Need high quality photos of actors.

[loke]

I want to use photo stills from movies on my site. (Not Capured from the movie, but those taken by professional photographers at the set) I found a lot of garbage imagery on several royality free sites, but I need high quality, preferably the same images that are used in promotion of movies. I'm willing to pay a relativly high fee. But I know not where to go.

[Marcia]

Movie stills would be copyrighted property, but can be used for PR purposes with specific written permission. There's hardly any actor who doesn't have a professional PR agent, you could try to hunt down specific agents or contact the studios directly.

Sometimes films are distributed by a major motion picture company, but have actually been produced by an independent production company. I'm not sure who's got the actual rights on those cases, but the studio people or PR agent could help point you in the right direction.

If the actors have their own websites you can probably find some contact information on the site. If they've got avid fans, a fan site might yield some clues.

>>taken by professional photographers at the set

My best guess is that their PR or their management firm is the likeliest source.

[msgraph]

I see Getty Images referenced a lot on news stories of celebrities, but the pictures were mostly taken at public events, however, they might have on location shots. You might want to give them a check just in case.

Other than that, what Marcia said.

[loke]

Thanks to both of you. I guess I need to send some emails around to agents and studios.

[stevebydac]

I'm in a similar situation to loke. Does anyone know how much it costs to get legal access to AP, Reuters, etc photos of movie, TV, sports, news?

I'm guessing it is quite pricey? Is there an inexpensive ( or FREE!) alternative that can give someone an updated supply of such photos? How do the non-news sites like Maxim, Seventeen, etc. acquire their photos? Or the larger for-profit "hobby sites". Do they continually pay? They certainly didn't take most of the photos themselves...

Thank you for your thoughts.

[Blue_Wizard]

something to consider:

California's right of publicity statute provides:
Any person who knowingly uses another's name, voice,signature, photograph, or likeness, in any manner, on or in
products, merchandise, or goods, or for purposes of advertising or selling, or soliciting purchases of, products,
merchandise, goods, or services, without such person's prior consent . . . shall be liable for any damages sustained by the person or persons injured.

By there very nature of birth each individual owns the copyright to their own name, voice,signature, photograph, or likeness. If you wish to use somone elses name, voice,signature, photograph, or likeness for any purpose you must obtain permission in writing.

[gussie]

I would browse through the Internet Movie Database,

[imdb.com ]

They have an extensive on and off the set stills section provided by the studios. Although IMDB is licensed to use these stills and can't give them away, they do provide the name of the studio that made the film. They also have several other galleries of images from various sources. It might be a good place for you to start. Its an amazing site and lots of fun to browse.

Gus