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For all things candle and home fragrance making!
Understanding Visual Assets and Copyright Laws
So you’ve got your product line and nailed your branding, it's now time to get your images and products out there. If you don’t have a lot of experience with design or photography, there are a few important things to remember when putting your content out there.
Understanding Copyright Laws
Copyright refers to the legal right of the owner of intellectual property. In simpler terms, copyright is the right to copy. This means that the original creators of products and anyone they give authorization to are the only ones with the exclusive right to reproduce the work. This is really important to note if you’re not quite ready to start taking your own images or making your own visual assets.
Here is an example of our terms and conditions from our website;
The intellectual property rights in all software and content (including photographic images) made available to you on or through this Website remains the property of www.suppliesforcandles.co.uk or its licensors and are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All such rights are reserved by www.suppliesforcandles.co.uk and its licensors. You may store, print and display the content supplied solely for your own personal use. You are not permitted to publish, manipulate, distribute or otherwise reproduce, in any format, any of the content or copies of the content supplied to you or which appears on this Website nor may you use any such content in connection with any business or commercial enterprise.
If you decide to use images that aren’t yours, you must have consent to do so, or alternatively use an attribute free website. If you or your business infringes copyright, you can be faced with legal action, which you really don’t want! Essentially, if a piece of content is on someone else's website or social media, we don’t recommend using it.
Where to Source Content
There are a whole host of websites that you can use to find everything from design templates to photographs and videos! Some of these websites are free, but there are also paid websites that offer more choice and assets to work with as your business and skills grow!
Websites We Recommend
• Canva - stock photographs, videos, templates and designs.
• Freepik - graphics, assets and stock photographs.
• Pexels - stock photographs and videos.
• Unsplash - stock photographs.
• Adobe stock - stock photographs, graphics, vectors, video footage, illustrations, templates, 3d assets, audio and icons.
• Shutter stock - stock photography, stock footage, stock music, and editing tools.
The only drawback with stock images is that they are available to everyone. Competitors and others in your industry will probably end up using the same images as you at some point if you’re all accessing and using the same platforms!
Being a Bespoke Business
Depending on your budget, contacting a professional photographer, designer or videographer could be a more suitable choice if you’re looking for bespoke content. You have more room to be creative and make content that is truly yours and reflects your brand. Don’t forget that copyright laws work the opposite way round! If you create something original – from a song or photo to an article or design – copyright prevents others from copying, republishing it or distributing it without your permission, it’s all yours!
If you don’t have the budget to hire a photographer, you can read our blog Photographing Your Creations to find out how to get the perfect set-up, even if you’re a beginner!
It’s important to understand how to use online content correctly to ensure you’re not breaking any laws or paying any fines! But don’t let this affect your creative flair. There are many ways you can create interesting and engaging content for your audience without worrying about using someone else’s intellectual property.
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