melinda_potter

<p>This guy is a fraud, and was found to have numerous photographs in his online ports that belong to others. He posted this very topic in numerous photography forums in the hopes of getting clicks on his website. I don't know if he has been signed up as a member here at Photo.net but if he has been, a swift delete is in order <br> Read his review at YANAP<br> http://youarenotaphotographer.com/forums/topic/feedback-needed-for-my-new-wedding-and-portrait-photography-website/</p>

Tim, a link that I have found helpful http://picturedefense.blogspot.com/ http://www.pixsy.com You may be interested in this and other companies like it that have been popping up. I cannot speak first hand about the service, but I think it looks very promising.

Michael, How does one find a benefit to having their work stolen and sold by someone else? Or having their work used without permission, without credit, sometimes cropped, or even edited, sometimes not altered at all, to market someon else's business? The picture used would be associated with the person/persons who stole it, with absolutely no association to yourself or to your photography. There's no benefit to that, that I can see. This is the only scenario I can come up with that could be beneficial if things played out well. A blogger with a good audience sharing your work inappropriately without credit or link back. You contact them letting them know you are "very flattered" that they like your work, and would love for them to add a link back, to create a good situation for both parties. And I suppose it really could play out nicely. But what if they refuse? How can this benefit anyone but the thief? Am I just not thinking big enough, or out of the box enough? I could be wrong and feel a little uncomfortable speaking for the OP, but I don't think Tim is hoping for litigation, criminal or civil suits, and rubbing his hands together thinking "Go ahead, make my day!", but to just be more stringent about his invoicing, and work copyright infringements into his work flow, and add some business revenue.

I've only found my photos infringed three times comercaily, and just went for a take down. All take down attempts were successful, but the last one I had to use DMCA and go over their heads to their site hosting company. I've never invoiced only because I'm just a hobbiest... but I'm considering it now that I'm making more online sales and recently have most of my port available to license as well. I don't think it would be worth my effort to take things further if my invoice were to be ignored, unless I was to register each photo. Even then... I only just break even with the hopes of maybe someday earning enough pocket money to actually have to claim hobby income on my taxes. So court would be a no go for me. As for you treating infringements as a source of income... I'm all for it! To me, I think it helps us all. I know some would disagree with me, but... Maybe someday people will take copyright infringment more seriously because of artists who act on it as you do?

I think you should respect your client's wishes and not post the video publicly. To me it seems to be a no brainer. The best way to start growing a new business is to provide great service to your clients.

<p>I've only been shooting with intent a very short time (just under 3 years). I'm currently studying portraiture just for my own interest, and plan on maybe someday doing a series or two, once I feel satisfied with my work and find some direction, but currently I do not share my portraiture experiments publicly (too many well meaning people ask me to take their portraits without me posting portraiture). I experiment with light, and shoot lot's of macro, nature and still life just for the sake of it, and pure self satisfaction it gives me. Like anyone else, I share them online. I put a price tag on them, and to my surprise people have been interested. I have sold 42 images out of my 90-ish public images in various formats from greeting cards to 30 x 20 mounted, in about 2 years time. Some images have sold multiple times. Mostly they are self fulfilled, but some sales have been through redbubble (I make NOTHING but smiles and pennies off of redbubble sales, and aprox $10 to $20 dollars back off my self fulfilled finished products). <br> Well... this is a little unexpected for me. A little redbubble page, and a silly facebook page that I made so I wouldn't drive all my friends and family crazy that weren't interested in my photography (only 100 followers lol). I honestly just figured it was just a way to share, but now... I'm just wondering if maybe I should take this a little more seriously, and invest more into marketing and selling. Just imagining getting to a place where I can break even on this hobby of mine sounds very appealing, but more investing seems scary. Especially since my prices would have to go up to cover my costs (are the lower prices why they sell?). It could end in a serious flop.<br> I guess what I'm asking is, for honest opinions (seriously, I'm tough as nails) on whether I have a chance at stepping up my game. and I'm also wondering if sales like this are "normal" for beginners like me? Should I just continue as I have been, and quit over analyzing over a few sales, and a lot of nice feedback from people?<br> Give me a slap of reality if you feel I need it, and if you don't think a slap is in order... where do I begin?!<br> http://www.redbubble.com/people/onegoodeye/portfolio<br> http://www.facebook.com/pages/Photographic-Art-by-Melinda-Potter/239743396063425</p>