Difference between Editorial and Commercial Photo

Before sending a photo to a Microstock like Shutterstock, you must define if they are Editorial or Commercial content.

When you start dealing with stock photos, you must become aware of the difference between Commercial and Editorial photography on a Microstock.

As you will see, it is essential to know the difference between them.

This information interferes directly with the Metadata you will use to define your photo. It is still related to whether the picture will succeed in the review stage.

You have a proper Metadata Format for the editorial content. The Microstock will refuse the picture if you submit specific editorial content with the format of Commercial content.

 

Editorial Content

 

A Company can’t use an image labeled for “Editorial Use Only” to promote a product or service.

People can use an editorial picture to illustrate newsworthy, current events and human interest subjects, such as arts, health, lifestyle, technology, and travel.

Editorial pictures submitted to Microstock require an editorial caption. It needs to include where, when, and why information.

Below, you can see how it suppose to be the proper editorial content format:

CITY, STATE/COUNTRY – MONTH DAY YEAR: Factual description of the image content, including who and what the image portrays and a qualifying newsworthy statement of objective fact (if necessary).

The following picture is an example of an Editorial Photo:

 

Sony A7RII Camera, FE 16-35mm F4 Sony Zeiss Lens.

 

That’s the title of this photo on Microstock:

New York City, NY, USA – December 2018 – Streets of Manhattan, people walking and crossing the street at West 58th with Fifth Avenue.

You can access this image and see how it figures on Shutterstock by clicking this photo link.

As you can see, the picture shows many people walking on the streets of New York, and it is impossible to get a model release for all of them.

There are still some brands in the picture, and it is not allowed to use them as commercial content if you don’t have their permission.

If you don’t label a picture like that as Editorial content, it won’t pass on review.

So, the picture must be submitted on Microstock as Editorial content to be accepted.

 

Commercial Content

 

On the other hand, Commercial is precisely the opposite of editorial content.

As the name suggests, people can use these photos to commercialize, sell, and promote a product, business, or service. 

Let’s say a travel agency needs some pictures to promote a day trip to a place like Yosemite National Park.

They look for a photo like the one below to attract customers who will hopefully purchase a tour package. 

 

Sony A7RII Camera, FE 24-105mm F4 Sony Lens.

 

That’s the title of this photo on Microstock:

Beautiful view of Yosemite Winter Wonderland from the Valley with snow, Mountains, and beautiful trees at Yosemite National Park, California, United States of America.

As you can see, the title of a Commercial content doesn’t have a fixed format with time and place like the Editorial content.

You can also access this image and see how it figures on Shutterstock by clicking this photo link.

Overall, I hope this information will be helpful, especially for someone looking to become a contributor photographer at Microstock.

Still, if you get interested in more information and pictures of Yosemite National Park, go to the post One day Trip to Yosemite National Park.