Unless you are in the business of selling your photography,you should probably stop what you’re doing right now and go add a little clause to the bottom of your website that says
“All images on this site are copyright _____ and may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without written consent,except in the event that you’re a member of the press publishing an informational article in which our company’s name or website is mentioned and a link to our website is provided.”
Because I spend all day writing and could have helped out several businesses in several states if their websites didn’t prohibit me from using their photos without permission. I don’t have the time to ask permission,nor do I have the desire to communicate with them. My job is to write,so I do. I’m more than willing to provide an incoming link to their website in exchange for the use of the pictures,and that would benefit the readers AND the business.
So unless your business is photography,you need to amend your photo sharing guidelines. Each photo that content providers publish on their website CAN BE like free advertising for you. There’s no reason to hog your pictures,if no one is coming to your website they’re not doing you any good. The images that represent your business to the public should be of your choosing,so don’t force me to use an image taken by Joe Schmoe visiting from Wichita. You might not like his picture. I don’t care if you like it. I just don’t want to spend more than 5 minutes finding a picture
In the hundreds or so articles I have written in the past week,the website that did the very best job of giving photo permission is the Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky Ohio. Their front page has a discreet little link to their media center which provides the press with high resolution still images and videos. They even go a step further,offering to supply the media with specific images at their request. That’s classy.
That’s all I have to say,thank you for your time.