If you wish to use a photo from now on you will need to pay for a monthly subscription. In that case you will be charged every month, and according to the Reviews, it may be very difficult to cancel your monthly subscription. As for the photo, my understanding is you get the right to use it for the purpose(s) it was subscribed for. For example, you can use it on Postcards or on your website. If you want to use it on say billboards and bus benches, you have to have an ongoing active subscription, or you have to buy more credits and then you can use it for 30 days for those added purposes. For more information see: https://www.istockphoto.com/ca/legal/license-agreement