Stealing Photos
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- canoe
So I've repeatedly told a client that they have to use rights managed photography...
I just received an email with a bunch of images "found on pinterest"... they are of food.
I'm in a tough spot - it's a cheap site, under 5k - but I don't want anything to do with stealing photography, I'm not a hack, and I want photographers to get paid for their work.
What would you do?
- PonyBoy4
stick to your guns, man... (so-to-speak)... I like and appreciate your stance.
Do not give in to their bullshit. If anything share w/them links to copyright laws... be very clear that you will not steal from another artist.
You might lose the client... but in reality you're owning parting ways w/a thief.
Is your conscience worth 5k? :)
(I find myself in this situation a lot... DON'T GIVE IN! Remember it could be someone stealing your shit and making money off you.)
- They're already contracted... I won't lose the business.. just having a tough time with their team and listening skills.canoe
- BK2
Point them to istock or similar. Mad cheap photography, not great but cheap.
- monNom0
Remind them that someone else owns those images, and they may have spent considerable money for them. Good photography costs money, there's no way around it.
As an alternative, send them a link to istockphoto or shutterstock and ask them to find some similar images that they can license. Or they can commission a photographer and get exactly what they want.
I've run into this countless times and never lost a client over it (refusing to use images they don't own). Average people just don't know about copyright like we have to.
- also, presumably they have a camera on their phone...monNom
- wagshaft4
Don't do it. Good and free food photography on unsplash.com
- canoe0
It's nice to hear that I shouldn't buckle on this one... obviously we are all biased, but...
I just imagine if I somehow started a reputation for being... for lack of better terms... black hat.
I'm opening a legit business in the community... it makes me feel uneasy just thinking about it.
- formed0
Send them to iStock. My approach after you tell them that they could be sued, or at the very least, have to take them down (which takes your time, their money to do):
1. Tell them you need a higher resolution version to make it look good (uncompressed too). Most likely, they won't find one.
2. Send them to istock or shutterstock and show them that for $50 they can get several that they legally can use, that are high(er) quality, that you can use for print too.Most of the time, they come back in a few hours with a handful that do look better. Everyone wins.
- kona1
Do some of the work for them.
Send them a brief run down of iStock's pricing model with your suggestion on which they should go with.
Also, take a few minutes and find a few similar photos that they can use and provide them the links.
End the email with something to the effect of a $100 iStock plan is vastly cheaper than a court settlement with a photographer.
Good on you btw.
- meffid1
Unsplash
Pexels
GratisographyLoads of food.
- capn_ron0
I agree with kona 100%. Put in just a little work on a stock site with your recommendations on alternatives (rights free, or paid) and they probably will take your recommendations.
Another free site for images, although they generally suck.
- jaylarson0
someone just reposted a photo of mine on instagram. i told her to take it down and reported her. she said she wasn't stealing and she could credit me. i'm too old for this shit. Such an idiot
- canoe0
"Hi XXXX, as the pictures will be up for only a week and replaced with real ones once I make every thing I am not worried about it, these are exact representations of what I'm making, so I want to go with these for first week. Thank you"
I WANT TO FUCKING SMACK THE SHIT OUT OF HER.
I think I'm going to say fuck off and stop the project midterm.
And yes guys, I selected images from iStock prior - created a light box, shared it with them, but not of her actual plates/dishes/food. AND YES I said I can shoot her food if she wanted or that she could with her own fucking phone....
I can't stand the level of disrespect on this...
- that's her statement.
get the job done and move forward.
(i would probably ignore this client in the future)sted
- that's her statement.
- mantrakid1
Dear Ignorant Client,
I understand that you wan't to use these photos on the website as temporary / placeholder graphics, but there is no scenario in which I can professionally consider this to be 'ok'. Not only is it 100% illegal, but even with that aside, it is unethical. It is akin to using a musicians song in a commercial or promotional video without their permission. To think you can 'get away with it' for a week is on the level of thinking that as long as you get to your car with stolen shoes, it is fine.
You legally must have a license or at the very least express written permission for the usage or be prepared for legal repercussions anywhere from a cease and desist to a full on lawsuit, not even counting what PR damage it could do to the brand if the tightly knit professional industry catches wind of it and decides to make your company a bad example that goes viral.
It is infinitely easier to use self photographed, public domain or purchased/licensed stock images for this purpose.
Sincerely,
Fuck You, Pay Me