Photo Becho offers a variety of Editorial photography choices depending on your organization's needs and budget.
What is an Editorial Image?
An image labeled as "Editorial Use Only" on Photo Becho (an "editorial image") is an image that cannot be used to advertise or promote a product or service. The people, objects or places in editorial images are not released.
An editorial image can be used to illustrate newsworthy and current events. It can also be used to illustrate subjects of human interest, including: the arts, business, culture, health and fitness, lifestyle, social events, technology and travel.
We do not accept images for editorial use simply because they fail to meet the criteria for commercial images. For example, we will not automatically accept an image showing a recognizable person, but which does not have a model release, for editorial use. Rather, an editorial image should depict a specific subject that could be the topic of a news story or piece of commentary.
What Can an Editorial Image Be Used For?
An editorial image's use is limited to non-commercial uses. Proper use of an editorial image includes using the image to illustrate news, commentary or opinion in newspaper or magazine articles, blog or website posts, or in non-commercial multimedia presentations (such as film).
Photo Becho will accept editorial images that?fall under two categories:
These two subtypes of editorial images illustrate newsworthy and current events, and subjects of human interest, in different ways. However, both types of editorial images must faithfully depict the subject and be accompanied by accurate captions and keywords.
| Subject of Image | Type of Editorial Image | |
| Image taken of the aftermath of a natural disaster | Dcumentary image, because it documents an event | |
| A Product shot of a popular household appliance | Illustrative image, because it does not document an event, but illustrates a subject of human interest | |
| Image taken at a cultural parade | Dcumentary image, because it documents an event | |
| Staged image of a person drinking a beverage of a well-known brand | Illustrative image, because it does not document an event, but illustrates a subject of human interest |
Documentary images are images that capture a certain event or subject of human interest. These images must accurately and truthfully communicate the event or subject. Although documentary images should be unaltered where possible, technical enhancements to improve the overall quality of the image itself are acceptable.
This is a documentary image of Prince William and Kate Middleton riding in a carriage to Buckingham Palace after their wedding on April 29, 2011 in England. The image captures the event in an accurate or truthful matter. Minor edits, such as cropping the image or adjusting the lighting would be acceptable.
This is a documentary image of a professional surfer catching a wave at Pipeline, Hawaii in February 2009. This image captures the scene in an accurate and truthful matter. The image was cropped to focus on the surfer and the power of the wave, but the cameraman on the lower left was left untouched to honestly and accurately depict the scene.
This is a documentary image of New York firefighters near Ground Zero on September 11, 2001. This image captures the scene at Ground Zero on this date in an accurate and truthful matter, as the image is an unaltered and un-manipulated photograph of the scene.
Since documentary images are commonly used to illustrate newsworthy and current events, it is important that they be faithful depictions of the subject being illustrated. Although minor edits to enhance documentary images may be acceptable, it is never acceptable to alter them in a way that portrays a subject dishonestly. Additionally, captions for documentary images should always accurately describe the image.
Here are some examples of acceptable and unacceptable practices when it comes to documentary images:
| Acceptable | Not Acceptable |
| Obtaining permission to take an image, or getting access to take an image | Paying the subject of a documentary image, or compensating the subject with other favors or gifts |
| Making reasonable technical enhancements to an image (i.e. correcting color, exposure, white balance, saturation etc.) | Adding partial or entire elements (i.e. people or objects) to an image |
| Removing dust spots from the image | Removing partial or entire elements (i.e. people or objects) from an image |
| Cropping an image to one part of the subject that was captured | Repositioning elements in an image |
| Using the phrase "circa" in an editorial caption where the date is not known | Using a caption that contains an incorrect date, location, or description of an event or subject |
| Posing a subject for a portrait when the caption clearly and conspicuously states that the subject was posed | Staging or posing subjects in a way that would mislead the viewer into thinking that the subject was captured in an enexpected or natural state |
Illustrative editorial images are creative and/or conceptual images that can be used to illustrate newsworthy or current events,?as well as subjects of human interest. Illustrative images must clearly and strongly illustrate the idea behind the image. Unlike documentary images, illustrative images may be staged.
We review these images on a case-by-case basis. We only accept illustrative images that meet our quality standards, and which we believe would be useful in illustrating news or subjects of human interest.
Please note that our needs for illustrative images change according to current events and trends, and it is important to keep this in mind when submitting illustrative editorial images.
This is an example of an illustrative image that may be used for editorial purposes. Although the image is not a documentation of an event, it could be used to illustrate news or commentary.
For example, it is easy to see this image being used in an article about Apple, Steve Jobs, or technology.
Additionally, this image meets Photo Becho's quality standards. The concept of the image is strong, and the focus of the image is sharp, without any excessive noise, shadows, or highlights.
This is an example of an illustrative editorial image that effectively combines several different elements to create a coherent, clear idea. This image does not document an event, but features a product?(a Starbucks beverage) next to an individual on a laptop.
This image could have many editorial uses, for example, in an article about coffee, Starbucks, or working from home.
This image also meets Photo Becho's quality standards as the concept is strong, the focus of the image is clear, and there are no other quality issues (excessive noise, shadows, or highlights) with the image.
The key to submitting illustrative editorial images is that each image must be useful in illustrating news, current events, or subjects of human interest. Shooting images of signs or labels is simply not enough to convey a strong idea or concept.
Rather, focus on a relevant theme or idea, and stage elements in a way that will strongly and clearly illustrate that theme or idea.
For example, the idea behind this illustrative editorial image is "using Visa online". This image stages two elements - a Visa credit card and a laptop computer - in a manner that coherently and clearly conveys the idea of using a Visa credit card online.
The idea is strong enough to see its use in an article or story about Visa, online shopping, or online banking. Note that this image could not be submitted for commercial use due to the Visa logo in the image, but it would be acceptable for editorial use.
Additionally, this image meets Photo Becho's quality standards as the focus of the image is clear, and there are no other quality issues (excessive noise, shadows, or highlights) with the image.
An editorial image should have an appropriate caption, which describes the specific subject of the image. The caption should include basic identifiers, such as: Who, What, Why, Where, and When. Always pay special attention to spelling, formatting, phrasing, capital letters, and punctuation.
We no longer require a reiteration of the date and location of the image in the description portion of the caption.
Here is how a caption should generally be structured:
CITY, STATE/COUNTRY - MONTH DAY YEAR: [Factual description?of the image content, including who and what the image portrays].
Since editorial images are used to illustrate newsworthy events and subjects of human interest, it is important that keywords for these images be accurate and truthful. Never add keywords that could be misleading. For example, if an editorial image features a product manufactured by Magnavox, do not use pair the keyword "Sony" with the image.
Also, unlike captions for commercial images, keywords for editorial images may include brand names and products, as long as they accurately describe the image.
Finally, illustrative editorial images should include the keyword "illustrative editorial". This will help customers locate these types of images.
As always, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.