Understanding Photo Usage Rights & Licensing

Understanding the complexities of photography licensing can be a significant headache for marketing managers and business owners. Navigating the legalities of where and how you can use the images you have paid for often feels like a full-time job. At decoy, we believe in a more transparent approach that allows you to focus on growing your brand rather than counting impressions or checking expiry dates.

The Hidden Costs of Traditional Photography Licensing

In the professional photography industry, it is standard practice for some agencies to charge a base creative fee and then add various costs for photography usage rights. These fees are often calculated based on how long you intend to use the image, which platforms they will appear on, and the geographic reach of your campaign.

For a fast-moving business, this traditional model is a logistical bottleneck. If you commission a set of images for a local PR piece and later decide to use them for a national billboard campaign or a high-stakes investor pitch, you could find yourself facing unexpected invoices for additional photography licensing.

1. The decoy Difference: Full Usage Rights in Perpetuity

We do things differently to ensure our clients get the most value from their investment. We include full usage rights in perpetuity with 99% of our projects. Whether we are shooting a high-profile summit in the city centre or providing commercial photography for a global brand based in the North West, our goal is to provide assets that work for you without restriction.

This means you are free to use your images across all your marketing channels forever, including:

• Your company website and blog.

• Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

• Internal documents, annual reports, and recruitment brochures.

• Physical marketing materials, from business cards to large-format event banners.

• Press releases and editorial features in trade journals.

2. Why Manchester Businesses Prefer Our Transparent Model

Manchester is a city built on efficiency and clear communication. When you work with a portrait photographer in Manchester, you should not have to worry about your headshots expiring after twelve months. Our unlimited usage model is designed to support the long-term growth of local businesses.

By removing the friction of traditional licensing, decoy becomes an extension of your marketing team. You have the peace of mind that once the final edited gallery is delivered, the images are yours to deploy whenever and wherever they are needed. This transparency is why we have become a trusted partner for corporate event photography across the city.

3. Simplifying the Legal Side of Your Photo Brief

When you are briefing a photographer, you should always ask about their stance on usage rights. While some photographers may offer a lower initial quote, they may add significant licensing fees later depending on how successful your campaign becomes.

Our quotes at decoy are all-inclusive. We believe that if you have paid for a professional to capture your brand, you should own the right to use those results to their fullest potential. This simple approach eliminates the need for complex tracking of image rights and ensures your legal and marketing teams are never caught off guard.

4. Understanding Copyright vs. Usage Rights

It is important to understand the technical distinction between copyright and usage. Under UK law, copyright is retained by the photographer who pressed the shutter. This is the standard legal position across the creative industries.

While decoy retains the copyright, we grant you a comprehensive license to use the work. This legal structure protects the integrity of the work while giving you the total freedom to use your assets as the face of your business. The only things you cannot do are sell the images to a third party or claim that you personally took the photograph.

Explore related insights from decoy:

• How to share and distribute your professional imagery
• The ROI of professional photography for your business
• Managing GDPR and photography opt-outs at events

If you are looking for a reliable partner for your PR photography Manchester who offers clear, unlimited usage rights, contact decoy today for a free quote.