Welcome to the Cinema Still Licensing page of Tamil Pictures. Here, we provide essential information for those interested in licensing our cinema stills.
Tamil Pictures is a premier photo gallery based in Chennai, showcasing a diverse collection of cinema stills, event albums, and unique mosaic grids. Our work is inspired by the rich heritage of Tamil cinema and aims to celebrate its artistry.
For licensing inquiries, please consider the following:
- All requests for licensing must be submitted in writing.
- Specify the intended use of the images, including any commercial or editorial purposes.
- Include details about the duration and geographic scope of the license.
- Be prepared to discuss any associated fees or royalties.
We value the creative use of our images and strive to accommodate various projects while protecting the integrity of our work. Please reach out to us for any specific questions or to initiate the licensing process.
Thank you for your interest in Tamil Pictures and our cinema stills.
Understanding Rights Behind Cinema Stills
Licensing a cinema still is rarely as simple as licensing an ordinary photograph, because several layers of rights can sit on a single frame. Knowing these layers before you write to us helps you frame a clear request and avoids surprises later in your project.
Who may hold rights in a still
- The production house usually controls stills taken on set or extracted from the film, since these are tied to the copyright in the film itself.
- The photographer may retain rights in images taken at launches, audio releases, premieres and other public events, depending on their agreement with the organiser or publication.
- The people pictured can have personality or publicity interests, particularly where an actor's face is used to promote a product or service rather than to report or comment.
Because of this, a licence from a gallery covers only the rights that gallery actually holds. For some images, especially official film stills, you may also need clearance from the producer or distributor.
Editorial versus commercial use
Editorial use generally means news reporting, reviews, criticism, academic work or historical features, where the image illustrates a story. Commercial use covers advertising, merchandise, packaging, sponsored content and anything that suggests endorsement. Commercial uses almost always carry stricter conditions and often require releases from the people shown. If your project mixes both, describe each part separately in your request.
Practical tips before you apply
- Note the exact images you want, ideally by referring to the album or page where you found them in our gallery or cinema section.
- State the format: print, web, broadcast, social media or a combination.
- Mention whether you plan to crop, colour-grade, add text or combine images into a collage or mosaic, as alterations can affect what is permitted.
- Plan how credit will appear; a clear photographer and source credit is standard practice.
Images found anywhere online should never be assumed to be free to reuse. When the ownership of a frame is uncertain, it is safest to wait for written confirmation, and for significant commercial projects it is wise to ask a legal professional familiar with Indian copyright law to review the terms.
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