What is the difference between Rights Managed and Royalty Free in purchasing Stock Photography?
A. RIGHTS MANAGED IMAGES are “rented” for a specific purpose at a specific price. Once you negotiate a fee with the agency (or photographer) for the specific use you have in mind, any other use is subject to an additional fee. ROYALTY FREE IMAGES are purchased outright, either as single images or on disc volumes in bulk, and can be used any way you want, with certain restrictions. Note: Each stock agency has it’s own set of guidelines for Rights Managed and Royalty Free image purchasing but this is the basic rule of thumb.
