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Photo Frequently Asked Questions
 
Q: My E-mail account cannot send out large file sizes, how can I send my photo(s) to you?
A: There are several ways to do this:
  1. If you size the image(s) down to our specs (1200 pixels wide) the size of the file may be small enough for you to send.
  2. You can burn the images(s) to a CD or DVD and mail them to us.
  3. You can place the image file(s) on your company’s FTP site and send us the login and file information for us to download.
  4. You can use a third-party service such as YouSendIt.com.

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Q: Why doesn’t my photo display the full version on your site?
A: We resize your image(s) to 115 x 86 pixels to be displayed on our site. Sometimes cropping is needed to maintain this dimension. However, only two versions of your image(s) are affected: (1) the thumbnail and (2) the HTML download. Most Web sites require a set image width and height for uniformity. The version of the image(s) that an editor will download for use in their print publication will be identical (or nearly identical) to the one that you provided to us.

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Q: I purchased my photo from a Stock Company but I can’t remember which one, is there any way I can look this up?
A: Sometimes. If you do not have the original order information, then there’s a chance that you can view the embedded file information (metadata). To do so, you can download and install a program called “Microsoft Photo Info”(You will need a valid version of Windows XP (with Service Pack 2 or later) or Windows Vista). Once downloaded and installed, right-click the image and select “Photo Info” from the list. Check each Tab for any information disclosing the photo’s origin/source.

Note: If you have opened and resaved the original image, then the embedded file information is likely to have been removed in the new version.

Disclosure: We do not provide software support for this program; we merely are referring to it for your benefit.

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Q: I don’t know where my photo came from, can I still use it?
A: No. Due to our unique distribution model, we are not able to use any image with an unknown source. You need to own the full photo license (not just the photo itself) or have the appropriate rights to distribute it to print and online publishers.

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Q: How should I e-mail you an image?
A: We need all images sent as attachments, not part of the e-mail body. If you are unfamiliar with how your e-mail program attaches files, please reference your e-mail’s help menu.

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Q: My file is low-resolution; can I stretch it to meet your specs?
A: No. An image that is lower resolution cannot have a size increase without losing too much important image quality. We need all images to be originally high resolution.

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Q: Our photo displays a picture of our product, so why do we still need to disclose the licensing information?
A: By default, the legal rights to the image belong to the person who took it — so the photographer initially holds the full rights. A lot of times the photographer will charge a specific amount based on the type of rights the client wishes to acquire. If partial rights were purchased, they may not be enough to cover our unique distribution model. We require the client to either have purchased the full copyright license from the photographer or have the photographer grant them distribution rights for both print and online usage.

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Q: Why did you turn down my image? The resolution is high enough and it’s from a usable source.
A: Even though both resolution and sourcing are acceptable, there are still a few other factors involved in your image’s approval. To ensure the absolute best results for your article, we eliminate images that are heavily product oriented or have other quality and formatting concerns. View the “Acceptable Photo Types” list on our Photo Guidelines page.

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Q: We have a library of images at our company; doesn’t that mean we own them?
A: That depends. Possessing the digital image doesn’t mean you own the full rights to it. The source of the image may be a stock company, in which case they may have limited distribution rights. Or the image may have been taken by a third-party photographer who did not release the full rights.

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Q: Why can’t you use all stock photography?
A: Because of our distribution model, we must have an agreement with the stock company before we can use their images for our service. You can pick images from our list of approved stock vendors (as listed on the Photo Guidelines page) or submit your inquiry to us for review. If you should choose the latter, keep in mind that this may significantly delay the posting of your article, and does not guarantee that the stock provider will agree to our terms.

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Q: We don’t have a graphics department, how do I know if my photo fits your specs?
A: An easy way to determine the resolution of your image is to check the pixel dimensions.

Microsoft XP:
  • Right-click on the desktop thumbnail of your photo and select “Properties”
  • Click on the “Summary” tab at the upper right of the window
  • Click the “Advanced” tab towards the bottom
  • Look at the “Width” dimensions in pixels
  • If it is 1200 pixels or greater, we may be able to use it
Microsoft Vista:
  • Right-click on the desktop thumbnail of your photo and select “Properties”
  • Click on the “Details” tab at the upper right of the window
  • Look at the “Width” dimensions
  • If it is 1200 pixels or greater, we may be able to use it
Other Operating Systems:
  • If your image is a .jpg, you can open it in your Web browser (such as Internet Explorer, Fire Fox, Opera, or Safari)
  • Right-click on the image within your browser and select “Properties” (or browser equivalent)
  • View the pixel dimensions in the Properties Dialog (“with” is the first measurement eg: 1340 x 1450 pixels means 1340 is the width)
  • If it is 1200 pixels or greater, we may be able to use it
  • If the photo is not a .jpg, you will need to refer to your Operating System’s graphics program to find the dimensions

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Q: Why should I use a photo to begin with?
A: We find that your article will get the best results when it is accompanied by an image. It aids the editor when determining the topic of your article and helps to grab their interest. However, images that are too product oriented may actually lower your article’s pickup. In these cases, we may recommend using no image.

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Q: I’m still having problems with my images, who can I talk to?
A: Contact your National Media Consultant, and they can offer assistance or transfer you to someone who can assist you further.

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