laura2

<p>Hey Terry, I had a similar problem when I purchased my 50D. Have you tried creating your own "mode" to shoot with? I punched the sharpness up in the internal camera settings and it made a world of difference. </p>

<p>I also had a similar problem when I owned my 300D "back in the day." I had dropped it/banged it a few times too many and it needed to be recalibrated by Canon. </p>

<p>These are all interesting perspectives. I never really thought about it in the regard of it being that people find equipment and equipment use more important than the photographer's results. It's true...I guess it's like having a Maserati and being a new driver versus a professional driver.<br>

I agree about the rifling through the camera bag. Someone said to me this morning, "Are you sure they're looking at your lenses or are they looking to see if your lens fits on their body?" LOL...didn't think of that.</p>

<p>Quite honestly I have a very giving personality, so I think I will feel more comfortable answering questions now. I was basing this off former reactions I had gotten from professionals when they had equipment that I was curious about...they had bristled up so I thought I had crossed some invisible line. So ultimately, I guess the problem was with them, not me.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for these great responses.</p>

<p>I like your answer. Thanks!</p>

<p>I haven't posted any of my latest work from 2009 - now but I have started doing very very good work and receiving offers for paid work from aspiring models. My recent work landed 2 people acting/modeling gigs. My work is a combination of tons and tons of practice, experimentation, and mostly self-taught for the last 11 years. <br>

 

 

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However, I'm finding people are asking me at group shoots "can they look through my camera bag to see what lenses I am using for what purpose," "what skin softening actions I am using in Photoshop," "how do I get that lighting effect," etc. I was under the impression that it was rude/unprofessional to do that, because when I was first starting out and asked these questions a couple times, I was brushed off by the "big guys."<br>

 

 

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I am also having friends start to ask me to list my equipment recommendations for their friends/kid's friends "who take really good pictures" or are "aspiring photographers" in the town I am currently living in. I know I should be flattered but instead I'm starting to feel very uncomfortable with this. I am currently living in a "small town big city" where people who get the photo commissions are recommended on the basis of "being someone's cousin" or "he goes to church with me." Therefore, it's been hard for me to get these jobs locally on the side. I feel like I am going to be selling myself out by giving out my tools to others. It's gotten to the point where I'm getting friend requests on Facebook from people "who want to see my pictures and get my camera/software recommendations."<br>

 

 

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What's the way of dealing with this? Do I act like "back off, it's mine" or do I help these folks? Is there a polite way of having people back off, or a way of helping them without selling myself out? I have really short-changed my abilities and have been underconfident in the last few years and also have a reputation of being "too nice" so I need to handle this in a professional way without alienating others or alienating myself. </p>

<p>I've actually got a bunch of questions in regards to stock photography.<br>

I did some work for a friend of mine shooting her rare breeds of cats. Her friends, which are also enthusiasts, want to buy gallery wraps of my work. I'm going to give her a contracted cut on any print sales of the photos.</p>

<p>This leads me to think it may be lucrative to do some stock photography work. Now, if I wanted to work with people or their pets, how would that work? Do people usually trade photo shoots for photo rights? Do people pay to have their photos taken, and then sign over their rights for stock use? Is it good karma or an outright necessity to pay a royalty to the individual in the photo? I have no idea where to begin -- even a book that would help me on this topic would be a great suggestion.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>I had an idea but I wanted to run it by you guys first to see how feasible it is.</p>

<p>I do have a contract that states copyright is non-transferrable, but that customers can make non-commercial reproductions for their own use. However, within 2 weeks I've had an "artist" make a glorified paint-by-number of a client's picture and put HER name on it, and someone else design her wedding invitations with a huge commercial printing service that has the "right" to take the copyright to my work.</p>

<p>I intended on putting up the contract and model release on the website for people to read/sign ahead of time. I'm dealing with an audience of people who "read" the contract -- meaning the eyeballs are going through the motions of reading but no one's asking questions.</p>

<p>Would it be to my benefit to show examples of acceptable client usage and unacceptable usage in a friendly way on my FAQ or under contract FAQ questions?</p>

<p>I.E. under acceptable -- making prints for yourself, making a copy for Aunt Mary, making an enlargement to hang in the office, making a screensaver, using in church bulletin announcement, making birthday invitations, etc.</p>

<p>Unacceptable -- giving work to an artist so the artist can make a copy, giving work to T-shirt/bumper sticker company who will claim copyright, putting work on MySpace/Facebook with watermark removed, removing watermark full-stop, reposting image with edited changes, selling pet photos to stock agency, etc.</p>

<p>Would I just be putting myself into MORE hot water like that, or would it benefit me and the people I work with to understand what they are allowed to do and not do, generally?</p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>

<p>This is the second posting of yours in a couple weeks where someone has used your images in ways that you didn't intend. This might be an indication that you have a hole in your usage contract. Are you expressing to your clients that they may NOT sell, give, or otherwise distribute the photographs without written consent from you-and that they may not allow others to do so? You need to restrict your third party usage. You should see an intellectual property attorney to draw up some contracts, have them explain them to you and you explain them to your clients.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I have a contract stating copyright is non-transferrable but that clients may make reproductions for non-commercial use provided that they do not violate the copyright.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>Copyrights essentially say to all "You do NOT have my blessing."<br>

I sounds to me that YOU verbally gave up all rights.</p>

 

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<p>Nope. She's been told in writing as of this point that she may not use them on Zazzle. I explained why. She'll probably be cool with that.</p>

<p>I have a contract that states copyright is non-transferrable but client may reproduce images for personal non-commercial use.</p>

<p>One of my clients is using one of the prints of her and her fiance to design a wedding invitation with my blessing. She went and used...gergh..Zazzle. I know Zazzle has come under fire for their terms which allow them to have licensing rights to images...Zazzle can't just go taking my pictures from me, can they?</p>

<p>I usually shoot 2 hours. I'm also very chatty and personable and silly so it goes by quick. I'll usually do like 300 shots and then cull about 30 "awesome" from that.</p>

<p>Squeaky toys and treats. I use them for shooting dogs, and small children. LOL</p>

<p>Make sure it's a bright color and it's loud. It will capture their attention. Have "mommy" or "daddy" squeak it behind you while you do it. It works!</p>

<p>I have run into people who don't like their pictures, not because they didn't like my work, but they didn't like themselves.<br>

I handed someone their pictures and she got like "oh my God, these are great! I really hate how I look!"</p>

<p>I asked her why, and she told me...and I said, "but these things make you, YOU...and it doesn't make you any less beautiful." Of course, those words fall on deaf ears...I deal with it everyday teaching teenagers...they think they're all ugly and hideous and I'd kill to have their skin/hair/figures/style. lol</p>

<p>What I've started doing is letting the client see some of the raw shots of how they look, and then let them vent. I'll ask them jokingly, "OK, well would you like me to edit your perceived body flaws?" They'll tell me they don't like their tummy, or how their accutane treatment is taking too long to kick in, or their teeth/eyes aren't bright enough...and I reassure them I will take care of it...and I do!</p>

<p>An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!</p>

<p>I think the photos are great, but it would be nice as a viewer to see some slightly different facial expressions. She looks like she would have a great smile, or a great laugh :-)</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Are there any labs out there that use stiff, heavy paper, like the photographs of the 1950's and 1960's? I love that feel and would like to present work on that kind of paper. I tried googling it, haven't found the results I am looking for.</p>

<p>Yeah, I think I'm not going to bother saying anything to her...I got a good amount of varying responses here, I've gauged the opinions and realize it's probably nothing worth stirring the pot over. Thanks again for everyone's help :-)</p>

<p>Oh I could care less about the money...what I am concerned about is the client is pushing the crap out of this woman's work on her facebook and people are raving about what a wonderful artist she is in capturing the personality of the animals in question, when it was my photo that did it to begin with. LOL</p>

<p>What I am seeing is she essentially put my photo through a paint-by-number program, painted over it, and is passing it off as her own original work with her signature on it. That's all...I'm not looking for blood, money, to shame anyone, feed a lawyer, etc. I am just curious, just for future concerns, whether this is an issue or not copyright-wise, in the event someone might take advantage. It was just a smidgin hurtful to my ego, or what remains of it. :P lol</p>

<p>Yeah, I mean I can understand we all need to make a living and all that...I have a feeling she may not even be aware.</p>

<p>I was thinking of even just dropping a line like "Hey, I saw a couple of your beautiful paintings that you did of my client's photos, and wanted to let you know you used my copyrighted photographs that were taken in a contracted photo shoot. I realize you're probably not aware that they were copyrighted by another individual, but you may want to put in your store policies that you will require your clients to have permission to paint their photos if the pictures are copyrighted because there are people out there that may not be so flattered about it." Does that seem fair? I don't want to be a petty biznitch with random strangers or burn bridges.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I did a photo shoot for my clients. They signed a contract saying they were allowed to reproduce the work for personal use (i.e. they could go to Walmart or Nations Photo or whoever else and make copies) but that I kept the copyright and that I was the only one allowed to use the photographs for financial gain.</p>

<p>They loved the photos, evidently so much they handed over 2 of the shots to some chick on Etsy.com and she turned my photographs into "paintings." However, it essentially looks like she did one of three things: 1. painted OVER my photograph, 2. used a paint by number program or 3. traced the photo. I can literally take her "work" and dissolve it over mine in Photoshop, and it is IDENTICAL.</p>

<p>I don't have an issue with the fact my client used the photograph for a painting, because I am flattered. My issue is, this "artist" took my photo, "painted" it...and put HER NAME on the "painting" as an "original work" and is displaying it, for PROFIT, on her portfolio. What's bothering me even more is these were pet photos, and I worked with these little sweet dogs shooting them all afternoon, and this artist is getting credit for "having the gift of capturing a pet's personality." My stomach is feeling mighty acidic over this :(</p>

<p>Am I being petty here, or do I have a legitimate beef? I feel a little shortchanged here...something just doesn't feel right but before I might send a "Hi! Thanks for painting MY photograph...we need to talk" email, I want to see if I have a leg to stand on.</p>

<p>Thanks. :-)</p>

<p>I've done a trial-run of photo shoots for people for portfolio-boosting and to get feedback on my work. I am ready to start charging for my photo shoots. The website is nearly done, the photos all edited, the contracts in place...but I have one Achilles Heel which is scaring me off from doing paid photo shoots despite the fact I actually have a demand...</p>

<p><strong><em>Where can I find stylish, practical packaging for the photographs?</em></strong></p>

<p>Nations Photo, for example, does Boutique Packaging, which is all well and good but I can't proof my pictures once it's wrapped up in the box, and my studio colors are black, orange and royal purple. The box it comes in is a deep caramel brown with a light-colored bow.</p>

<p>Does anyone have any ideas where I could get boxes or nice photo envelopes, maybe even with my logo on the box or envelopes?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I would get some remote slaves and place them around the subjects. I've had this problem and it's a lighting issue in my case. Maybe change how you're metering your shot? Your sky is kind of blown out.</p>

<p>I like newts. I even have some tender, sweet moments with newts in my portfolio. I kid you not. /shameless advertising</p>

<p>Slightly o/t but how do you like your cowboystudio products? Just ordered some stuff from this guy because he's so close to where I live -- he's in Dallas, and I'm in Waco, same day service, woowoo.</p>

<p>I remember that story. They took that picture of that high school girl in Texas and used it in Australia....she was Asian and they made her look like a stereotype. And the photo was snapped by someone at her Church Youth Group and posted online.</p>

<p>I get what you're saying now. So it's like if I do someone's maternity/newborn shots, and she posts them on MySpace, but they're also on my portfolio online, and the new mother's husband's jealous ex goes manipulating them or using them to defame her, they can accuse ME of releasing them to said jealous ex. I get it now.</p>

<p>How twisted we have gotten as a society in the digital age! Thank you for pointing that out!</p>

<p><em>And be aware that once the images are out of your hands (on disc) you have no control over them, so if a family member decides to use them without the permission of your subject, and the subject gets really pi**ed off, make sure you have some enforceable legal disclaimer that keeps you (an easy target) out of the mire in any subsequent spats. There have been some spectacular flickr and facebook ding-dongs over these things - make certain your backside is covered.</em><br>

<em></em><br>

I'm a little confused by this -- can you give a scenario example?</p>

<p>Thanks very much.</p>

<p>Oh I did a "feedback" where they had to fill out a bunch of questions. I have personal contact details, info about the subjects and what they want, etc. It's not like a "hey, show up here for a photo shoot!" deal. Thanks for your response and the heads up! :)</p>