Thank you very much for your comments. I'm glad to see we're all pretty much on the same page with regards our concerns and present understanding.

So just to clarify...for example I personally need images for a particular client website. Not necessarily for inclusion in a template which I will serve to multiple clients (re-using again and again). So the image I purchase would be on a single website, not many. If I wanted it on more than 1, then I would purchase it more than once. In that case is the standard iStockPhoto license ok? (from what you said blacknight, it believe it is, but if you could just confirm I would appreciate it). Also for example I may want to crop or resize an image, or is this generally not permitted.

Or must we engage in a process of
1) brainstorm appropriate search terms for image
2) locate appropriate candidate image
3) review individual license for image
4) if license is not appropriate (return to step 2, otherwise purchase)

What do you think?