> Just print the pictures and send the photog a tip via Paypal or buy something (anything) the photog is selling.

Just because the photographer has one image for sale, it does not mean he is selling (or giving you the rights to distribute/copy) another image.

Yeah, in general stuff like Getty Images is intended to license redistribution of the photo: if you plan to sell or give away hundreds of post cards, or use the photo on your website, or something else. It's pretty uncommon to license photos that you just want to print out at home for private use. To me that's more akin to saving a photo and making it your desktop wallpaper.