PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

jneandry Posted: Jul 28, 2007 12:06 AM

PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

So a 'friend' of ours that is an aspiring photographer took pics literally directly behind my photographer. She took over 800 pictures. She posted them all over her site, and created a myspace page and put our picture as the main picture and put all our pictures on it. The catch is she put her watermark all over the pictures so no one could save them. The thing you can do is purchase them on her site. I have been trying to contact her and have spoken to her over the computer and she seems to be avoiding me so she doesnt give me the cd of the pics. Am I overreacting? (she isnt a close friend my dh works with her husband)

cherandgeo Posted: Jul 28, 2007 12:22 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

She should have to have some sort of waiver or release form from you to use those, right?

I would check with perhaps the better business bureau? I don't know who else to contact but I would think she would have to get your permission first. And then not to even return your calls, she knows she can't do this and is trying to get away with it.

Aug07OFCbride Posted: Jul 28, 2007 03:22 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

uh, id have a problem w/ that unless she spoke to you prior to about her plan to use them this way. keep trying to contact her! id be up her @ss about it. id be weirded out that just anyone could order them, not to mention she has 800 pics of your wedding and she wont even give them to you.

Captsarkasm Posted: Jul 28, 2007 06:21 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

Personally, I would be a little annoyed, especially if she didn't even ask your permission to post them all over her site and MYSPACE..... I don't think you're over-reacting at all! Good luck

Colette Posted: Jul 28, 2007 08:04 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

I'd be really annoyed by that, its tacky and illegal... if she's avoiding you you may want to tell your pro photographer about it; she's trying to profit off of HIS work and he probably has a suggestion for how to handle it!!!

twinkle164 Posted: Jul 28, 2007 08:15 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

I would have a problem with that. She can't sell your pictures without a contract from you or something like a waiver. I would send her a cease and desist letter. Seriously.

JMM7876 Posted: Jul 28, 2007 08:24 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

I agree withthet other girls...I would def have a problem with that! It seems a litle sneaky to me!
Good Luck...keep on her

lyndanoelle Posted: Jul 28, 2007 08:28 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

thats a little weird

I hope it all works out for you

army wife to be Posted: Jul 28, 2007 09:16 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

She needs to have your permission to use ur prictures. She should deffinately give you a cd of the pics and not make u pay.. u didnt hire her for ur wedding

Flutterbye922 Posted: Jul 28, 2007 09:20 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

thats weird. She should not charge you for the pics! She wasn't hired as the photographer! That is an evil way to try to make some money! I would be annoyed

PeteysBride Posted: Jul 28, 2007 09:26 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

Posted by Colette

I'd be really annoyed by that, its tacky and illegal... if she's avoiding you you may want to tell your pro photographer about it; she's trying to profit off of HIS work and he probably has a suggestion for how to handle it!!!

Try to get her contact info from your dh because you need to speak with her. I am not sure how this works because though I believe it is illegal and you could probably bring charges against her because she watermarked them and wants to distribute without permission, I am not sure. Paparrazzi take pics of celebrities and sell them all the time and though they get slapped on the wrist, not much else happens. I'd just look into it but Im 99 percent sure she needs a signed form from you. Even our FSIL who took our E-pics, asked us if she could put them on her site-we didnt sign but we gave our verbal consent and she is family and quickly gave us a CD.

Michi9506 Posted: Jul 28, 2007 09:29 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

I dont get it why would she post them all over myspace but not give em to you..I'd be PO'D

thelastresort Posted: Jul 28, 2007 09:31 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

She has some nerve to do that! Can your DH call her and ask her for the CD? She should be giving that to you. You already paid for one photographer and for her to try to make a buck off of your wedding photos is a bit tacky. I hope you get them!

sugarkube4 Posted: Jul 28, 2007 10:20 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

Ew... that's just shady... I would email her threatening to call the BBB and report her as a stalker and that you hired a photographer that you paid for and that you don't know who she is and she was all over your wedding that day and that your unauthorized pictures are ALL over her site.. that should scare her

PeterNina Mom Posted: Jul 28, 2007 10:34 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

Call a lawyer...that has to be illegal in some way!!

nifheim Posted: Jul 28, 2007 11:01 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

honestly you can sue her for taking your image and you didn't sign a waiver. I still do freelance photography and honestly you can not SELL a photograph of a person who you didn't get a waiver for. It is even sketchy to take pics of a homeless person for photojournailsm reasons and try to sell it w/ out having that a waiver signed. Now I am not 100% of the law since I only do portraits of people who sign a waiver or people you can not see a face of (you can get away with that), and landscapes/nature shots when I try to sell something.

Honestly if she is trying to be a freenlance photography and build up her portfolio to be hired out as a wedding photographer then she should of asked you and got a small signature on a contract for no fee just for experience to keep her butt safe and you happy. Also she is better off being hired by a wedding photographer now as a assistant which I may now be doing for extra cash since i am dirt poor because your really learning the in's and out's.

Anyway sorry to make it so long it really bothered me reading this. I would contact her now to cease using your images for public/financial gain otherwise you might take legal action. Then explain you would waiver your right and sign a document (if you wish) if you may use those photograph yourself free of charge.

CMaria81 Posted: Jul 28, 2007 11:16 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

Posted by twinkle164

I would have a problem with that. She can't sell your pictures without a contract from you or something like a waiver. I would send her a cease and desist letter. Seriously.

Agreed. I would also contact Myspace and report her account.

Cpt2007 Posted: Jul 28, 2007 11:27 AM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

I was just going to say the same thing!

Contact MySpace and tell them that she posted pictures without your permission and that she is using them as false advertising.

The other route to go is to give your photographer a heads up and they can send her a copyright infringement letter.

I'd also get your DH to drop the hint to her husband that you are considering legal action.

MsPotterhead Posted: Jul 28, 2007 01:58 PM

Re: PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINIONS ON THIS

I agree with everyone. It is immoral, and illegal. It is an invasion of your privacy, and she is trying to profit from your wedding. If you cannot talk to her, I would definitely let her know that if she doesn't return your calls/emails, you will take further action. Good luck!