Use of images by wedding planner/coordinator

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I ran into a situation recently where a wedding planner used two of my images without my permission in a blog post. She used them as a type of before and after comparison of what a venue looks like with and without additional LED lighting, then proceeded to plug the lighting company involved. My problem is that she took two images from my set which were less-than-perfect, technically, and are out of context in terms of the quality of what I normally provide. Like an infomercial, she picked the "worst" images as the "before" and then posted aesthetically appealing images with the colored LED lighting in the BG from a different wedding & different photographer.</p>

<p>I wrote that I ask for permission before my images are used, and then requested that the post be taken down. It was a very brief email. She responded with threats and intimidation, saying she's planned weddings for big-time clients and has worked with big-name photographers and never had a problem using their images "in a proper way" in the past. She concluded by saying that if she takes down the post, she will not be recommending me to any of her clients, that photographers are "a dime a dozen in this town", and I ought to rethink my decision carefully, as she is only trying to help the reception site (a non-profit org).</p>

<p>I am shocked at her aggressiveness, and do not appreciate my proofs being used in a comparison for a lighting set-up, as this does nothing to benefit me or the reception site involved. It benefits the lighting company and serves as fodder for her blog. There IS a link back to my site, which is helpful, but my gut instinct after her obnoxious reply is to remain firm in my request. </p>

<p>What do you think?</p>

<p>You need to have your gut checked.</p>

<p>Let's stipulate that using a photographer's images without asking for permission is wrong. She was wrong. Or if it wasn't absolutely wrong legally (I'm a bit unclear about that) it was discourteous.</p>

<p>But she paid you a compliment (however small) by using your images and she did you a favor (also small) by linking back to your site. I think the correct response would have been to write her and say, "I see that you used a couple of my images. Thanks for linking back to my web site. I would have been happier if you had asked me first but I'm grateful for the plug." Or something like that. I would have taken a few minutes with that letter to make it as tactful as possible.</p>

<p>Asking her to remove the post seems a bit harsh. Obviously <em>she</em> thought it was harsh. </p>

<p>Welcome to the digital world. Don't want this to happen? Take down your website — or show your photos at such small sizes that nobody will be tempted to link to them or borrow them. If you do this you'll have to be REALLY REALLY REALLY GOOD to stay in business, because she's right: there are a lot of other photographers out there.</p>

<p>Not sure what your next move ought to be. Just be aware that one unhappy person can do more damage to your online reputation than ten happy people. Sad, but true.</p>

<p>Good luck,</p>

<p>Will</p>

You could send a properly formatted DMCA takedown notice to her Internet service provider. Here's a link to an article

about this written by a lawyer who specializes in photography law.

 

http://rising.blackstar.com/how-to-send-a-dmca-takedown-notice.html

<p>Whatever the issue re permission, the solution is simple. Simply ask her to take your name and link off, leaving the image unidentified. That should be fairly simple for her and would not damage much else about the blog post.</p>

<p>Otherwise, I would thank her for the consideration and calmly explain why you are concerned about your image being used as the 'bad' image. Anyone can understand this, if explained clearly.</p>

Why not suggest a few of your pictures that have your approval? With the proper paperwork.

Fighting over a few standard photographs may be a waste of your time.

<blockquote>

<p>my gut instinct after her obnoxious reply is to remain firm in my request.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>If she is as powerful as she claims to be, you may win the battle over the images only to lose the war on getting business.</p>

<p>Learn how to shmoooze better. 8-))))))</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses. I like the metaphor, John, but I find it hard to back down on principles. Telling her to take the images down was a hasty decision on my part, and <em>mea culpa</em> for that. I'll treat future incidents like this one with more grace and tact.<br /> <br /> But her response was intolerable. You don't name-drop to show your clout in an attempt to bully someone. And even before this, I could tell she was going to be a hard time: she criticized the bride's choice of flowers, called the band 'sloppy,' started sending dunning emails to see the photos just 3 days after the event, and asked me to Photoshop something into a portrait that wasn't found in the original scene, which she planned on submitting to the Times. No. No. No.<br /> <br /> I don't need unscrupulous, critical, and demanding WC's in my life---weddings are stressful enough.</p>

<p>Hopefully you didn't tick her off too much. She has a point when she said photographers are a dime a dozen...meaning, there are a lot of them! And there are....now how many good ones are out there, that's debatable. I'd try to smooth it over w/her and like Dave said, schmooze her some more.</p>

<p>Please. A professional planner would have apologized for using your photo without permission. Apart from that, planners are a dime a dozen these days. Quite frankly, I'd stand firm on this one as well. My experience has been that bullies will be bullies and not people I want to be associated with - famous or not. ;-) Apart from that, those who brag the loudest about whom they know and whose wedding they have done are all bark and no bite.<br>

I think the only lesson to be learned here is to not put out any photos that don't represent what your actual standard is.</p>

<p>You could always reverse the whole process. Tell her that you know many big name photographers in the area and you will inform them that she steals images and that you will tell other photographers to never work with her because of her blatant copyright violations. State that if she leaves the image posted that you will not recommend her to any of your clients and recommend the same to your big name photographer friends. Inform her that getting any decent photographer to work with her again will be difficult and wedding planners are a dime a dozen and she should really rethink her decision.</p>

<p>You get more flies with honey than vinegar. At least that's what I was always told. </p>

<p>I'd suggest picking up the phone and calling her, explaining exactly why you are upset. Not so much that she used your photos, but that you don't feel they are your best (or even very good) technically and that you probably won't be giving those to the client even. </p>

<p>Then if you do have a "before" photo that you can give to her, one that is technically correct, go ahead and send it to her and say "Here is a better (technical) photo which you may use to make the point. </p>

<p>And yes, she's probably right. In most cities, towns, states, etc... photographers are a dime a dozen. And there are probably two dozen that would love to have their images on her blog. </p>

<p>Should she have responded the way she did? Probably not, but we're not talking to her here. </p>

<p>Dave</p>