I read blogs like this A-L-L the time from other photographers. Usually I repost them so others can get schooled. But it just doesn’t seem it gets through to a lot of people. So I figured.. hey, Ill write it(sorta) and see if people get the message.
I love the online world. I love facebook(most of the time.) I love the fact that it is so easy. Because of that it makes it easy to steal.
I know, you might not think that its stealing but it is. If a photographer puts images up in a gallery for you to view and you find a way to right-click copy, then you put them on facebook but crop their logos off. Its stealing, even if you don’t crop the logos off.
As a photographer my main way of getting my name out there right now is O-N-L-I-N-E. That means that when I put photos for you to see online whether it be on facebook or in your client galleries Im putting it there for a reason. My logo is on there for a reason. Surprisingly enough it takes a lot of extra steps for images to be blog/facebook ready. And yes, I completely understand you might want to use a photo I took as your default. There are photos others took of me that I use but I give them credit, EVEN if they aren’t a photographer. If you don’t like the logo, I get that too, crop it off, just be sure to give me credit. It really is that simple.
I especially see this with dance photography. There are a ton of dancers and at any given event there is at least one photographer, WAY more if Orlando is there.. They are graciously taking their time out of the dance to take your photo. Y-O-U-R Photo. .. ok other people’s photos too but still. Not theirs. So when they put them on the internet for you to see, give them a shout out. And if you like the photo a lot and they offer prints. Buy one. :)
Another thing that has been bothering me is taking ALL the photos I actually upload to facebook and adding them to yours. There is a little button on facebook called “share.” Not a lot of people use it, but its a very good and helpful button. So, a photographer tagged you in an album but you want your facebook family to see it too? Share it to your profile. It still goes out to everyone you know and you’re not taking anything away from the photographer, plus you’re still plugging the photographer since its their album. Thats for albums specifically. Feel free to take them as use them as your default, just don’t crop my logo off.
So to recap.
1) DO ask your photographer what their specific policy is on taking pictures off of their blogs. Some photographers encourage it and some don’t allow it. If this is important to you this is something you should ask BEFORE you hire your photographer!
(I say its fine as long as you credit me. )
2) DO include your photographer’s name and website under the images (a link would be super nice!). That’s just the polite thing to do 
3) DON’T crop out their logo. Unless you have paid for the digital negatives don’t alter the files in anyway. Most photographers use their blogs to advertise their work and do so as a courtesy to give their clients a sneak peek. If a client crops out the logo then how will other people know who took the picture?
4) DON’T edit the picture in any way. Taking the pictures is only half of a photographers job. The other half is editing. If you think you can do a better job or want to edit out some of your wrinkles or use selective coloring please don’t show and/or tell your photographer. That is super insulting. If you don’t like your photographers editing enough to want to edit it yourself than maybe you need to find another photographer next year.
5) DON’T try to print from the files on the blog. For me specifically I know that the files I upload to my blog are too small to be printed in a 4×6 size. It’s not cool to invest in a family session and then print the images off of the blog and not pay for prints. Make sure you know how much the prints cost before the session to avoid sticker shock. Same goes for scanning prints that you already bought. Not cool! Some of my family members are guilty of printing images off of my blog. It makes me cringe when I see them FRAMED in their homes with my logo still on there! To be fair, I’m also not great at emailing them the file when they ask for it
6) DO Share albums. Sharing IS Caring after all. If you need help finding the button just let me know. Id be glad to help.
7) DO spread the word if you like the photographer. Word of mouth IS the best way for others to hear about them. If you hear someone got engaged or is having a baby tell them about your favorite photographer. It doesn’t have to be me, but tell them about someone you love! You would be surprised how happy it makes me when I get a referral from someone I know that I haven’t done a session for, that just love my work.
Ok. Rant over!
I happily used Mom*tog’s words as she said it better than I could. And I used it with permission. Thanks Mom*Tog!
Since I don’t want it to be just words in this post. Here’s another favorite from Craig and Holly’s engagement session.
+1 for please don’t steal!
I hope I give you enough credit on my FB. I can send smoke signals too if you like…lol j/k That’s too bad that people don’t give you credit for your hard work.