Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I get the latest issue of LIFE magazine?

LIFE.com is an online-only reimagining of LIFE magazine, which means you won’t find us on newsstands. All you have to do is visit LIFE.com to see our latest “issue.” LIFE also publishes premium soft and hard cover books. Although sold at bookstores and newsstands throughout the United States, you can also access LIFE Books at Amazon.

I’m looking for article X from issue Y, can you help me?

Unfortunately, we get so many requests from fans of LIFE that we couldn’t possibly answer all requests for research assistance. We suggest that you try a search of your local library’s magazine collection. In the future, we will offer full access to old issues of LIFE. Please register for our email newsletters and we will let you know when the magazine archive is ready.

Where can I buy back issues of LIFE magazine?

We don’t sell back issues of LIFE but many other websites do. Generally speaking, eBay is your best bet to find classic issues of LIFE from the 1930s through the 1970s.

I’m having a technical problem with the site (e.g, broken link, page not found). Who do I contact?

Please contact support@life.com with a description of the problem.

I have a business opportunity, partnership, or advertising question I want to discuss with LIFE.com. Who can I speak to?

Please refer to Advertise With Us or contact advertising@life.com and somebody will get back to you as soon as possible.

I’m being asked to install Flash to view something on LIFE.com. What will that give me and is it free?

You will need to install the Flash player to see “Today’s Top Photos” on the homepage and carousels on the other channel pages. It is free and takes just a moment to install. Get the Flash player now.

How can I license photos on LIFE.com?

All photos on the site have a set of tools to the right of every image. Click on the “LICENSE” button to go directly to Getty Images to license the photo.

How can I license LIFE Magazine photos I don’t see on LIFE.com?

Getty Images represents and syndicates the entire LIFE Picture Collection. In addition to the vast collection of LIFE photos available on LIFE.com and through GettyImages.com directly, Getty also has access to the complete LIFE Picture Collection and can provide deep file research for specific images you are looking for on LIFE.com.

How can I license permission to use articles from LIFE Magazine?

Submit all LIFE Magazine permission requests to copyright@life.com. Please include the following information:

1. Specific issue date and page number(s) for the article you’re interested in.
2. Full details for how the article will be used, including the rights you are seeking and full context within which it will be reproduced.
3. Specify whether you will be using the full article exactly as it appeared in LIFE, including photos, or just an excerpt.

How can I buy photos from LIFE.com for display in my home or office?

Any photo on LIFE.com displayed with the “BUY” button can be purchased as a fine-art framed photograph. These orders are fulfilled through our partner QOOP. Just click on the BUY link and then select print size and frame style, and continue with the check out process. Although LIFE.com contains photography from both the LIFE Picture Collection and Getty Images, only certain LIFE photos feature the BUY button. To find all images available for purchase, go to the LIFE Store page and begin your search there. If there is no BUY button beside the image you would like to purchase, you may use the LICENSE link to contact Getty Images and inquire about purchasing a decorative print.

My [Parents/Grandparents/Dog] appeared in LIFE the magazine. Could you show me where to find a copy?

Unfortunately we receive too many of these requests to respond to each one, but the entire LIFE magazine collection is now available at http://books.google.com/.

Why can’t I buy some images?

LIFE.com is composed of photography from both the LIFE Picture Collection and Getty Images. Only the LIFE Picture Collection images are currently available for purchase as framed fine-art photographs through LIFE.com. If there is no BUY button, you may use the LICENSE link to contact Getty Images and inquire about purchasing a decorative print from them.

Can I use photos from LIFE.com in personal projects?

As per our terms and conditions images are for personal non-commercial use only. No public distribution or republication is allowed. While copy/paste is disabled on the site, all photos on the site have a set of tools to the right of every image allowing users to email, share, rate, print, link to, and license. If you’d like to incorporate photos into teaching materials, books, or any other commercial venture, you will need to contact Getty Images for license permissions. Every image on LIFE.com includes a “LICENSE” link to license images directly from Getty Images.

How can I use photos from LIFE.com in my school projects?

All photos on the site come with tools to the right of the image that allow users to email, share, rate, print, link to, and license. While copy/paste is disabled on the site, students are free to use the site as a reference and educational tool.

Where can I buy LIFE Books?

LIFE publishes premium soft and hard cover books. You can buy them at bookstores and newsstands throughout the United States and you can also find them on Amazon.

I’m looking for a photo. How do I find it?

Enter your keyword(s) in the search field at the top right of the page and click search. If you aren’t getting the desired results, try using broader keywords and/or filters on the search results page to refine your search. Along the left margin of the search results page you will see four filters that can help you refine your search.

• By Date - filter your search result by date. In addition to filtering your search by today, last week, last month, or last year; you can also click “edit” and slide arrows along a timeline further to refine your search results within a specific year range.
• By Person Pictured - filter by personality included within your search result.
• By Location - filter your search results by location.
• Search Types - filter your search result to just galleries, photos, or only photos available for purchase.

What happened to Sudoku?

Though well-loved by the LIFE staff, Sudoku didn’t fit into the redesign of LIFE.com, but click around the site to try out our new games like “Real or Fake.” We may develop a photo version of Sudoko in the future. Stay tuned.

What happened to Picture Puzzle?

We are developing a new and improved picture puzzle game that will be released in 2011. Please register for our email newsletters and we will let you know when it’s ready. In the meantime, check out our collection of Picture Puzzle books at Amazon.

How do I unsubscribe from your newsletter(s)?

Go to our http://www.life.com/service/newsletterunsubscribe page, fill in your email address, then click "Unsubscribe." We will remove your email from our list as soon as possible.

I’m having a technical problem with the iPhone app (LIFE Mobile). Who do I contact?

Please contact support@life.com with a description of the problem.

What is the myLIFE Toolbar?

The myLIFE Toolbar allows you to share, search, sort, and get personalized recommendations all from one place. To get started, go to the bottom of any page and look for the myLIFE Toolbar in the lower right of your browser.

I notice that Facebook is integrated into some areas of LIFE.com, such as the myLIFE Toolbar and the Commenting section below the photo galleries. What does this mean for my privacy?

Our site contains links to and uses services from other sites, such as Facebook, whose information practices may be different than ours. You should consult the other sites' privacy notices, as we have no control over information that is submitted to, or collected by, these third parties.
Read Our Privacy Policy
Read Facebook's Privacy Policy

What are your posting and commenting rules?

Our message boards are moderated by LIFE.com editors. When you post a comment, you agree not to upload, post, transmit, distribute or otherwise publish any materials which:

• restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the website or the website's services
• are fraudulent, unlawful, threatening, abusive, harassing, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, offensive, pornographic, profane, sexually explicit or indecent
• constitute or encourage conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law
• violate, plagiarize or infringe the rights of third parties including, without limitation, copyright, trademark, trade secret, confidentiality, contract, patent, rights of privacy or publicity or any other proprietary right
• contain a virus, spyware, or other harmful component
• contain embedded links, advertising, chain letters or pyramid schemes of any kind
• constitute or contain false or misleading indications of origin, endorsement or statements of fact

You further agree not to impersonate any other person or entity, whether actual or fictitious, including anyone from LIFE.com. You also may not offer to buy or sell any product or service on or through your comments submitted to our forums. You alone are responsible for the content and consequences of any of your activities.

Why should I login to LIFE?

When you login to LIFE via Facebook, Twitter, Google, or Yahoo, you can share photos, create timelines, post comments, and more. Click on the myLIFE Toolbar in the lower-right corner of your browser to get started.

I’m having a technical problem with the iPad app (LIFE Wallpapers or LIFE Books). Who do I contact?

Please contact support@life.com with a description of the problem.

What is a Timeline?

Our galleries present photos related to a specific topic — but a LIFE.com Timeline puts those pictures in a chronological order, to tell a story from beginning to end. See a historical event unfold, trace the trajectory of a Hollywood star, study the play-by-play from a championship game... With Timelines, you can do all of that and so much more.

Note: Timeline Builder is optimized for high-resolution monitors and large displays.

Why create a Timeline?

Building a Timeline allows you to tell a story your way — you have the power to pick the details and images that are most meaningful to you. With Timelines, you can share your knowledge and passion about a particular topic, whether it's World War II or Elvis Presley, with other LIFE fans. Plus, Timelines are a great tool for organizing and narrating your own personal photos, from your birthday party or your wedding or your family reunion -- all at a private URL you can share with only those people you'd like to see it.