 Carolyn Withem |
Placing the Photographer's name on Photo's Hi everyone. I did a shoot. I retouched and beautified the photo's. I put them on a cd for clients to view. They chose. I then decided to put my name on final photo's in a way that was not tacky or pronounced to take away from the photo. Clients weren't happy. So, I won't put my name on photo's, but for the future clients I get how or what do I do? I don't want it to be so easy for them to take to the nearest lab to have produced.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Permanent mark on the back?
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Todd Bennett |
Carolyn, "I don't want it to be so easy for them to take to the nearest lab to have produced." That's probably why they were mad. You screwed up their plans to have them copied and send several out to friends and family.
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Carolyn Withem |
Thanks guys, The stamp idea is good.
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Shirley Fairley |
There is nothing you can do about them going to the nearest lab and copying them. These are some things that I do to deter that though... I charge one price for the first print and a much lower price for additional prints of the same image. I also put it my price list that the images are my property bla, bla, bla. Mention intellectual property. I went to my local labs and gave them all a business card and asked them not to print any of images without my consent. Who knows if that makes any difference but it can't hurt. You can only protect yourself so much and then you have to accept that there are dishonest people out there... You need to protect your proofs too. A stamp on the back reminds them (and whoever is looking at them) what a great job you did, and should help with other labs reprinting them too. Hope that helps. Shirley
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Craig m. Zacarelli |
charge enough for the session and first batch of prints and forget about them making copies.. anyone with a scanner and PS will do it anyway... its just a fact of life that you prolly are spending too much time worrying about.. dont wanna lose years off your life like that.. do you? lol it sucks but it happens!
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Carolyn Withem |
Thank you Shirley, and Craig. I agree that I don't want to be one of those who worry about such matters. But through everyones advise and doing research last night on the subject I have learned a few tricks. Thank you everyone again. Your all great.
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Kathy Radford |
I have been putting my name on all my work that I sell on the photos either the right or left bottom corner. If they don't like it they don't have to buy it. Why not get the credit for your work. You deserve it. Kathy in NH
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Carolyn Withem |
Because I guess I'm a people pleaser. I am in this because I love taking photo's and making people happy. Why ruin it over having my name on the front of the photo. I am a wonderful photographer, but I am just starting out in the business aspect of it and I don't want to lose what business I do get because of my ego. I am in the process right now of seeing if I can print my name on the back of the photo which will do just fine. That will do if they try to take it to a lab. On the other hand, there is no way that I can stop a person from scanning it and making their own and so on. It is just the way of life. When I become well known I will be by then have grown as well in the business sense of it all. When I first asked my question I was all egotistical about the whole situation. I felt that by having my name on the front would prove I am a Professional photographer. It also scared me to death to think that anyone could take my photo's and reprint them without my knowledge and I would be out the money that I felt I deserved. Since I have done research and have gotten some very helpful suggestions from BP members I have calmed down tremendously and realize its not about putting my name on the front. Its about the business aspect of it and the professional way I approach these situations that arise. I thank BP very much for the support and advise and Hope they will be there for me in the future. Have a wonderful day :)
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Craig m. Zacarelli |
well theres nothing wrong with it... its just that most folks dont like it for some reason or another... but... it is good to do if you post on the web... I guess its all up to you the photog... if you want it there or not.
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lesliemorrisphotography.com - Leslie J. Morris Contact Leslie J. Morris Leslie J. Morris's Gallery |
This is intersting. I had some pictures done a while ago of me and my kids and the photographer had their name on the corner. I did not like it there, not because I wanted to copy it, but because I felt it distracted from the picture itself. So I matted over it. Now as a photographer myself, I have the lab print my name on the back and I also stamp it with a copyright notice in black on the back. As mentioned here as well, with scanners and photoshop one can get rid of anything on the photo. Had an interesting experience about three years ago. I took photos of my daughter in her dance outfit on our fireplace with a makeshift backdrop using an old blue table cloth. Took the disc to Walgreens to print out and they refused saying the photos looked professional and must be copywritten.....I yelled and screamed that I took the photos but they still refused to print them for me. Go figure! Nowadays, they just make you sign a form professing that you are the copyright holder of the photo. What interesting legal territory that the proliferation of digital photography has brought us into. Happy Shooting! Leslie
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Carolyn Withem |
Hi leslie, My client was ecstatic with the photo's. Which in turn made me even more pleased. She was concerned that the issue of the name on the front would interfere with our relationship. I had printed my logo on the back of each photo, and was happy as well. It's too difficult in this day and age for the average human being to get "professional" pictures of their family done without running into the issues of money. You can go to "professional" places and have several photo's taken only to be allowed a few to chose from and then the issue of what you get for the extrordinary amount of money you have to pay for 2 or 3 poses only. I have been in their shoes and know what it feels like. I have always taken pictures. But I never thought about what kind of pictures I was taking until my daughter came home from school with her school pictures from "professionals" only to realize that I can do a better job for a lot cheaper. So I started from then on taking my own kids' school photo's and giving them to my family and my husbands family. My in-laws loved the pictures just as much because they had a spirit to them, something I caught that I know you wouldn't get from the school photo's. Anyway, I've rambled enough. As far as the legal territory for photographers, yes, it is vague.
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Kathy Radford |
In response to Leslie's post about Walgreens not printing her photo because it looked professional. That's a nice compliment of the quality of your work even thought it was upsetting. A nice feather in your cap. Kathy in NH
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Sisterlisa B |
I did portraits for someone and I added my business name and copyright in the lower corner, it didn't deter from the photo, BUT it certainly was clearly seen, She took it to Costco and not only did they STILL reprint them for her, but they also made her announcements out of them, THEN cut them wrong. I asked her before hand about not removing the copyright mark and then afterwards I asked her not to tell anyone I did the photos. I don't want local people to think I put out shabby work like that. I think going to the local film developers and letting them know about your work is a good idea. I would be sure to have your clients sign a contract as well, be sure they understand how you run your business. If someone questions you when YOU are the one getting reprints, you can always carry a small portfolio of your work with you. I use a logo in my mark and I include that logo in my card design as well. One place I've done business with has double checked their files several times for my signature form that I filed with their manager. I thank them every time they check. Now they know me and don't have to check. and when people scan and copy photos, they cheat themselves out, the quality is never the same and most home printers ink fade over time anyways, They'll kick themselves for not purchasing more from you to begin with.
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