Brand Standards: Photography

USU Photo Library

Utah State University's digital asset management system, the USU Photo Library on PhotoShelter, provides the best curated images available to represent the university. This growing library is available to students, faculty, staff, and media outlets for non-commercial use.

Below, you'll find more detailed information about photo use, our approach to keywording, a keyword guide, and a tutorial video for PhotoShelter to help you find the right photos.

Use caution with photos that don't have a model release. Be especially careful with any content that might feature minors or will be used in any way that could imply something concerning.
Explore the USU Photo Library

Marketing Use

For marketing use within Utah State University organizations and departments, use images with the Model Release keyword. For high-profile and more permanent uses, such as a billboard or a magazine cover, reach out to the University Marketing and Communications (UMAC) marketing team. We make an effort to contact the model in the image and make them aware of the use.

Don't misrepresent the people in photos. For example, don't use a student to highlight mental health issues, show them representing a college or department they aren't enrolled in, or imply they're promoting something they aren't aware of or don't actually support.

Third-Party and Commercial Use

Images in the USU Photo Library are not for third-party or commercial use without permission from UMAC and Trademark Licensing.

Editorial use is allowed with attribution. Editorial use means using images or content to illustrate or accompany journalistic content, typically for news, commentary, or educational purposes. It's distinct from commercial use, which is aimed at advertising or promoting products, services, or brands.

Website Use

Whenever possible, use images that include a model release, especially when a clearly identifiable person is the main subject. For instance, a wide shot of a large crowd at a game, where no one person is the focus, typically doesn't require a model release. However, if the image highlights a specific fan, a model release is recommended.

For websites focused on recruitment or other commercial purposes, always use images with a model release.

When images are used for informational or editorial purposes, a model release is preferred but not required. Images used for news coverage don't require a model release.

Search Tips

Keywords let you find the right images without knowing which gallery they're saved in. They also let you find similar images across multiple galleries.

PhotoShelter now includes AI visual search, so you can search for things that aren't tagged. USU-specific terms won't give good results, but general objects such as phone, computer, book, mountain, or water work well.

Build your search step by step:

1

Exclude a Keyword

Put a minus sign before a keyword to leave out photos with that keyword. This search shows all student life photos except commencement:

Student Life -Commencement

 
2

Add a Location

Want only images from Logan? Add the location keyword Logan:

Student Life -Commencement Logan

 
3

Add Model Release for Advertising

If the photo is for advertising, a model release is important. Add the keyword Model Release:

Student Life -Commencement Logan Model Release

Keyword Guide

The tags below are a sample, not a complete list. They show how keywords in the USU Photo Library are organized, so you can combine them to build your own searches.

Model Release

MODEL RELEASE marks images of students who have agreed to their use for marketing purposes. If you're running paid ads, use this tag to find appropriate images. For any major spotlight, also reach out to the marketing manager tagged in the image so they can make the student aware.

Location

Campus: LOGAN BRIGHAM CITY PRICE KAYSVILLE UINTAH BASIN and others

ON CAMPUS or OFF CAMPUS

INDOOR or OUTDOOR

Buildings: OLD MAIN SPEC - DEE GLEN SMITH SPECTRUM HH - HUNTSMAN HALL

Location type: CLASSROOM DORM LAB Lab is any learning environment that is hands-on.

Image Type

Profession or employer: NURSE LAWYER EDUCATOR WELDER

CAMPUS SCENERY Imagery that shows off the campus and isn't focused on an individual.

LOCAL SCENERY Scenic imagery of the surrounding areas (off campus).

STUDENT LIFE A glimpse into what a student experiences in college.

EVENT Events organized by USU.

STOCK Images without a student, building, or location featured, such as books, leaves, or lab equipment.

TRADEMARK Items that show USU logos or branded items.

College Connection

College, department, or office represented in the image: HSB - HUNTSMAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMISSIONS REC - CAMPUS RECREATION

General study: SCIENCE ENGINEER EDUCATION

Athletics: FOOTBALL BASKETBALL TENNIS Add WOMEN'S or MEN'S

Time

Season: SPRING - SUMMER FALL WINTER Summer is combined with spring in one tag.

Time of day: NIGHT is the only time tag. Day is assumed when a photo isn't tagged night.

Activity

Use the -ing form of the word: RUNNING HIKING STUDYING ADVISING

Event

In addition to the Event tag, we tag specific names for popular events: HOWL COMMENCEMENT TRUE AGGIE NIGHT HOMECOMING

Others

We try to tag items we feel might be valuable, but use AI visual search to help with anything else. For example: FLAG COMPUTER PHONE