FAQ

Yes, all photos on Photock are free to use in any size, as long as you do not violate the prohibited actions in the Terms of Use.

Initially, I considered charging for some images. However, the pressure of trying to take photos good enough to sell took the fun out of photography and made me reluctant to go out and shoot. So I decided to make everything free and just shoot whatever I enjoy. Now I run this site simply as a way to document my travels and experiences.

Photos currently available for free will remain free. However, as the number of users grows, we may need to upgrade our servers. Ad revenue alone is becoming insufficient to cover operating costs, so sustainable funding remains a challenge. We may explore other revenue options in the future, such as selling edited photo packs or offering AI training licenses. Thank you for your understanding.

No, no account is required. You can download and use all photos without member registration, email registration, or login of any kind.

Yes, you are free to edit them. However, modifications that significantly damage the subject's image (e.g., changes that give a negative impression) are prohibited under our Terms of Use. Please refer to the Terms of Use for details.

The maximum size is 8688×5792px (original JPG). In addition, we offer three sizes — 4000×2667px (large) / 1920×1280px (medium) / 640×427px (small) — in both WebP and JPG formats, so you can choose the size that fits your purpose. Please note that the original size may vary depending on the camera used at the time of shooting and any cropping applied.

We do not explicitly prohibit it, but we kindly ask you to refrain from using our photos as training data for AI models.

Yes, no problem. You are free to use them as thumbnails or video material, as long as your use complies with our Terms of Use.

Yes, you can. You are free to incorporate the photos as part of deliverables such as advertisements, websites, or printed materials. However, delivering the photos themselves as the final product (e.g., as a photo collection titled "Photos taken in XX district") is prohibited. Also, for photos in which the subject has a rights holder, we have not obtained shooting/use permission from the owners. Therefore, when using the photos, please make your own judgment and act under your own responsibility.

Copyright belongs to the site administrator. You may use the photos within the scope of the Terms of Use, but this does not mean copyright is transferred or waived.

No. All photos are real photographs taken by the administrator. However, AI tools may be used during the retouching process to remove copyrighted elements (such as signboards or license plates) that were accidentally captured.

No, neither attribution nor usage reports are required. Crediting us is optional, but we appreciate it if you mention Photock as the source.

Yes, commercial use is allowed for both individuals and businesses. For photos featuring commercial facilities or well-known buildings, you may need separate permission from the property owner, independent of our Terms of Use. All use is at your own risk. Photock and its administrator assume no liability for any issues or damages arising from the use of photos on this site. Note that use restrictions are significantly relaxed for photos where the subject has no rights holderThis refers to photos whose subjects have no identifiable rights holder, such as landscapes where the specific location cannot be identified, flowers, wildlife, scenes without visible passersby, food, and drinks.. For details, please see the Terms of Use.

This is one of our most common questions. You are free to use our photos as long as you do not violate the prohibited actions in the Terms of Use. Past inquiries include: TV broadcasts, self-published comics (doujinshi), pachinko machines, political campaigns, design competitions, etc. For details, please see the Usage Guide.

You may freely use photos where the subject has no rights holderThis refers to photos whose subjects have no identifiable rights holder, such as landscapes where the specific location cannot be identified, flowers, wildlife, scenes without visible passersby, food, and drinks., such as natural landscapes, wild animals, food, and drinks. Please do not use photos that prominently feature famous buildings, tourist spots, vehicles, statues, or passersby.

Traced versions may be sold or redistributed, but only for photos where the subject has no rights holderThis refers to photos whose subjects have no identifiable rights holder, such as landscapes where the specific location cannot be identified, flowers, wildlife, scenes without visible passersby, food, and drinks.. Please see the Terms of Use for details. The same applies to digitally edited versions, but please do not sell photos with only minor adjustments (such as cropping or brightness correction) that are barely different from the original.

Yes, you are welcome to use our photos on social media. No credit is required. However, please do not post them as if they were photos you took yourself.

I'm based in the Kanto region, so most photos are from that area. Unfortunately, I'm unable to fulfill requests for locations far from where I live.

Absolutely, we would love that! You can refer to us as "Photock," "Photock - Free Stock Photos," or simply mention photock.jp.

Please reach out via the Contact Form and we will respond as soon as possible. Please note that due to the high volume of spam and sales emails, your message may occasionally be overlooked. If you do not receive a reply within a few days, please resend your message. Please avoid sending HTML-formatted emails, as they may be flagged as spam.