Cumulus Instructions

The Cumulus image library website has been updated. Users will notice obvious visual and aesthetic changes; however, much of the functionality and image order process are similar to the previous version. Here, we present instructions and notes on using and placing image orders on our new Cumulus website.

  • Only Boston University faculty and staff have access to Cumulus. Students cannot receive access to Cumulus, nor can external, non-BU groups.
  • You will be able to access Cumulus only from a computer that is on the BU network. If you are trying to access it from home or from another computer that is not on the BU network, you will not be able to log in.
  • As of July 1, 2023, you can purchase unlimited usage across print and web for your department within the University for $70/image via ISR.
  • We have permission from the photographers to use the images within Boston University materials but not materials external to the University. If you are unsure about whether your use is acceptable, please reach out to us.

Getting Started

To log in to Cumulus, please click on the following link: https://photos.bu.edu

Enter your BU login name and password (Kerberos).

Once you are logged into Cumulus, you should see a page of thumbnail images.

When you hover over a single image, you will see three icons appear below the thumbnail:

  • The first icon (eye) allows users to view the image larger as well as see more information about the image.
  • The second icon (basket) allows users to add the image to their image basket.
  • The third icon (down arrow) allows users to download a watermarked version of the image.

If you click directly on the thumbnail, the image will be made larger and more information about the image will be available.

Clicking on the “X” in the upper right-hand corner will close this window.

When viewing images this way, you can click through other images by clicking on the thumbnails arranged vertically on the left of the page. Clicking on the “X” in the upper right-hand corner will take you back to the standard thumbnail page view.

Download Low-Res Images

When you click on “LowRes Download,” a low-res, watermarked image will be downloaded to your computer.

PLEASE NOTE: Low-res watermarked images are available to clients to be placed in proofs and layouts to help clients decide which high-res image(s) they would like to purchase. Watermarked images should NEVER be used in final print, web, or other projects.

Image Order

As of July 1, 2023, the price of an image is $70.

After you add images to the basket, you will see the total number of the images in the basket to the right of “Basket” in the upper right-hand corner of the screen. To view images in your basket, just click on “Basket.”

In the upper right-hand corner, there are four buttons:

  1. LowRes Download—allows you to download low-res, watermarked downloads of all images in the basket.
  2. Empty Basket—empties all images from a basket.
  3. Print—you can create a PDF file of all images in the basket.
    • When you click on Print, a PDF will be created containing thumbnails of all images in your basket. The PDF will show up as a pop-up or in a new tab in your browser, so please check your web browser’s pop-up settings if you don’t see the PDF.
    • PLEASE NOTE: Image baskets cannot be saved on the Cumulus website. If you create a basket but log out or completely close your browser, your basket will not be saved. If you want to save a collection of images you have selected, we recommend that you use this print feature to create a PDF file of your collection of images.
  4. Order Images—click this button to order high-res versions of the images in your basket.

Once you click on “Order Images,” a window will appear with your User Login, User Name, User Email, and your school/college/department.

After you click “Submit,” the next window will contain a summary of images you are ordering. This summary will include thumbnail images as well as the cost of the image.

PLEASE NOTE: An image already paid for by your school/department will not be charged again.

In the next window, please input ISR and note whether you would like that ISR to be closed.

PLEASE NOTE: The “Close ISR” box will always default to “Yes.”

Image orders CANNOT be completed without an ISR—Please see additional PDF file with instructions on how to create an ISR.

When creating an ISR, please choose “Marketing & Communications—Photography/Multimedia” for the Provider field. DO NOT select BUMC Photography Services when making ISRs for images purchased on Cumulus.

After you input the ISR, click “Confirm” to place your order. Once an order is placed, you will see a confirmation window. Shortly after you place the order, you should expect to receive an email that contains a zip file with the images you ordered. An invoice for your order will be attached to the email as well.

Shortly after you place the order, you should expect to receive an email that contains a zip file with the images you ordered. Attached to the delivery email will be a receipt that contains a list of the ordered images and the image prices, the ISR used to order the images, and the delivery ID number.

If you do not receive a delivery email after placing the order, please contact BU Photography at buphotos@bu.edu.

Additional Notes about Cumulus

Images owned by a school/department

Cumulus users are able to see all of the images from shoots that their school or department commissioned. When a client logs into Cumulus, they should see a column on the left and at the bottom of that column, they should see “Shoot Owner.” By clicking on the little arrow to the left of “Shoot Owner,” a list of all BU clients will appear. When a user clicks on their school or department, Cumulus will sort images so that the images they see will be all of the images from shoots that they have commissioned. Note: If a Marketing Partner would like to know all the images they own (that includes images that have been purchased outside of shoots they’ve commissioned), please let BU Photography know.

When viewing the main thumbnail page of Cumulus, users will see “Options” in the upper right hand corner. If you click on “Options,” you will see login windows appear. You DO NOT need to fill in these User Name and Password fields. You are logged into Cumulus when you use your Kerberos credentials on the BU login page. Please ignore these login windows if you see them.