Definitions:

Rights & Permission: As the name suggests, rights & permission is a process completely related to
copyright and permission clearance to use any “rich media asset” which can/shall be subjected to
matter of copyright.

Rich Media Assets: Rich media is a digital advertising term that includes advanced features like
photo, video, audio, or other elements that encourage viewers to interact and engage with the
content. Examples: Illustration, video, photo, audio, Text)

What is Picture or Photo or Image Research?

Researching and obtaining images and footages according to image or photo brief, considering
content, picture budget and schedule for a project be it book, e-book and any other educational
products. Also, obtaining image permissions or image relicensing and extending existing license.

Who is a Picture or Photo or Image Researcher?

Photo researchers a methodical and highly organized person, who dealing with a huge number of
images daily. He has a good eye for detail and sound research skills to source images from museums,
archives and picture agencies (stock vendors) around the world.
She/he has a sound editorial judgement with good negotiating skills if you're going to be dealing
with copyright holders. Few basic tips for photo research:

• Images should capture an action or an action that has just been concluded, indicating
success.
• Avoid set up shots that seem staged and unnatural.
• Racial diversity in photography is key. Images that show multiple ethnicities are
desirable wherever necessary.
• Include images from a variety of geographical locations that will be familiar to
appropriate age group for school students, including urban settings, suburban settings,
and rural settings.
• Use powerful shots with movement and shots with different camera angles and visual
perspectives, much like a still photo taken from a film.
• A photo should have a single, strong message. Don’t get distracted trying to add multiple
messages into a photo figure. Simplicity is always better.

Stock Photography: Stock photography is the supply of photographs, which are often licensed for
specific uses. It is used to fulfill the needs of creative assignments instead of hiring a photographer,
often for a lower cost. Today, stock images can be presented in searchable online databases. Mostly
used media assets vendor websites are Shutterstock, 123RF, Getty Images, Alamy etc.

Image log: It is a document in which all the assets being used within the book are recorded.
The primary purpose of this log is to identify the rights holders for the assets and further
course of action required. A project cannot be initiated without an image log.

Manuscript: Manuscript is a document written by hand or typewritten, as opposed to being

mechanically printed or reproduced in some automated way.
Right’s Types: Images are categorized into various rights types.

IMAGE CATEGORIES

RM RF Micro Stock Rights Free

Rights Managed Images (RM): Rights Managed, or RM, in photography and the stock photo
industry, refers to a copyright license which, if purchased by a user, allows the one-time use
of the photo as specified by the license. If the user wants to use the photo for other uses an
additional license needs to be purchased. RM licenses can be given on a non-exclusive or
exclusive basis.

Royalty-Free Images (RF): Royalty-free, or RF, refer to the right to use copyrighted material
or intellectual property without the need to pay royalties or license fees for each use or per
volume sold, or some time period of use or sales. When licensing royaltyfree images, the
buyer receives almost unlimited usage from the copyright holder. You, the buyer, can use
the RF image in virtually any medium or application, for as long as you like, in as many
projects as you need, as long as you stay within the Licensing terms of the agreement.

What sometimes confuses people within the term royalty free is the word “free” and
thinking that the image is free to use. What royalty free really means is that the person
using the image is free from having to pay any future royalties in a future project once the
initial payment has been made to the copyright holder for using that image i.e. no additional
royalty payments are owed.

Microstock Images: Microstock photography is a part of the stock photography industry.

What defines a company as a Microstock photography company is that they (1) source their
images almost exclusively via the Internet, (2) do so from a wider range of photographers
than the traditional stock agencies (including a willingness to accept images from
"amateurs" and hobbyists), and (3) sell their images at a very low rate (from US$0.20 to $10
in the US) for a royalty-free (RF) image.

Rights-free Images – Free to use without any payment without any permission. It can also
be categorized in to four types.

• Public Domain

• Work For Hire/Commissioned photos

• Publisher Owned

• Author Photo
Public Domain Images: Public domain means the image is free to use without purchasing a
license and can be used for commercial or personal purposes. No one can have exclusive
rights to a public domain stock photo (the photo can be used as many times by as many
people as desired). A public domain image has no limitation to how many times the user can
reproduce it.

Not all images/materials contained on “.gov” sites are in the public domain. Some
images/materials are protected by copyright, trademark, or patent, and/or are provided for
personal use only. Permission may be required. Central Rights & Permissions must review
any assets pulled from these sites prior to use. There may also be fees for ordering digital
images, hi-res files, or rush requests with some websites.

Steps in the photo research process:

• The client sets up a project and a photo researcher based on the needs of the
project is selected.
• Art manuscript is sent to the photo researcher after transmittal to production
(typically by the production service) along with a schedule for when the final
photos are needed.
• The photo researcher posts initial selections as per deadline and works with
author and/or editorial to get selections approved and may have to do a second
round of research.
• The photo researcher orders the selected photos and delivers them to the
specified party (generally production service).
• Photo researcher transmits information on all new photos for permission.

Inputs required for photo research: It primarily includes documents like image log,
manuscript, reproduction form, previous editions agreements and print/digital visual
reference pdfs.

 MSP’s/Brief
 Preferred Stock Agencies List
 Stock Login Credentials
 Avoidable Photographers/Collections List/ Concern Vendors list
 Stock Agencies price List with Hierarchy
 Image posting Methods (Low-res/Hi-res File)
 Photo Research deadlines and guidelines/instructions (Client specific)
 Rights details (Territory (World-wide/Limited), Languages, Print/Digital information,
No. of prints/edition, License Term)
What are the required rights?

Rights require for an image to use in the book or educational product.

Below is the chart showing preferred and minimum rights for an international book
publisher.

Territory – An area of land or a district or a region where rights are being requested or have been
acquired for distribution or broadcast. Territorial rights are often combined with or further defined
by language rights within a license. Examples: World Rights, North American Rights, South American
Rights, EMA, US Only, US and Canada.

Language(s) – The language(s) in which a creative work will be used in. Examples: All, English,
Spanish, English & Spanish, Chinese Implied, Chinese Traditional, Japanese, and Latin.

Print Quantity – This element identifies the total quantity amounts you are recording for print
components. Examples: No Limit, [Number Value, i.e. 200,000]

Electronic Quantity – This element identifies the total units or users for the non-print components.
Examples: No Limit, [Number Value, i.e. 200,000]

Multi-format Quantity – This element identifies the total quantity amounts, units, or users for print
and non-print components. Indicates there are no restrictions between print, electronic, and
multimedia but to the number only. Examples: No Limit, [Number Value, i.e. 200,000]

Term of License – Describes the duration of the contract, agreement, or license. This should be
explicitly stated, a specified amount of time (years). Values Include: No Limit, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 15, and 20.

Number of Editions – This element captures the edition number of the content being catalogued
should it have one. Values Include: This Edition Only, This and Next Subsequent Edition, This and All
Subsequent Editions.
Research Sources Hierarchy:

1. Public Domain or rights free sources (Mostly gov. agencies, Wikimedia or Client’s assets
libraries like “DAM”, “PAL”, “DAL” “Alamy Library” or “Shutterstock redownload” etc.)

2. Micro-stock sources (Shutterstock, Dreamstime, 123rf, Deposit photos and adobe stock
etc.)

3. Royalty Free sources (Shutterstock, 123 rf, Getty Images, Alamy etc.)

4. Rights managed sources (Getty Images, Alamy, Superstock, Age fotostock, Newscom,
Reuters, AP Images, Science Source, Bridgeman Images, AKG Images etc.)

Few useful public domain sources:

• https://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp (Medical, Health)

• https://www.loc.gov/photos/ (History and Politics)
• https://www.usa.gov/ (US Gov. items)
• https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/index.html (Space, Discovery)
• http://www.noaa.gov/ (Weather, Ocean, and Environment)
• https://www.usgs.gov/ (biology, geography, geology, and hydrology)
• https://www.census.gov/ (Population, US Data, and surveys)
• https://www.nps.gov/index.htm (national parks, monuments, historical)
• https://www.archives.gov/ (Archives, History and maps, charts, and architectural or
engineering drawings)
• http://www.gps.gov/ (Maps, Global Positioning System (GPS) and related topics)
• https://www.usda.gov/ (Agriculture, Food and US data)
• https://www.defense.gov/ (Military, News)
• https://www.fws.gov/ (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
• https://collections.nlm.nih.gov (Medical, Health)
• https://visualsonline.cancer.gov (Medical, Health)
• https://images.nigms.nih.gov (Medical, Health)

Few useful stock photo source’s genres wise:

• Shutterstock, Alamy, Getty (Overall all type of stuff)

• Alamy, Getty Images, Reuters, AP Images, Newscom, Age fotostock (News, Events, History,
Celebrities)
• Science Source, Science Photo Library, Fundamental Photographs (Medical, Science)
• Bridgeman Images, Art Resource, AKG Images, Magnum Photos, Superstock (Arts, Paintings
& Culture)
• Everett Collection (Movie Stills, Posters)
• Nature Picture Library, National Geographic (Nature, Wildlife)
Key wording Standards: All approved commissioned art & photography are properly key
worded prior to being released to client for ingestion into the Digital Asset Library or stock
photo websites. Please see below as an example on how to properly keyword a piece of
commissioned art/photo.

Tips

• use plural spelling only, unless the spelling is different than just adding an “s.”

• use gerunds not verbs. For example, use “running”, not “run.”

• do not capitalize unless it’s the name of a place or a proper noun.

• include common synonyms for your keywords.

• include orientation: horizontal, vertical, square, panoramic

• include number of people: nobody, one person, two people, three people, etc…

• include ethnicity: African-America, Asian/Pacific Islander, Caucasian, Hispanic, Middle

Eastern, Native American, South Asian/Indian

• include age group: infant, child, adolescent, adult, senior

• include gender: male, female

• include some conceptual keywords.

• use aerial, close up, copy space, cut out, macro, and satellite when appropriate
Editorial Images: Editorial is a form of rights-managed license when there are no releases
for the subjects. Since, there are no releases the images cannot be used for advertising or to
depict controversial subjects, only for news or educational purposes. If in doubt always
contact your photo library account manager regarding the use of ‘editorial use only’ images.

What is an Editorial Image? “An image, whose purpose is to educate and/or convey news,
information or fair comment opinion, and which does not seek or accept sponsorship to
promote a product, person, service or company.” . These images are not allowed to use in a
commercial setting or context. Images marked “creative” may be used both editorially and
commercially (read more: creative license).

Under this definition, almost all uses of images by our clients are editorial, since Pearson
generally uses images in learning materials; we develop these products in order to educate
students and convey information.

In reality, however, "editorial images" is a buyer-beware label that photo libraries apply to
images that may have particular risks. These risks could include one or more of the
following:

 No release forms obtained from persons appearing within the image.

 No location release forms obtained from the owner of property the image was taken on.

 A celebrity or other well-known public figure is featured within the image without their
consent.

 Trademarks or other intellectual property appear within the image without consent from
the owners.

This means that photos marked "editorial images" may present a risk to clients, if used.
Because of this risk there are some definite precautions that must be taken before an
editorial image may be used.

Identifying "Safe" Editorial Images

How to identify if an editorial image is safe to use: Review if the image's subject matter or its
intended use falls into one of the following categories. If it does not, you can proceed with
use of the image; if it does, then the image should either not be used, or if possible, a
release should be obtained.

 The image will be used on a Book/Product Cover or in Promotional Material.

 Sensitive subject matter: The image will be used in discussions about politics, religion,
bias/prejudice, health-related condition, sexual topics, etc.
 Minors: a minor is prominently featured within the image (not if in crowd scene). Example:
The photo here is of recognizable minors in a classroom setting. Releases would definitely
be required from the parents or guardians of these children.

 Nudity: a nude person is featured within the image and can be identified by others.

 Privacy Areas: a person is prominently featured in an area where privacy is expected

(house, dressing room, restrooms, etc.).

 Famous Person: when a famous person is featured in a private setting or the person is on
client's list of famous people requiring a release. See client’s Publicity Rights List, if provided.

 Building / Landmark: when the text or photo ties the person to a private building (e.g.,
Tom Cruise's House), or when the building is on the list of properties requiring a release. See
client’s Property List.

 Trademarks: when a trademark is prominently displayed. However, you do not need a

release when: 1) the trademark appears incidentally (i.e., it is not the main purpose or focal
point of the photo); or 2) the trademark is referred to in the accompanying text, and
including the trademark has some instructional or educational value (i.e., helps the reader
better understand or visualize concepts discussed in the text).

Example: This is a photo of a busy street scene in Tokyo. Several corporate names and logos
are visible, but since they are incidental, and not the focal point of the photo, releases from
the trademark owners are not required.

 Copyrighted Works: when a copyrighted work is prominently featured and adds visual
appeal, or is discussed in text. Example: In this photo, two paintings feature prominently,
and are visual focal points of the photo's composition. As such, property releases would be
required from the copyright owners of the paintings.

 Secure Environments: when a photo is of an environment known to restrict photography

(e.g., stadiums, amusement parks, military facilities), make sure photographer has received
proper permission.

Exceptions: In limited situations, there can be exceptions to the above situations. For
example, a release may not be required if the photo is of a historic news-worthy event (e.g.,
war photo). Also, sometimes a release for a photo would be impossible or very difficult to
obtain (see example below). Please check with your R&P contact if you believe there is a
reason that a specific photo may be used without a release.

Example: This is a photo taken at the time the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. If this photo
is used editorially, releases would not be required from the soldiers or persons in the crowd.
First, it is a photo of a news-worthy event, and second, the photo is over 25 years old, and
tracking down all of the persons in the photo to obtain releases would be difficult.

Example: This is a proposed cover of a Pearson textbook with a photo of a soldier during
World War II. Ordinarily, covers photos require releases, but since the soldier is not
identifiable (face not visible), no release is required. If instead, the soldier was identifiable
(facing the camera), a release would be required since Pearson has strict policies requiring
releases for product covers. If this photo is to be used instead in the interior of the book,
then a release would not be required regardless of whether the soldier is identifiable or not
since it is a news-worthy event, and also obtaining a release would be very difficult (solder
might not be alive or difficult to track down).
 How to choose images from stock vendors:

Compelling and Appropriate Images: It is critical to select images that are sensitive and
appropriate for each grade level. Pay special attention to the behaviour depicted. Images
that show negative or controversial behaviour (smoking, illegal acts, violence, etc.) should
not make their way into the program.

Composition: Evaluate the overall image quality, composition, and use of color when
selecting images. When possible, select high quality, color, images. All photographs selected
for the About the Author feature should be portrait-style, with a simplistic background.

Portraits: Portrait photos are preferred over headshots. Headshots are often used in
promotional material and they can read as generic and stiff. When possible, find portraits
that show a connection to the author’s work or biography. Also take into consideration the
lighting, posing, and background when searching for images. The strength of these elements
should influence whether a portrait or headshot is chosen. When no better portrait is
available, a generic headshot may be acceptable.

Headshots: We recognize that a strong portrait will not always be readily available. In these
instances, consider selecting a headshot.
Color Images: Color images can be chosen for both literary and informational texts. Bold
and intentional use of color will help to engage students. For this reason, color images are
favoured over black and white. This being said, not all color images are of equal quality.

Context: Form (an object with a particular shape) out of easily manipulated material

Strong. Weak.
This is clearly focused on the action of While this is an image of a pottery class,
molding clay. it is unclear that the gentleman is
performing an action. The additional
person and the background distract from
the illustration of the vocabulary word.

Anchor Text

Context: Students read an excerpt from Arachne, where a woman is turned into a spider by the
goddess Athena.
 Strong. Strong.
This is a strong illustration because it This is a strong illustration because is
depicts the most climactic scene in the symbolic of the outcome of the story.
story.

Building Knowledge

Context: Read an informational text to enhance and confirm background knowledge about dogs
that do work for humans.

Strong. Weak.
This image helps students make This is image does not help students
connections between the text and build their understanding about the
society. The service dog trained by K9s kind of jobs dogs have.
for Warriors, helps calm Benjamin
Steep down when he becomes upset.
Steep suffered a brain injury while
serving in the Iraq War.

Unit/Chapter Opener

Openers that reflect the Embedded Assessment, should show students engaging in their coursework in
an authentic way. It should not be apparent that these are stock images.

Strong. Weak.
This looks like a student This is clearly stock photograph
authentically engaging in and the student is looking
coursework. Notice that the directly into the camera.
image is candid and the student
is actively writing.
Real World Context

Embedded Assessment: Rate of Change: The Speed of a Cheetah Emma, a wildlife photographer, times a cheetah runni
the plain. It took the cheetah 5 seconds to run from its starting point to a spot 300 feet away.

Strong. Weak.
Select high-quality, vibrant images Avoid photos with subdued tones. While
with strong composition. This image this image depicts the subject mentioned
will help students visualize how fast a in the EA, it does not convey motion or
cheetah can run. speed.

Points to remember while doing photo research:

1. Make sure that you are using the respective project login credentials for each
photo vendor before starting research. Otherwise, in most of the cases at the
 time of download with that login, image will not be available on the website, due
to geographic or agreement restrictions.

2. Always check the photographer’s name against the project specific

Concern/DNU/NO FLY list. If the researched photo’s photographer’s
name/collection falls under the given list, please do not send it to the client for
review and remove this from the options.

3. Always check resolution and dimension of the image as per the spot on the pdf
page. E.g.: Topic Opener: Min dimensions 43.18 cm x 29.3158 cm (17 inches x
11.54 inches) (5100 px x 3461 px)
4. Image Orientation: Always try to find the image as per the replaced images
orientation so that designer can fit that image in same spot without adjusting any
text content. Sometimes, it is mentioned in the spec description specifically if they
want horizontal, vertical, panorama or square image. If the option under same
orientation is not available, then we can provide the images which could adjusted to
that spot, without deleting the message displayed on image.

Eg. See replacement image option for Column A.

5. Model release: A model release is a written agreement between a
photographer/agency and a person depicted in the image. By signing a model
release, that person gives you (and other authorized users) permission to publish
the image or use it for commercial purposes.

Property release: A property release is a legal agreement between

photographer/agency and the property owner — or a corporate representative if the
property is owned by a company. By signing a property release, that person gives you
permission to use the image for commercial purposes.

 Famous landmarks, historic locations, and modern architecture

 Identifiable exteriors or interiors of private homes and buildings
 Properties with photography policies, which may include stadiums, museums, concert
venues, and amusement parks.
6. Always check restrictions mentioned on the stock website before finalizing the
image for client’s approval at the time of photo research.

E.g.: Getty Image 141189030 has a restriction which is clearly mentioned in the
bottom of the image. If you have any confusion, then please confirm with the
respective photo vendor.
7. For the re-clearance/reprint projects, first preference is to find the original photo as per
the visual present in the book. If not found then, we must find the closest match to the
original photo. We need to read the surrounding text to look for the required photo.
Sometimes, original photos are found during Photo Research. In those cases, do not send
photo options to client to review. Just mention in the delivery email that original photo is
found so no photo research is required.

Methods for reverse research for finding exact photo:

1. Tineye.com: https://tineye.com/ Always prefer to use the tin eye method for locating
the exact image by uploading the screenshot or low-res image on the portal. It will
give you all the source where this image is available. Then select the cheapest one
for relicensing.

2. Google Image Seach: Sometimes tin eye not able to locate the options for the
researched image. So, also applied the same method on google image search. It will
also give you the results for that image.

3. Now, every stock photo vendor also adding this search application on their websites
for finding the images. You can also use this search method.
 Some examples for photo selection:

1. Photo Spec description: Photo of middle school age child diving to the bottom of a
swimming pool.

Not this one Choose this one!

This one is a long shot and does not draw the This close up shot is more fun. The boy in the
viewer into the action. picture is not just swimming, but is shown
from a unique perspective that engages the
viewer.

2. Spec: Photo of a soccer player in action.

Not this one Choose this one!

This one is a long shot and depicts a very This ball and the players are close, making the
ordinary scene. The focus is on stadium not viewer feel more involved in the game.
on players in action.

3. Grade 2 students in an art classroom. Try and find images having Ethnicity – Whites,
Asians, Blacks etc.
 Not this one Choose this one!

This image is aesthetically correct. But This image is aesthetically correct and have
students are not diverse. All the students are diverse group of students. It’s better than the
Caucasian. other one.

Following are Taboos in image research.

Strictly avoid the following content in images unless text or image subject require these.

 Alcohol and drugs

Brief says Family having dinner. DO NOT show alcohol or even smoking.

Show generic images of family having dinner. Do not show dinner on some occasion like
Christmas or Thanksgiving Day etc. In general, no alcohol or smoking photos in the book.
Unless and until specified which is very rare.

 Gambling (including gaming dice), violence, weapons, and crime

 Smoking
 Religious references and places of worship (unless the subject of a passage or
lesson)

For example – Teacher teaching in a classroom. Show this much image only. No
religious symbol like Jesus/Christ/Allah written on blackboard or any kind of religious
symbol which signifies any religion.

 Supernatural and undesirable characters and props (witches, wizards, pirates,

sorcery, vampires, werewolves, magic 8-ball, crystal ball)

No Skin show in the images. A girl or a boy has to be covered wearing pants and
t-shirts/shirts.

No shorts, no swimsuits, no bikini, no cut sleeves. No low necks.

 Miniskirts and bathing suits Remember: Short shorts (knee-length or just-above-the-

knee length are ok)
 Bare shoulders, cleavage, and bare midriffs

 Men without shirts

 Any sort of nipples, including animals

 Tattoos and body piercings

 Brand names or trademarks (e.g. Apple/McDonalds)

No brand should be visible in the photos. For example a brief says Photo of mobile phone.
Show the mobile phone which looks latest but do not have any logo/symbol going on it
which says it belongs to so and so brand like Apple or Nokia etc.
Any technology you must show should be new like MP3 players, computers, televisions
etc.

 Unhealthy foods (cake, soda, candy; pizza is ok; use frozen yogurt rather than ice
cream)

A brief says Child/adult eating. Show photos of child having sandwich.

No soft drink as well. Show the child/adult having juices.
 Sexually suggestive postures or framing

 Risky activities for children (cliff diving, motorcycle riding, using knives to cut food,
etc.)

 Safety Modeling: Ensure appropriate safety gear and safety precautions are
depicted in photos. Either child or adult should be wearing safety gears like
helmets/knee pads etc. for doing any kind of adventurous activity.

All children riding bikes should be wearing helmets.

All children riding skateboards should be wearing helmets and pads.

People participating in adventure sports should have proper safety gears.

Children and adults in cars should be wearing seat belts.

Any industrial work or scientific experiments should show proper safety gear (gloves,
glasses, etc.)
People on boats should be wearing life vests.

Skilled workers should have proper safety gears. For example, carpenters wearing safety
goggles.

Basic Tips:

SCHOOL HIGHER EDUCATION

Grade K – 5-6 Years Other than Grades, it falls

Grade 1 – 6-7 Years under Higher Ed.
Grade 2 – 7-8 Years
Grade 3 – 8-9 Years
Grade 4 – 9-10 Years
Grade 5 – 10-11 Years

Methods for delivering Photos for selection:

8. By placing photos thumbnails in excel Logs with metadata.

9. By placing photos in word file or PDF files with metadata (Contact Sheets).
10. By placing photos on the client provided portals like DAM, Figure one etc.