By request from clients, a picture researcher locates and obtains permission to use images. Finding images for textbooks, newspaper and magazine articles, film and television production, and a variety of other settings are all examples of this work. Picture researchers must be good at research and have a keen eye for compelling, useful, and interesting images. They may work as freelancers, publishing company employees, or stock house employees, where image and rights databases are available for use.
In addition to creating images such as charts and graphs, the picture researcher may also write captions. People who work in online media can also be in charge of creating alt tags and meta tags for images to make them more accessible and to add value and content to the final product. This necessitates an understanding of how online image display works in order for people to add relevant and useful information to the images they provide to their clients.
A picture researcher’s job begins when a client approaches with a project in mind; for example, a textbook publisher may require a complete set of illustrations for a textbook, which may include chapter headings, visual demonstrations of concepts, charts, cover art, and so on. The picture researcher meets with the client to determine the desired look and feel of the requested images, as well as to gather information on the budget. The researcher then goes to work with those details in hand.
Picture researchers comb through image databases for what they’re looking for, then acquire high-resolution versions of the images so the client can use them in a project. Collecting information about rights is also a part of the job. The image could be open source, meaning no permissions are required, or it could be freely available as long as credit is given to the creator. Other images require the picture researcher to license or purchase the rights, depending on the nature of the project, in order for the image to be legal to use.
A picture researcher might be a member of a professional association. This can provide a variety of benefits, such as access to exclusive databases, continuing education, and listings, making it easier for clients to find researchers in their area or researchers who specialize in a particular subject matter. Establishing connections with people who have access to sources, as well as keeping detailed records, is essential. A good picture researcher has an encyclopedic knowledge of information and can begin thinking about sources and avenues of investigation almost as soon as the client begins talking about what he wants.