Shutterstock query

[Annie]

Hi all
I've downloaded a shutterstock image, standard licence. It seems odd to me that I don't have to credit the artist. Can that be right? Surely they need to know that their work has been used - it seems odd to me that I can use their image as my ebook cover and not inform/credit?!

What do you do?

[Owen]

We use our own photos, so I don't have a good answer, but you certainly can credit the artist if you wish, and it's a nice thing to do. I have seen books that just credit "shutterstock". These include trad-published hardbacks.

[Micah]

All my book covers have been done by people who use Shutterstock images. You absolutely do not have to give credit to the image creator.

But if you want to there's nothing stopping you.

[E.A.]

I have used a few Shutterstock images on my book covers. Two of the images indicated the photographer must be credited, the other three didn't, so they just say "Licensed from Shutterstock."

[Annie]

I've credited like this @name via Shutterstock

I figure that should cover me and give him credit - awesome photographer!