FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQs from Buyers
FAQs from Photographers
Technical FAQs
Buyer FAQs
How can I purchase photos from this site?
Just follow these steps:
- Click on the I Am a Buyer Tab on the Homepage
- Complete and submit the online form. Please do not fax it to us
- Browse the categories or search by Keyword, Photographer or Photo ID
-
Drag the photos you wish to purchase to Add To Cart
-
Select your method of payment. You can pay us by cheque/money order or using our exclusive authorised retailer of goods and services, 2Checkout.com, Inc.
If you haven't found the photo you are searching for, we can offer you our Request a Photo service. Simply click on the Request a Photo tab on the Homepage and fill in the necessary details. Photographers will then be able to view your request and may comply within the deadline you set. Check back to view the results of your request. If you want, we can also e-mail your request to our database of around 500 photographers.
Are the photos on your site Royalty Free?
Yes. We keep it simple.
Photolosophy's Definition of ROYALTY FREE:
- The buyer will not have to pay royalties to photographers on a use-by-use basis.
- The buyer will not know who else is using the photo.
-
The buyer should check that the photo has the appropriate releases before using the photo where a release is required.
-
The buyer will copyright the photographer as such: Copyright [Insert photographer's name] everytime the photo is used.
Can you deliver the photos I have purchased on a CD to me?
We don't offer that service yet. Would you like that? E-mail us and let us know.
How do you protect my private information?
We understand and respect your right to privacy as we do our own privacy. We do not sell or share your personal information with any other party.
Where is Photolosophy based?
Photolosophy is a 100% Emirati venture. We are based in Abu Dhabi Emirate, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Our idea was born in Abu Dhabi, saw first light in Abu Dhabi and is operated from our home in Abu Dhabi city.
Why the name Photolosophy? And what's up with your logo?
Don't you remember the last time a photo shocked you, made you smile or cry. We do. We believe the saying 'a picture is worth a thousand words' doesn't apply anymore. Local photography has progressed beyond that. Each photo carries a meaningful philosophy. A philosophy that is powerful enough to impact the way we perceive our fragile world. Hence, the play on words and our name: Photolosophy.
We wanted our logo to reflect the crucial balance between modernity and tradition, hence the modern cyan color mixed with the more traditional brown. This balance between modernity and tradition is a balance every Emirati can relate to on a daily basis.
Will registering and browsing on this site always be free?
Yes.
How can I keep track of photos I purchased in the past? I found some great photos but I have to consult my manager before purchasing them. Where can I save them?
Once you login as a Buyer, you will be granted access to the Lightbox feature. The lightbox feature acts like "My Favorites" folder. You can create unlimited lightboxes and save an unlimited number of photos in each. This feature allows you to e-mail your lightbox to others, for example, your manager.
I don't feel comfortable using my credit card online. Is there another option?
We understand you may be hesitant to use your credit card online. However, we assure you it is very safe as our exclusive authorised retailer is 2Checkout.com, Inc.
2Checkout.com, Inc. uses a Secure Socket Layer server for all online credit card processing. This means that your information is kept safe and private. We also offer the option of payment by cheque/money order. Please note that this option will result in the delay of your receipt of the link to download your purchased photos, as all payments need to be verified first.
Why are all the photos in JPEG format?
We believe JPEG is superior to GIF especially when it comes to storing full-color or gray-scale photos of 'realistic' scenes, such as scanned photographs, continuous-tone artwork and similar material. Any smooth variation in color, that may occur in highlighted or shaded areas, will be represented more faithfully and in less space by JPEG. GIF files may contain a maximum of 256 individual colors and therefore are mainly used for logos and illustrations. We require all our photographers to submit their photos in JPEG format.
Photographer FAQs
Can anyone upload their photos on this site?
Any talented UAE-based photographer, amateur or professional, is welcome to upload their photos on this site. However, we will not compromise on quality or on our conditions and we reserve the right to refuse any photos without justification.
How do I upload photos on the site?
Just follow these simple steps:
- Click on the I Am a Photographer tab on the Homepage.
- Complete and submit the online form. Please do not fax it to us.
- Click on the Activate My Account link, that appears in the e-mail sent to you.
- Upload your photos.
Are my photos safe on this site? What are you doing to protect them?
Yes. Several efforts have been made to protect your photos. This includes usage of watermarks and the disabling of the right click function.
How many photos can I upload?
There are no limits to the total number of photos you can upload. However, in one upload session, you can upload a maximum of 32 MB.
How long will it take for my registration as a photographer to be approved?
Once you submit the online registration form, you will receive a confirmation e-mail within a few minutes. Follow the instructions to activate your account. Once your account is activated, you can login to the site and upload your photos.
How long will it take for my photos to appear on the site?
We aim to have all accepted photos appear on the site within 24 hours of their submittal. If you do not see your photo within 3 days, then it has been rejected. We receive many photos on a daily basis and so it is not possible to reply to each photographer with the reason why it was rejected or approved.
How much money can I earn as a photographer?
As a photographer, you can earn money each time your photo is sold. Selling just one multiple use photo can earn you between AED 185 – AED 565.
How will I know that my photo has been sold?
Each time one of your photos is sold, you will receive notification from Photolosophy via e-mail or SMS. Then, a letter, accompanied by your cheque, will be sent to your registered mailing address. Photographers are asked to confirm to us vie e-mail once they have received their cheque.
Who owns the copyright of the photos on this site?
All rights remain the exclusive property of the photographer. The photographer reserves the right to display or sell his/her photos anywhere. No copyright or other intellectual property right shall pass to the Buyer. Once the buyer has purchased the photo, we request the buyer to credit all photos as follows: © [insert name of photographer here] everytime the photo is used.
However, in the case that a Buyer requests the exclusive rights to a photo, the photographer will be contacted and asked to sign an Exclusive Rights Agreement to no longer sell that photo anywhere else. The photo will then be removed from the sale section of our website.
- Photos that belong to someone else (copyright or otherwise). If this is discovered, we will immediately terminate your account.
- Photos in other formats such as TIF, BMP and GIF. Please convert them to JPEG before uploading them.
- Photos with clearly visible logos, brand, and entitites with copyright or trademarked elements.
- Photos with clearly visible people whom you did not obtain permission to photograph.
- Low resolution photos and small size photos. Photos that are uploaded must be of a resolution of at least 300 dpi, publishable and at least 1 MB.
-
Photos that contain offensive content to any religion or include explicit nudity, drugs or racism.
-
Photos with no description or clear title.
How do you protect my private information?
We understand and respect your right to privacy as we do our own. We do not sell or share your personal information to any other party.
Where is Photolosophy based?
Photolosophy is a 100% Emirati venture. We are based in Abu Dhabi Emirate, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Our idea was born in Abu Dhabi, saw first light in Abu Dhabi and is operated from our home in Abu Dhabi city.
Will registering and uploading on this site always be free?
Yes.
Will anyone be commenting on my photos on the site?
No.
Is my real name going to appear anywhere on the site?
When you register, you have the option of using a photographer alias/nickname or your real name. Your real name will only appear if the photographer alias you enter is your real name. The choice is yours. We will need your real name once a payment needs to be issued to you.
I have changed my mind about one of the photos I uploaded. How can I delete it?
You cannot. Please e-mail us, identify the Photo Name or Photo ID and we will be happy to grant your request. Do let us know the reason you wish to delete it.
Technical FAQs
I want to change my username and password. How can I do that?
To change your password:
- If you are a photographer, login and then edit your password in the photographer’s area.
- If you are a buyer, e-mail us and let us know.
To change your username:
-
Your e-mail address also acts as your username. If you would like to use a different e-mail address, please e-mail us and let us know.
-
If you have forgotten your password, a link is provided to you in the login page. Once you click on this link and submit your e-mail address, an e-mail will be sent to your inbox informing you of your password.
My username and password do not seem to work. Why?
This may be due to two reasons:
- You may be entering the wrong username and password. Check again please and type carefully.
- Your account has been terminated from the system by the administrator. For details, please e-mail us.
I have many photos and I want to upload them as a batch. What can I do?
In one upload session, you can upload a maximum of 32 MB or up to 15 photos. However, there are no limits to the total number of photos you may upload as a photographer. If you want to upload more than 100 photos in one session, we can upload them for you as a batch. In this case, please e-mail us. Alternatively, you can mail us a CD of photos to upload for you.
Which browsers are compatible with your site?
Our site is compatible with all standard and widely-used browsers such as Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator and Mozilla FireFox.
Does my browser need to accept cookies?
Yes, especially when you login as a buyer or a photographer. We recommend that you add ‘photolosophy.ae’ to your web browser’s white list to ensure full functionality.
Do I need to be able to make a secure connection to your site?
No. All the features of this website are available without requiring a secure connection, except online payment. For online payments, you will be redirected to 2Checkout.com, Inc. 2Checkout.com, Inc. is the exclusive authorised retailer of goods and services provided by Photolosophy.
How do I remove my name from your e-mail or SMS mailing list?
The last thing we want to do is cause you any inconvenience. When you register, you have the option of informing us that you do not wish to receive e-mail or SMS announcements from us. In addition, if you decide at any time that you would no longer like to hear from us, send us an e-mail and type Remove in the subject line. As soon as we get the word from you, we'll remove you from our mailing list.
Can I access this site via the web browser on my mobile phone?
Our website is still not optimized to be previewed on mobile phones. Is this important to you? If yes, please let us know and we will consider your suggestion for the future.
I'm having trouble uploading my photos. What's wrong?
Depending on your Internet conection speed, the upload session may take a couple of minutes to complete. Please be patient and do not close the page. If you are using a dial-up connection we suggest you to try uploading only one image at a time. Many functionalities of the website require Javascript and Cookies of your browser to be enabled. |
