Photocase is an image agency for progressive, authentic and creative stock photography. The meticulously selected portfolio offers a refreshing alternative to conventional stock photography. For Photocase it is important to deal fairly with the entire ecosystem of the stock agency, with colleagues, customers and artists. This is not a marketing gimmick, but our conviction.

For orientation: On the page "About Photocase" general information about Photocase, can be found, about our values and our principle of offering strictly curated stock photos at fair prices. Further information on costs is being detailed on the "Prices" page.

And here are the "Images".

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Just click here and enter the e-mail address that was registered with Photocase. You will then receive an e-mail with a reset link.

Don't panic! You can use your e-mail address instead.

For questions about image usage, licences and prices, you best reach out to us using the chat tool located in the bottom right corner of the screen, by e-mail to [email protected]  or by phone +49 30 55572455.

Questions regarding image reviews and other artistic aspects via chat or mail please.

You came out at the wrong end of the right place. On the page "Information for Artists" you can find information on how to upload and sell pictures at Photocase. In addition, you can find out what motifs are being searched for, what technical and legal requirements the photos must meet and what can be earned at Photocase. There is also a separate artists FAQ.

Most people search with keywords by describing the desired motif with one or two keywords. If necessary, the search results can be further refined by using filters or the professional search. For example, filters can be used to display only those images that depict people or those photos that are approved for sensitive topics such as religion, politics, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Alternatively and a true source of inspiration is the image search via "Galleries", presenting the best photos on popular and current topics.

The name lightbox is derived from the light tables used in the past to view slides in editorial offices. Interesting photos can be collected in a lightbox before the final selection is made. To do this, simply click on the pin symbol that appears under each image.

Lightboxes are the appropriate tool to make a professional image selection. With the help of a lightbox, a selection of photos on a specific topic or project can be compiled, organised and edited together with collaborators or shared in social media. You can always access your lightboxes by clicking the file icon in the header navigation.

Filters are useful if you are looking for a specific result, i.e you might be searching for an image in horizontal orientation depicting a female in her 50ies. Simply run a normal search for the core search term, in this case it would be "woman" or "female". On the search result page you then pull out the filters by clicking on the filter symbol left of the search bar. The rest is pretty self explanatory: activate the desired filters and only those images will be displayed, that suit these settings. These filters are available:

- People
- Gender
- Count
- Age
- Location
- Image format
- Color
- Composition
- Copyspace
- Extras
- Sensitive Use

The filter for sensitive topics is particularly interesting if you search an image for purposes such as religion, politics, medicine, pharmacy, addiction, disease, death, sex, or crime.

The use of images for sensitive topics such as religion or politics is excluded by most image agencies. However, Photocase has made arrangements with the artists, so that a large part of the collection actually can be used for these controversial but important themes.

The use in connection with sensitive topics is always possible, provided that the consent of the artist has been obtained. The existence of this consent can be viewed in the image information on the product detail page. Simply call up the desired image and scroll down in the tab "Information" to the sensitive topics. Furthermore, these sensitive topics can already be filtered during an image search, so that only images for which a sensitive topic has been approved are displayed.

Sensitive topics are:
- Religion
- Politics
- Medicine & Pharmacy
- Addiction, Disease & Death
- Sex
- Crime

The matching photo was found. Now simply select the desired image size, move it to the shopping cart and proceed to the checkout. Please choose a method of payment and download the photo directly after you have paid for it. On the Downloads page you can view and manage all purchased images and download them again if required.

The corresponding invoice will be sent immediately by e-mail to the address provided during registration. On the Invoices page you can also view and download the invoices later.

We recommend the discounted Credit bundles to price-conscious customers and companies and organisations with regular or large image requirements.

The price of an image depends on the size of the photo and any extended licenses that might be required. More information can be found on the "Prices" page.

The Photocase basic licence is a usage licence that allows the customer to use an image. The basic licence is acquired with every image purchase from Photocase. The exact conditions are defined in the licence agreement. With the basic licence, photos can be used for print products, for the web, for advertising and promotion. The basic licence covers - almost - all normal uses. Only those who want to print more than 500 thousand copies, sell merchandise or publish without naming the artist, need an extended licence.

At Photocase you can pay by credit card (Visa and Mastercard) or with Paypal. In both cases, you will receive a proper invoice with VAT (if applicable).

An extended licence can be purchased in addition to the basic licence allowing types of use not covered by the basic licence. These are:

Use without image credits
Enables the use of the image without the otherwise necessary proof of copyright (photographer name / photocase). This is practical if you do not want to disturb the design with copyright information or if you do not want to reveal the source of the picture to the competition. This extended licence also makes sense if a file is stored in the company network and you cannot ensure that it is always used correctly by your colleagues (or successors).

Use for high print runs
Allows the image to be used in total print runs of more than 500,000 copies. So if you are planning a bestseller, this is the right licence. But it is also well suited if you are licensing a file for a client and want to make sure that the maximum quantity is not exceeded.

Use for merchandise and templates
Enables the use of the image in templates and as merchandise items for resale such as posters, mugs or t-shirts. Not required for promo articles that are distributed free of charge.

The cost of the extended licenses is displayed on the page Prices and further details on the conditions are found in the licence agreement.

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Images can be purchased directly or indirectly using Credits.

When buying directly, the desired photos are placed in the shopping cart and then paid for at the checkout. Payment can be made by credit card (Visa and Mastercard) or by Paypal.

When purchasing with Credits you first buy a Credit bundle. Credits are the Photocase currency and have two big advantages compared to direct purchase: the images become cheaper and you don't have to enter your payment data all the time, but simply download photos until the Credit bundle is used up. Credits come in bundles and the bigger the package the cheaper the images become. And by the way: Credits do not expire at the end of the year, but remain valid for three years - enough time to use up even the largest package. View Credit prices.

When purchasing Credits, payment is also made by credit card (Visa and Mastercard) or by Paypal.

We are flexible and offer collective invoicing and just-in-time publishing if required and given the appropriate volume.

Credits are the Photocase currency and the first choice if you meet one of these two conditions:

I am stingy. Perfect! Even the smallest bundle of 25 Credits comes with a 20% discount. Depending on the size of the selected Credit package you get up to 50% discount.

I am lazy. Nailed! With a Credit bundle you don't have to enter your payment data all the time, instead you keep downloading pretty pictures until the package is used up.

But you don't have to be lazy or stingy to prefer Credits, being smart and efficient is enough.

Unlike many other providers, Photocase Credits do not expire at the end of the year, but remain valid for three years - enough time to use up even the largest Credit bundle.

View Credit Prices.

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Once a photo has been purchased, it is downloaded and saved immediately. Immediately after payment a window opens with the download options.

All purchases can be viewed and managed in the member area under Downloads. In the download overview it is also possible to upgrade to a larger basic licence or to an extended licence, to transfer licences and to download photos again free of charge.

After each purchase of an image or of a credit bundle you will automatically receive the invoice with the VAT in PDF format via e-mail. In addition, the purchase receipts can be viewed and downloaded at any time under "Invoices".

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Well, that depends on what you are intending to do with the image. Images come in all sizes and directions so it is difficult to give a global answer. Exact information about the size of the image can be found on the product detail page of each image under the selected image size. The photos come in 3 sizes:‍

S - Web Size
Suitable for electronic media from thumbnail to hero shot
0.8 Megapixel, 72 dpi

‍M - Print Size
Perfect for the design of print media up to approx. A4
4 Megapixel, 300 dpi

‍L - Full Size
The right choice for large prints or to stay flexible
Max. resolution, 300 dpi

In case you get it wrong you can always upgrade to a bigger size just paying the difference. More information about upgrades.

Yes, you can buy additional sizes and extended licenses for photos you have already purchased as upgrade. Best of all, you only pay the difference. This function can be found on the Downloads page by clicking on the arrow behind the "Download" button on the respective photo and then selecting "Upgrade Size or Extended Licences".

Photocase has been around for many years and in the early Noughties cameras did not have such high resolutions. These images only qualify for size "M". We are sorry, but neither the photographer nor we have the image available in a larger size. So we can't send the apprentice down into the image storage to look for a bigger one.

Most of the photos can be "pulled up" without too much loss of quality. Especially for larger print applications a resolution of 300 dpi is not needed because you don't get as close to a trade fair banner as you do to a magazine. Otherwise, you might want to find an alternative image deploying the filter setting, that just shows those photos available in L.

This is a very global question. The corresponding answer is: actually none, but the following uses are not permitted:
- Extreme content and positions. These include in particular uses in connection with insulting, defamatory, racist, sexist, violence glorifying, pornographic or otherwise illegal content.
- If a person depicted in the photo is given a certain identity or a statement or literal speech is attributed to them (quotations, testimonials, etc.), the photographer's prior consent is also required.

Then there are restrictions on the basic licence, but these can be removed by purchasing an extra licence, namely
- Omission of the copyright notice
- Elimination of the print run limitation
- Sale of Merchandise

More information about extended licenses.

The use of photos to illustrate sensitive topics is generally possible, provided that the consent of the artist has been obtained. The existence of this consent can be checked in the image information. Simply call up the desired image and scroll down in the tab "Information" on the sensitive topics. Furthermore, these sensitive topics can already be filtered during the image search, so that only images for which a sensitive topic has been approved are displayed. Sensitive topics are:
- Religion
- Policy
- Medicine & Pharmacy
- Addiction, Disease & Death
- Sex
- Crime

Further information on sensitive topics.

Yes, the copyright proof is necessary and should contain the name of the artist and Photocase in this format: "Artist Name / Photocase". This information can be found on the detail page of the respective image in the tab "Information" or after purchase on the page Downloads. The copyright information should be provided in or next to the image, in the imprint or in dedicated images credits, but then with an indication of where the photo is used. Example: "Photo Homepage - Artist Name / Photocase".

This may be inconvenient, still it is not our crazy idea, but is based on German copyright law. If you don't want to provide proof of copyright, you can buy the extended licence for use without proof of copyright in addition to the basic licence.

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Yes, purchased photos can be used on social media sites at no extra cost, but please remember to include the image credits.

No and yes. It is not allowed to pass on the original image file, but it is possible to buy images on behalf of a customer or to transfer the licence. If you buy a photo, the rights of use only apply to the person or organisation registered in the Photocase account. You can also transfer the rights of use to other persons or organisations, to customers or clients, so that they can use the photos for their own purposes. This is only possible, however, if the picture has not yet been or is not to be used for other projects or clients.

It must be said though, that buying on behalf of a customer is rather the exception. If a graphic designer or a marketer uses a photo for a customer, usually texts and design elements are applied. The image is coloured, changed or perhaps not used completely, but only a section of it. The result is an own work or a derivative, e.g. a website or a flyer, and the customer only receives the rights of use for this work, but not for the original picture. A licence transfer is therefore not necessary at all. Advantage: the image can be used further and the customer must come back to get other iterations of this image.

The transfer of the rights of use is always useful if you buy images for "strong" customers or if this is their explicit wish. This would typically be a large international client who works with other agencies and in other territories too and who might also need the image for their social media agency.

The function for transferring rights of use can be found on the Downloads page. Here please click on the arrow behind the download button on the respective photo and select "Change licensee".

Please note that after the licence transfer, the photo itself cannot be used any further by you. Please also inform the customer about the rights of use within the framework of the licence agreement.

Yes, once purchased, photos can be used for any number of different projects and/or customers. For example, the same image can be used on a customer's website, in a self-presentation and in the brochure of another customer. However, the total print run of 500 thousand copies must be adhered to.

Yes. Once purchased, photos can be used for any number of different media channels (e.g. web, print, advertising, press or social media). There is only a maximum print run that must be adhered to.

Yes. Purchased photos can be used by several people at the same time. A multi-user license or similar is not required. It is important that all persons with access to the photos are informed about the rights of use within the scope of the Photocase license agreement. This concerns above all the copyright identification and the maximum print run, which are often overlooked by colleagues, collaborators or successors. It is therefore advisable to meticulously mark them or to acquire the corresponding extended licenses.

Yes, purchased photos can be stored in internal image archives or content management systems. It is important that there is no public access to this database and that all persons with access to the photos are informed about the rights of use under the Photocase license conditions. This concerns above all the copyright labelling and the maximum print run, which are often overlooked by colleagues, collaborators or successors. It is therefore advisable to meticulously mark them or to acquire the corresponding extra licences.

Yes. With Photocase there are no restrictions regarding the place of use. Images can be used worldwide. Only for extraterrestrial applications the regulations of the United Federation of Planets and the Starfleet apply. Please contact us for further information about extraterrestrial use.

No. Once purchased photos can be used for an unlimited time.

All pictures depicting people are model-released and can be used for commercial as well as non-commercial purposes.

If photos of people are to be shown in a sensitive context, i.e. religion, politics, medicine & pharmaceuticals, addiction, illness & death, sex or crime, the photographers consent is required. The existence of this consent can be seen in the image information. Simply call up the desired image and scroll down in the tab "Information" to the sensitive topics. Furthermore, these sensitive topics can be filtered during the image search already, so that only those images are displayed for which this sensitive topic has been approved.