Rights managed stock photography has some clear advantages that you should not disregard. Many of these benefits are often overlooked by buyers. They think that royalty-free provides the best value for their money. But, that is not always the case. Rights managed can sometimes become cheaper than royalty-free, depending on how you intend to use the image, where and how long you plan to use it.
Rights managed stock photography are not as widely distributed as royalty-free. But there are also millions of them out there, kept in the vast libraries of stock photo agencies.
- Exclusive rights. With rights managed stock photography, you can request rights that you cannot normally get with royalty-free photos. One great example is the exclusive rights. Getting exclusive rights for your image gives you sole privileges to use the image in a specified purpose, location and duration of time. This works really well for clients who do not want to see the same images in the competitor’s website.
By acquiring exclusive rights, you are diluting your marketing strategy and efforts – giving the brand a higher value with photos that are not available in other websites. These rights are not always available, but they can be very valuable if you can add them.
- Larger print run and distribution. Royalty-free photos are only available for specific volume of print run and distribution, depending on the stock photo site you purchase them with. On the other hand, rights managed stock photography gives a much larger limit. This is very useful if you are dealing with a larger audience or if you are working on a wide-reach marketing campaign.
- Usage history. Some stock photo agencies keep a detailed record of purchase history of their files. Sometimes, they let you see the usage history so you know when and where the photos were used. This opportunity is possible with rights managed stock photography. It allows you to refine your intended use of the images and make the best out of them.
Rights managed stock photography are recommended for high visibility usage. It is also suitable for uses where the photos is closely related to a product or service. By acquiring exclusive rights, you are granting success of the visual association and eliminating the risk of finding the same image in your competitors’ marketing campaign. Find out more.
Rights managed stock photography are usually more expensive than royalty-free, but that is not always the case. There are times that getting an RM license is cheaper than buying a royalty-free photo. It is also the best choice to ensure the success your project. Moreover, it provides a level of protection for both buyers and sellers that is not available with royalty-free.