Which images should you use for your shoe company website?
I’m going to start with a tough question: Do you have the rights to use every photo or image you are using on your shoe company website and social media platforms? If your answer is I don’t know, it’s essential that you keep reading.
You probably already know that you can’t just reuse any image you find on Google or Instagram. But did you know there are now bots scanning through the internet for images used without the proper license? Because these bots are quick and thorough, they will find that image you used in a hurry.
How do I know this?
I wish this was just information given to me by an intellectual property lawyer. Unfortunately, I write from first-hand experience.
Last month I was emailed by a company called PicRights. They told me I had used a single image belonging to Reuters on my blog without a license. I did some digging, and realised this company is legitimate. I removed the image, paid PicRights for unauthorised past usage, and the matter was resolved.
What you need to do
- Schedule time this week to audit your blog, web pages, LinkedIn and all of your social media accounts. Don’t wait!
- Remove any images you didn’t photograph yourself, pay a photographer to take, or get from a legitimate royalty free/copyright free website.
- Resolve to only use your own images, and those you have the rights to forever more.
- Relax.
But I need more images!
Social media and blog posts require lots of fresh images, so using existing pictures you find on Google Images can be tempting. But it isn’t worth the risk.
Before you have shoes to sell
Take photos of components, swatch books, people you collaborate with, and your factory trips. Bring your audience on the journey with you. We all love #bts (behind the scenes) posts.
When you have shoes to sell
You will need numerous images of your shoes; not just studio shots on a white background. This can get expensive if you have to pay a professional photographer for every single image. A great alternative is to improve your own shoe photography skills.
Acquiring the ability to generate your own shoe photos will save you a fortune, and empower you to create unique images your customers will love.
Watch this 1 minute preview of my How to Photograph Shoes to Sell course:
My $9.95 shoe photography course is a fraction of the price I paid to PicRights for just one image.
I hope this blog post saves you money in unauthorised past usage of image fees. If it does, you will never know because you won’t receive any horrible emails from copyright enforcement and claims resolution companies. Yay!
Rosa Fior says
Great Post Susannah, I will follow your advice asap. thanks for sharing.
Susannah says
Thanks Rosa! Good plan. I hope it saves you £££ (although you’ll never know).