photographer. You can use the default settings to "fit to print" (which might produce white borders), auto-crop (which enlarges the image to fit the entire print area), or select your own crop. The printable area appears completely transparent while the non-printing area appears slightly opaque.

If you click and drag the transparent area, you can move the crop area around the image. If you click and drag the little black square in the corner of the printable area, you can resize the printable area. However, resizing the printable area might cause poor print quality (because you are enlarging the image). You will receive a warning in the lower left corner of the window if we think that you might have some printing problems. The warning is only a warning because the photographer might have ways to maintain the image quality. Click the "Apply" button to return to the cart.
Once you're finished buying prints, click "Continue to Checkout" and you must sign in (or complete the quick, free registration). Complete the shipping form, shipping method and payment form and you're done!

The purchase of a print does not confer the copyright to you! Prints are for personal use only, and may not be reproduced without consent of the copyright holder.

Buy Products

Buying products such as key chains, mugs, jewelry boxes, playing cards, etc. is easily done on PhotoShelter. Just click on "+Cart" (from the thumbnail view) or "Buy/License" (from the single-image view), which will generate a window that displays the product description and the available buying options. Click on the "Products" tab to view available products available for the selected image. You can use the "+/-" buttons to increment the number of the specific product, or type directly into the quantity field. Click the "Add to Cart" button if you want to add products and continue shopping, or click the "Add and Checkout" button if you want to go straight to the checkout process.

You may continue to shop and add different items to your cart. You can select more prints, custom prints or products from the same photo or buy prints and products of other photos.

The cart displays a list of images with their item description and print size if applicable. Some photographers set a minimum order price, and if you haven't met the minimum, you will see a notification in red in the upper left corner of the screen.

License Rights Managed

A Rights-Managed license allows you to use a photo for a specific usage and duration. The cost of the Rights-Managed image depends on the extent and prominence of the image's use. Learn More.

The purchase of a Rights-Managed license does not confer the copyright to you! Licenses are specific to the usage specified.

License Royalty Free

The "Royalty Free" Option allows you to purchase images for download from the Photographer. Royalty-free images, once paid for, have unlimited use according to the terms and conditions of the License Agreement. These images will be available to download for 96 hours after your purchase. Royalty Free Images are purchased just like regular prints (except no shipping charges!).

The purchase of royalty-free image does not confer the copyright to you!

Royalty Free Shopping Cart

License Personal Use

A Personal Use license allows you to use a photo for your personal use such as at-home printing, screensaver slideshows, wedding announcements, online personal profiles, etc., according to the terms and conditions of the License Agreement. These images will be available to download for 96 hours after your purchase.

The purchase of a Personal Use license does not confer the copyright to you! Licenses are specific to personal and limited educational use (e.g. school projects or single-classroom education) only.

Unpriced or Unavailable for Online Sales

Photographers may occasionally make images searchable without attaching a price or licensing agreement. In these cases, you should contact the photographer directly by clicking the "Contact Photog" link.

Contacting the Photographer while viewing a single image:

  • Click the silhouette icon that appears above the upper left of the image
  • Click the "Contact Photog" link
  • Enter your contact information and message
Contacting the Photographer while viewing their PhotoShelter homepage:
  • Click the "Contact Photographer" link that appears directly beneath their name.
  • Enter your contact information and message

FAQs

Do I need a PhotoShelter account to buy images?
No! While we certainly advocate creating a free buyer account so you may keep track of your purchasing online, access lightboxes and invitation-only galleries, and more, you may choose the Guest Checkout option to purchase prints or image products without creating an account or logging in. Just make sure to keep your email receipt on file! (Please note that if you are purchasing rights-managed, royalty-free, or personal use licenses, you will be required to create a quick free, account. We cannot deliver high-res images for license without a buyer account on file.)

I've added images to my shopping cart. Why is it segmented by photographer?
Because you buy images directly from the photographer, and because photographers might be selling in different currencies (e.g. US Dollars, Euros, British Pounds, etc), we segment your shopping cart. A charge will appear for each photographer that you are purchasing from.

You will not see charges from PhotoShelter for image purchases, as PhotoShelter is not a part of the transaction.

Hey! On one order there are multiple shipping charges? What's going on?
Although it might be technically one single order, all the items that you've purchased may not necessarily come from the same place. For example, if you order a several standard prints and a custom print (e.g.on watercolor paper), your regular prints are shipped from EZprints, a high-quality printing service located in Georgia and the other products come from the photographer herself who sets her own shipping rates. Thus, multiple shipping charges.

I'm trying to check out, and it says something about PayPal.
Photographers have the option of accepting payment through PayPal. If they have configured their account this way, you will be required to enter your credit card information through the PayPal website, or you can log into PayPal and pay using your PayPal account. All PayPal transactions will occur in a popup window from PhotoShelter, so if you use a popup blocker in your web browser be sure to allow popups from PhotoShelter. You do not need to log into PayPal to complete the purchase.

Do I need a PayPal account to buy images from a photographer using PayPal?
No. You can complete the purchase process without a PayPal account. When the popup window appears, you will see the following:

I tried to checkout without using a PayPal account, but it's telling me that my credit card is already linked to a PayPal account.
You likely have a PayPal account with the credit card number linked to it. PayPal requires you to login if you already have an account linked to a credit card.