Tag Archives: photographer

Stop! Don’t steal those photos!

27 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by in Business, How to, Informational

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A photographer works hard and creates beautiful photos of a family. The mom is so thrilled with the photographer’s work, that she scans some of her prints and shares them on Facebook with her friends and family. The photographer is stuck, not wanting to alienate a valuable client by asking for photos to be removed, but also seeing a poor version of her work posted online.

She sends the mom a message asking that the photographs be removed from Photographic Copyright and Yousocial media, as gently as possible saying that the package the family purchased did not include social media. The mom is angry and indignant. She paid for those photographs; she should get to post them anywhere she wants.

Some version of this has happened to many of us, or to someone we know. Your photographer took beautiful photos that captured the spirit of your family. You want to share her work with everyone, so you scan one and post it on Facebook. You don’t know that you’ve broken the law and stolen from her.

The visual internet is so powerful that most people repost or share without even thinking about ownership. When we have photos with our family in them, we think that we own the photos, not the photographer. It is only natural to want to share them with everyone!

Photographers own the copyright to the photos they take. This means that no matter who is in the photos, they own the right to reproduce them and reproduction includes all forms of social media. When they sell you prints they are not necessarily selling you the right to reprint and post those photos anywhere you want. If you did not purchase that right and you repost the photo, you are stealing from your photographer, just the same as if you stole a candy bar from a store.

Photographic copyright in the United States has been protected since the Copyright Act of 1976. It’s clear that photographers own their images from the moment of creation. Educating the public on photo copyright is an ongoing issue for those of us who make our living this way. We depend on reprints as a source of income: to pay our bills and feed our families.

So, you want to share your photos, but you do not want to steal, what can you do? Talk to your photographer! Many already have packages that include permission to post your images on social media if you leave the photographer’s logo or other copyright information. Before you take a quick photo with your iPhone and post an image on Instagram, ask; before you share something on Facebook, send your photographer an email and secure permission.

Photographers want their images to be seen and loved. Let’s work together to find a way to do that legally!

If you’d like to learn more about photographers and copyright, check out the sources below.

Sources:

Understanding Photographic Copyright, Professional Photographers of America

Copyright Guide for Photographers, American Society of Media Photographers.

Why should I use a professional or “boutique” photography studio?

29 Wednesday Jan 2014

Posted by in Informational

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“AAAAAH…. Mommy Susie hit me!”Portland photographer

“Did not!”

“Did to!”

“She started it”

Now picture yourself with your two children in a crowded cubicle waiting for what you where hoping for would be a “serene” photograph you could hang on your wall.

It could still happen… except wait, you now have a head ache, your shoulders are tight and you can’t wait to get the kids back to the car but know that if you leave now you will miss your 15 minute photo session with the 16 year old photographer who is at this minute wrestling with a 1 year old in the camera room.

This scenario is one of many my clients share with me when they come for their session at Visual Impressions Photography. I understand that boutique photography is not for everyone and that the price-point many of these chain stores hit appeals to many.

The main difference between what our clients can expect to find with us vs. the chain photographer is the experience.

When you come in for your personal consultation we will determine what kind of photography you are looking for. Whether you want all Black & White images, something funky and colorful or even something traditional, this consultation is going to uncover exactly what your hopes are for your photographs.

The experience you will receive at a boutique studio include:

  • A private portrait session in a quiet studio where you and your children are the focus.
  • No lines – You will find that you won’t have to wait; there are no other distractions and the photographer has everything setup for your session because they know what it is you want. Before you realize it, the session is over and the kids don’t want to leave.
  • Our photographers are prepared for unexpected situations and will provide support to overcome them.
  • Many photographs and poses to choose from
  • Backgrounds created to fit your session and a vast supply of props.

Many parents don’t know what to expect when they go in for a photography session, or realize what they are hoping for as a result. Most can agree though that spending money and time on portraits that don’t meet expectations is frustrating and often times why they postpone additional portraits of the family. I can’t tell you how many people I talk with who had photographs taken of their children at age five and then realized that their children were 15 and 18 and hadn’t had a family portrait for 10 years.

I hope this look into the world of Boutique Photography will mean you don’t let 10 years pass between those family portraits.