1. Record where each image came from
For every photo, illustration, icon, or font, note the creator or source and save the original license or permission. A filename alone is not a rights record.
Record the asset filename, source URL, creator, acquisition date, license version, and required attribution. Preserve receipts or permission messages in a location the site owner can retrieve later.
2. Check what the license permits
Review whether commercial use, editing, attribution, and redistribution are allowed. Stock licenses and platform terms can differ, so verify the terms for the specific asset and use.
Check whether the grant covers the actual use, audience, territory, and duration. Editing rights, commercial use, redistribution, and use in advertising can be treated differently by a license.
3. Handle people and brands carefully
Permission to use an image file may not resolve privacy, model-release, trademark, or property concerns. Seek appropriate consent and professional guidance when an image features identifiable people or protected marks.
An image license may not cover a person’s likeness, a private location, or a trademark shown in the image. Escalate uncertain rights instead of assuming a stock or public post clears every issue.
4. Keep a reusable asset log
Store proof alongside the project records and note any expiration or attribution requirement. Replace assets when permission is unclear rather than assuming an image is free because it is online.
Use the website image selection guide to choose visuals for a page, then keep the rights record with the asset rather than relying on its filename.
