Agencies must obtain clearance from the OC Creative Services Center's Photography Branch for any and all photography that they will include in a publication, and must provide documentation of that clearance to the OC Editorial Branch.
The Internet is an outstanding source for locating photos. However, there are two primary concerns: copyright restrictions and image quality.
Images in the USDA photo library are considered public domain and, therefore, are free of copyright restrictions. Those restrictions, however, apply to many, if not most, Internet images.
Images can be purchased from online stock photo companies. It is important to understand the terms of the contract, because often the purchase price is for one-time use only. This means that each time a brochure or poster is reprinted, another payment is required. Royalty-free images are also available from online sources.
In certain cases, Internet photos can be used without violating copyright restrictions. Photos may be used for educational purposes, providing there is no monetary compensation involved. Internet photos also may be used on Web pages, but restrictions apply if the images are to be downloaded and printed.
It is important to determine the copyright status before using an Internet photo. Please contact Alice Welch at 202-720-0901 or alice.welch@usda.gov for information about specific photos and their use.
Image quality also must be considered. Low-resolution photos, which are satisfactory when viewed on a computer monitor, usually are not sufficient for printing. For assistance in choosing an Internet photo for a printed product, contact Tom Witham (202-720-4339 or tom.whitham@usda.gov) or Alice Welch (202-720-0901 or alice.welch@usda.gov).
