Does anyone know the easiest and cheapest way to be able to use AP pictures? Do you need to general license to use AP pics or do you have to get permission for each picture you want to use? I find many good AP pictures on the web, and want to use some of them on my site.
(Answer assumes US law.) Are you referring to the Associated Press or Anonymous Photographer? If you are referring to the Associated Press, an image that is in an AP article is not always an AP image. The best thing to do is to check here: www . ap . org/pages/product/photoservices.html They also will have the guidelines for use. If you are referring to Anonymous Photographer images, then you still need permission from the holder of the copyright. If the photographer still holds the copyright (meaning he/she has not sold it) you will probably have a very difficult time figuring out who holds the copyright. So you may as well forget it if you intend to stay legal.
You cannot use AP (Associated Press) content without a subscription to their services. They are a syndicated news service and they charge for providing that service. And They DO NOT PLAY. I don't know what they charge, I am sure the info is on their site, but I inquired about using a Washington Post article a while back, and the charge was $250 to reprint one article on my blog.
It's not going to be cheap like $10 a picture that's for sure. If cheap is in your vocabulary, stay away from professional organizations like the AP. They service the real media, not small blog owners. And their prices reflect that.