An older adult woman using an electric shopping cart at the grocery store [Online image]. USDA SNAP-Ed Connection.
https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/photo-gallery/older-adult-woman-using-electric-shopping-cart-grocery-store

Different types of photos licenses and terms of use*

*Always read a websites terms and conditions with regard to use before using a photo (especially for commercial purposes).

Open access photos. These photos are often found on government and public academic websites. There are also some commercial websites that offer such images. These images are often open access and can be used for a variety of of non-commercial purposes. You still must be diligent about reading usage agreements, especially when using images for commercial purposes. 

Photos with a Creative Commons (CC) License (see CC tab). These photos can be used in ways stipulated by their Creative Commons License. Different images can have different licenses. Some may be completely free to use, others may be free if you cite the image, and some may not be used without permission. 

Stock images. Some websites and photographers  provide stock images. Such companies tend to have a large database of available images. Getty Images is perhaps the most well known of these resources. Typically you have to pay to use such images. Additionally, there is no uniform license across these resources. For example, for some images you may be able to use the image, after paying, in any way you'd like. Other licenses include more detailed stipulations. Such images are typically copyright protected and don't fall under fail use within most circumstances. For stock photos, you must be diligent about reading license agreements. 

Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that created a set of simple and easy-to-understand copyright licenses which are available to anyone to use for any created content.

Creative Commons licenses are legally enforceable licenses and have become extremely popular to use.

Want a video tutorial?

The Creative Commons License Options

The following information if from:

Creative Commons. 2020. "About CC Licenses." Retrieved Oct 10, 2020 (https://creativecommons.org/about/cclicenses/).

There are six different license types, listed from most to least permissive here:

• CC BY: This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.

CC BY includes the following elements:
BY  – Credit must be given to the creator

• CC BY-SA: This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms.

CC BY-SA includes the following elements:
BY  – Credit must be given to the creator
SA  – Adaptations must be shared under the same terms

• CC BY-NC: This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. 

It includes the following elements:
BY  – Credit must be given to the creator
NC  – Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted

• CC BY-NC-SA: This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms. 

CC BY-NC-SA includes the following elements:
BY  – Credit must be given to the creator
NC  – Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted
SA  – Adaptations must be shared under the same terms

• CC BY-ND: This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use. 

CC BY-ND includes the following elements:
BY  – Credit must be given to the creator
ND  – No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted

• CC BY-NC-ND: This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. 

CC BY-NC-ND includes the following elements:
BY  – Credit must be given to the creator
NC  – Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted
ND  – No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted