Are there Any Free NCAA Football or NFL Photos Available?

[mrniceguy]

I have a new sports-based blog and I was wondering if anyone knows if there are any free images available anywhere that can be used for someone's website?

It looks as if there aren't, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask.

If you don't know of any that are free, if you know of any place I can go to where the fees are reasonable? I'm all for compensating people for their hard work, I'm just on a shoestring budget and can't afford huge fees, as my blog has low traffic as of right now.

Thanks!

I know you all are photographers, and this question may rub you the wrong way, I did NOT intend to offend.

[DHMN69]

It would help to actually know what your blog is.. but you won't find D1 or NFL images for free regardless..If you can become an accredited media outlet yourself and shoot the photos yourself that would be your free source of photos.

[mrniceguy]

Thanks for responding. I have no problem sharing that info, I just need to clean up a few formatting/code issues with my developer before I feel comfortable sending someone to it. First impressions are hard to forget. I know you don't care, but I do :-)

My blog is based on providing information for prospective professional football players, letting them know inside information that I've learned from working with NFL Scouts, regarding what exactly their looking for in prospects. I also provide insight and information that helps them empowering themselves with information, instead of relying so much on agents, who may not always have their best interest in mind.

Since I won't find images for free, where can I purchase them, and how much should I expect to pay per image?

[cozmocha]

If you are not an accredited media outlet then you couldn't use them for editorial use anyway.

If you are a very small site that talks about sports it would be hard but the way most do it is to subscribe to one of these for editorial use...

http://www.apimages.com/
http://www.gettyimages.com/
http://www.zumapress.com/
http://pictures.reuters.com
http://www.iconsportsmedia.com/
http://www.csmimages.com

any many more...

Pricing depends on what the images are used for and your traffic. I'd get somebody on the phone from ap or getty to help you get an idea.



Or get somebody to shoot the event for you

[mrniceguy]

Thanks for the info, Kurt. I actually work for Reuters (different division), maybe I'll qualify for a discount (I doubt it). I spoke to Getty last week, and the prices were unaffordable for lil'ole me. I sent an email to icon's support, hopefully they'll make their fees proportional to web site traffic as you mentioned.

...and perhaps Getty does that, and I just didn't mention my site traffic, which is obviously ridiculously low. I may reach back out to them.

[DHMN69]

Thanks for responding. I have no problem sharing that info, I just need to clean up a few formatting/code issues with my developer before I feel comfortable sending someone to it. First impressions are hard to forget. I know you don't care, but I do :-)

My blog is based on providing information for prospective professional football players, letting them know inside information that I've learned from working with NFL Scouts, regarding what exactly their looking for in prospects. I also provide insight and information that helps them empowering themselves with information, instead of relying so much on agents, who may not always have their best interest in mind.

Since I won't find images for free, where can I purchase them, and how much should I expect to pay per image?

You don't want to be using *ANY* NCAA players photos on a site like that, especially those with ANY remaining eligibility, plus their uniforms and logos especially are property of the University. I'm sure there would be NCAA violations involved in it the photos being used in that manner. It's different when you're a blog reporting on the actual games than what you described your blog/website as. Plus using a pro players' likeness on a website would require you to pay them since you're attempting to offer a service to other players, you would have to actually have statements from players endorsing your information.

[mrniceguy]

If you are not an accredited media outlet then you couldn't use them for editorial use anyway.

If you are a very small site that talks about sports it would be hard but the way most do it is to subscribe to one of these for editorial use...

http://www.apimages.com/
http://www.gettyimages.com/
http://www.zumapress.com/
http://pictures.reuters.com
http://www.iconsportsmedia.com/
http://www.csmimages.com

any many more...

Hi, can you think of any additional ones off the top of your head? I've already initialized communication with the ones that you mentioned, I just want to shop around before I commit to one.

Thanks for your time.

[cozmocha]

Off the top of me head... http://southcreekglobal.com/

But I think they are a part of ZUMA. Most of the smaller agencies are being bought out by the biggies so not many wire services are around.