Email servers are increasingly setting up roadblocks to deter unwanted emails from cluttering your inbox. Unfortunately, they can also deter mail that you WANT to receive.
Fortunately, you can "whitelist" URLS with your email server to ensure delivery. Select your provider from the list below, and follow a few simple steps to let them know that a certain URL - like ours - should be delivered to you.
We hope this serves as our first helpful "open resource" from SAA.
AOL
Comcast
Earthlink
Gmail
Hotmail
Yahoo
Mozilla Thunderbird
Outlook 2003
SBC Global
Verizon
Blackberry Devices
AOL
If you are using AOL, you can ensure that your subscription information is delivered to your inbox by setting your Mail Controls. Here's how:
1. Go to Mail Controls
2. Select the screen name we're sending your email to
3. Click Customize mail Controls for this screen name
For AOL version 8.0:
Select allow email from all AOL members, email address and domains.
1. Click next until the save button shows up at the bottom
2. Click save
If you haven't received an email from us yet:
Please add our "From address" to your AOL address book:
1. Click the Mail menu and select Address Book.
2. Wait for the "Address Book" window to pop up, then click the Add button.
3. Wait for the "Address Card for New Contact" window to load.
4. Paste our email address into the "Other E-Mail" field.
5. Make our From address the "Primary E-Mail" address by checking the associated check box.
6. Click the Save button.
If you have already received an email from us:
If our email is in your AOL Spam Folder, please open the email and then click the This Is Not Spam button. Next, please add our address into your Address Book as described above.
COMCAST
1. Sign into Webmail.
2. On the left navigation menu, click Address Book.
3. Click Add Contact.
4. Under the General tab, in the box under the Email Address, enter our email address
5. Click the Add button.
If you have enabled Restrict Incoming Email, also do the following:
1. Sign into Webmail.
2. Select Preferences.
3. Select Restrict Incoming Email. Note: If Enable Email Controls is set to Yes, then you are restricting incoming emails.
4. Select Allow email from addresses listed below.
5. Enter our email address, and click the Add button.
EARTHLINK
1. Click the Address Book button to open your address book in the browser.
2. Click the Add Contact button (if you use EarthLink 5.0 or higher, click the Add button).
3. Type in our email address into the email address slot and then click OK.
GMAIL
If you haven't received a message from us yet, add our email address to your Gmail Contacts List:
1. Click Contacts along the left side of any Gmail page.
2. Click Add Contact.
3. Copy and paste our email address into the primary email address dialog box.
4. Click Save.
How to check if our email is in the "spam" folder:
1. Click Spam along the left side of any Gmail page.
2. Check-mark the box next to our newsletter.
3. Click Not Spam button along the top.
HOTMAIL
If you are using Hotmail, add our email address to your Hotmail Safe List. Here's how:
1. Open your mailbox and click "Options" (upper right hand corner).
2. Click the "Junk E-Mail Protection" link (top of page).
3. Select the "Safe List" link (2nd from bottom).
3. In the space provided (labeled "Type and address or domain", enter our email address.
4. Click "Add"
5. When you see the address you entered in the Safe List box, click OK
If you have received a message from us:
1. If our email is in your Junk E-Mail Folder, open the email and click the Not Junk button.
2. Next, check to see if our email address is in your Blocked Senders list.
If you see our email address on this list, select it and click the Remove button.
3. Finally, if you have not done so, add our email address into your Safe List as outlined above.
MOZILLA THUNDERBIRD
If you haven't received a message from us yet:
You will need to add our email address to your Thunderbird Address Book and configure your Junk Mail Controls to white list your address book.
1. Click the Address Book button.
2. Make sure the Personal Address Book is highlighted.
3. Click the New Card button. This will launch a New Card window that has 3 tabs: Contact, Address & Other.
4. Under the Contact tab, copy and paste our "From" address, add our email address into the Email dialog box.
5. Click OK.
If you have received a message from us:
1. Please check your Junk folder to see if our emails have been mistakenly placed there.
2. To prevent this from happening in the future, you need to mark our email as not junk. Do this by right-clicking on our newsletter and choose "Mark -< As Not Junk".
White list your Personal Address Book:
1. From the main drop down menu, select "Tools -< Junk Mail Controls..."
This will launch the Junk Mail Controls window that has two tabs: Settings and Adaptive Filter.
2. Under the Settings tab, update the "White Lists" module by selecting Personal Address Book from the pull down menu and then check mark the box next to "Do not mark messages as junk mail". Click OK.
OUTLOOK 2003
Add our email address to your Safe Senders list:
1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. On the Preferences tab, click Junk E-mail.
3. On the Safe Senders tab, click Add.
4. In the Add address, put our email address
5. Click OK.
SBC GLOBAL
1. Go to the SBC Global Mail page and click the Options link.
2. In the Management section, click the Filters link.
3. Click the Add button.
4. In the "From header" rule, in the field to the right of contains, enter our email address.
5. From the Move the message to pull-down list, choose inbox.
6. Click the Add Filter button to save the filter.
VERIZON
1. Go to your account and click on the Address Book link in the left column.
2. Select Create Contact.
3. The Add Address Book Entry screen appears. In the Email field, type our email address.
4. In the Nickname field, type our email address.
5. Select Save.
YAHOO
To ensure your subscription information is delivered to your Yahoo inbox (not the Bulk Mail or Junk Mail folder), you can instruct Yahoo to filter it to your inbox. Here's how:
1. Open your Yahoo mailbox
2. Click Mail Options (upper right hand corner).
3. Click filters
4. Next, click add filter (may also be add link)
5. In the top row, labeled From Header: make sure contains is selected in the pull-down menu.
6. Click in the text box next to that pull-down menu, then enter our email address.
(Please select the email address from the list provided, if available).
7. At the bottom, where it says Move the message to: select Inbox from the pull-down menu.
8. Click the Add Filter button again.
If you have received a message from us:
1. If our email is getting stuck in your Yahoo Bulk Folder, please open
the email and click the Not Spam button.
2. Next, check to see if the email address is in your "Blocked Addresses" list. If you see our email address on this list, select it and click the Remove Block button.
3. Lastly, please set up a filter as outlined above.
BLACKBERRY Devices
1. Scroll up to the message header.
2. Get to the field where their name is listed, click the Berry button and then click Show Address.
3. Select and copy that address to the clipboard.
4. Go into Address Book and find the user.
5. Select Save.
6. Click to edit it, and then click the Berry button to add another email address.
7. Paste it in and click Save.
The Ideals behind Ideal Products
Besides adhering to the guiding principles proposed in the Metadata Manifesto, products aiming to gain significant market share in an increasingly metadata-hungry market should embody the following design ideals.
Products must allow metadata to be embedded as early as possible in the image creation process.
This could include:
- the ability to store a metadata template-or at least the image creator's name-in the internal memory of digital cameras and other image generating devices so that authorship information is automatically written to the metadata section of every newly created image..
- the ability to store authorship information on a protected sector of storage devices such as memory cards, and
- the ability to have image processing utilities automatically transfer this information (and even embed the information in the image) at the time images are copied to another device.
Products must allow metadata to be ubiquitous and persistent.
- Metadata must be preserved by default in all imaging applications.
- User interfaces must be clearly designed to prevent users from inadvertently removing metadata.
- Any mechanisms for removing metadata must allow image users to clearly understand what they are about to do.
- Metadata removal mechanisms must allow for selective removal of individual fields, as opposed to wholesale removal of all data.
- Any process for compression of images for low-bandwidth use should by default preserve at least a reduced set of metadata, and must at a minimum preserve the image ownership information.
Products should facilitate usage rights tracking.
Including:
- the ability to automatically assign a persistent, unique identifier to each image so image users can identify and track its origin more easily
- the ability to store passwords for selective levels of use permissions.
- the ability to password-protect authorship-related metadata to prevent inadvertent changes, as well as reduce the incidence of fraudulent changes.
Products must facilitate metadata automation.
Ideal products should:
- allow recorded actions or macros for metadata manipulation, including support for conditional statements.
- allow automated access to metadata elements through a cross-platform scripting language. There should be agreement on a common API and allow scripts to call the application's own metadata parser.
- allow scripts to read any and all metadata elements meant for public consumption. Restrictions, if any, should be honored so that private metadata is not read.
- allow scripts to write to any metadata elements for which writing is applicable or allowed.
Read the Manifesto here or Download the PDF
A Metadata Manifesto
A proposal from the Stock Artists Alliance for the adoption of guiding principles, standards and technology to promote image metadata use.
Version 1.0 / July 2006
Photographers, illustrators, publishers, advertisers, designers, art directors, picture editors, librarians and curators all share this same problem: struggling to track rapidly expanding collections of image assets.
In a world of desktops increasingly crowded with digital files, old methodology persists. Folders of digital images are "filed" while information about the images -- creator, caption and rights data -- often is available only from a separate database, notebook, or CD jacket.
The only link between the image and this data is a file name and where that file is stored. Unfortunately, this link is easily severed when file names get altered, files get relocated, copies are made and disseminated. Meanwhile, image information gets left behind.
Without effective systems in place for identifying and managing digital assets, everyone working with digital images is adversely affected. Resources are wasted, opportunities are lost, liability increases and intellectual property rights are eroded.
The volume of digital files challenges publishers who need to manage and access them. Busy designers and art directors download preview images to their desktops, only to find weeks or months later they cannot identify the source. Librarians and curators -- charged with making more cultural resources available to the public -- are already overburdened managing their legacy analog material. Now, they must cope with rapidly expanding digital assets as well.
Lack of information about an image file can delay projects, necessitating additional research to establish licensing rights, obtain clearances, and confirm caption details. This in turn has contributed to the growing problem of misuse of images, whether through error or by intent. Without proper licensing or permissions, users infringe copyright and expose themselves to liability.
The pressures on image creators-as copyright holders-to protect their intellectual property has intensified since the digitalization and online distribution of their images. If their images cannot be properly identified, they suffer from lost revenues due to missed licensing opportunities. Add to this the challenge posed by proposed changes in U.S. Copyright Law. If "orphan works" legislation passes as drafted, it would permit use of their images without a license in the event the owner cannot be located.
Industry wide adoption of metadata is the key to addressing these challenges. Yet today, it is underused and under-supported. What's missing is an adherence to standards and technology solutions that support metadata use and preservation.
Image creators need to commit to embedding metadata as they move rapidly to an all-digital workflow. Those at the forefront have recognized the value of metadata to better protect their intellectual property. A recent Stock Artists Alliance member survey of nearly 400 active stock photographers found that a majority currently embed metadata in their image files. 9 in 10 include a copyright notice, 8 in 10 include creator contact information, and 7 in 10 include a unique image identifier, title, caption and keywords.
Learn more about metadata standards.
SAA’s "Manifesto" blog
MetadataManifesto.blogspot.com
International Press Telecommunications Council (IPTC)
www.iptc.org
“IPTC Core” Schema Users Guide [ PDF ]
Origin of the IPTC “File Info” www.ControlledVocabulary.com/imagedatabases/iptc_naa.html
Dublin Core Schema
www.dublincore.org
Publishing Requirements for Industry Standard Metadata (PRISM)
www.prismstandard.org
Picture Licensing Universal System (PLUS)
www.useplus.org
Universal Photographic Digital Imaging Guidelines (UPDIG)
www.updig.org
Understanding when and why model and property releases need to be used for stock images is critical.
Stock Release Q+A
What's a Release?
A release is a brief contract that clearly indicates that a person or property owner has granted the photographer permission to use his or her likeness or property in an image, usually to be used for commer-cial purposes. Once signed by both parties, this document is usually legally binding and serves to prove that the proper authorizations have been granted. Privacy and publicity laws are state laws and vary among different jurisdictions.
What kinds of Releases are there?
There are two basic kinds of releases. MOdel (or Talent) Releases are needed for any recognizable people in your images, including friends and family. A variation for Minors needs to be signed by parent or guardian if the subject is under 18 years of age. The second type is a Property Release. These are needed to publish images of certain property and works protected by trademark.
What's in a Release?
Release forms should be designed with clear, everyday language that the model or property owner can understand. If you're traveling, you need to take releases in the local language. There needs to be some sort of "valuable consideration" given as compensation for the right to photograph the subject, usually in the form of a fee and/or services, which is clearly noted on the release. Also, it's important that releases clearly relinquish further claims by the model or property owner, including all claims to further payments and rights as to how the images will be used.
Do all images need to be released?
While images can generally be licensed for editorial purposes without a release, you limit your ability to market them if you do not obtain a release, since they are required for people and places that appear in photographs for commercial uses (like ads, brochures and point-of-sale). Also, keep in mind many stock image distribution outlets do not accept unreleased images. Bottom line, be aware that without obtaining releases, you greatly limit the marketing options for your images, as well as unnecessarily expose yourself to potential liability with the subject of your image if they ever object to the way it is used.
Stock Release Forms
How do I get Release forms?
Getty Images, the world's largest stock distributor, has generously posted their standard release forms to the public page of their contributor web site, making them available for all photographers to download and use.
Adult Model Releases
Minor Model Releases
Property Releases
These forms are available in 11 languages as downloadable PDFs.
US English
UK English
German
French (2 versions)
Spanish
Italian
Brazilian
Japanese
Chinese
Australian
New Zealand
Forms are posted here, along with additional information.
www.gettyimages.com/contributors
Take link to "Getty Images Model and Property Releases"
Note: These forms were developed by Getty Images for photographers and filmmakers working with the company. Individual photographers may want to customize these forms depending on your individual business requirements. THis information is posted as a service of SAA and does not constitute legal advice.
Learn more about PLUS Packs™ and SAA's Calculator
Introductory Guide to the PLUS Packs™CAlculator
This should be the first document you read if you are not already familiar with the PLUS Packs™ standard, and if you are looking for an introduction to the Calculator. Download PDF
PLUS Packs™ Quick Reference Guide
This spreadsheet provides a description of the PLUS Packs™ standard and licensing process. Download [PDF] or [Excel]
SAA offers screencasts on Key topics all photographers involved in image licensing need to understand.
Thanks to SAA's Imaging Technology Standards Chair (and metadata guru) David Riecks, SAA offers you a series of visual tutorials about the latest metadata standards.
Screencast Tutorials #1-5:
An Introduction to the IPTC "Core" Panels
This series provides a "sneak peek" at the IPTC "custom panels" – the latest revision to the IPTC's widely used metadata standards, which many photographers know as the "File Info" feature in Adobe Photoshop. They will give you some insights into how they can be used to identify your image files, record rich metadata about the subject in an image and help to protect your intellectual property.
These Apple Quicktime videos may take up to a minute to load before they start playing. Please be patient; they are large files.
You'll first need to first Download Quicktime Player if you don't already have it.
View the Screencasts now.
- Overview of the IPTC Core panels (4:31 run time, 13 MB download)
- IPTC Contact panel details (2:11 run time, 12 MB download)
- IPTC Content panel details (2:23 run time, 9 MB download)
- IPTC Image panel details (3:47 minutes run time, 11 MB download)
- IPTC Status panel details (3:51 run time, 10 MB download)
More about IPTC Metadata Standards
From the IPTC site, you can download the custom panels, as well as a full package that includes a comprehensive user guide to these panels (authored by David Riecks), example photos with embedded XMP information, the specification document, an implementation guide for developers, and a "bug fix" for the Photoshop CS pre-installed panels. ...more
More Screencast Tutorials from SAA ...
Additional Tutorials on a variety of subjects are available to SAA members only. Topics include Creating Metadata Templates with Photoshop CS/CS2, which shows how to apply them to many images at one time; and Batch Processing, which demonstrates how to organize and generate keywords so they can be "batch added" using Photoshop CS/CS2 and iView Media Pro 2.6.4.
SAA offers the following resources freely available to all.
Log in or Register
We ask you to please register in order to download any of SAA's open resource publications, reports, screencasts and software. Register now
SAA [Key]Words: Stock Essentials
This complimentary publication provides an introduction to essential stock photography business principles and practices, and offers you 50 pages of definitions, insights, resources and visual inspiration from SAA members who share their expertise about all aspects of the industry. ....more
The SAA PLUS™Packs Calculator
SAA and PLUS want to help make Rights Managed licensing quick and easy. PLUS Packs™ offer a streamlined and easily automated alternative to traditional RM licensing. The SAA PLUS Packs™Calculator is free, open source software developed by SAA automates the selection and pricing of PLUS Packs™. RM can be fast, easy and automated. ...more
SAA white paper report:
Infringements of Stock Images and Lost Revenues
This report outlines the findings of the landmark study of Internet infringements of stock images conducted by SAA and PicScout in 2006. It chronicles a high rate of misuse. Download the Report
SAA Screencast Tutorials
A series of screencasts provides an introductory tour of the current IPTC standard for embedding essential photo metadata in your images. Other tutorials are available to members only. ...more
SAA Releases Q+A
For information about Model and Property Releases, and release forms in 11 languages. ...more
The Stock Asylum
SAA members have access to a five year archive of incisive industry reporting and analysis from The Stock Asylum, a respected industry newsletter that ceased publication and donated its archives to SAA. Selected articles are available as an open resource to registered users. ...more
SAA published this investigative report to address one of the stock industry’s most serious issues – copyright infringement. Along with the new opportunities of the digital age, easy online access to millions of stock images has also made them vulnerable to theft and misuse. What is being done, and what more can we do?
SAA today announces the release of the SAA PLUS Packs Calculator. This free open-source software tool was designed to spur adoption of PLUS Packs, a new universal standard that offers an evolved form of Rights Managed licensing. SAA's Calculator streamlines the first step of the licensing process- selection of a PLUS Pack on one screen, with just a few clicks.
