Copyrights – How to deal with them?

As every photographer knows, we all suffer from copyright infringements one day. The most common argument that I see among photographers is when a second shooter uses the images that he shot on your wedding for his own website. Some photographers may get offended with these methods. But then again, I shot those images, so why can’t I use them? It’s my posing, my setup, my idea…. Well, both parts are right. There is two sides on this story, one is the photographer side as a business owner and the other is the photographer side as an artist.

I, Paulo Basseto, always help fellow photographers in the area. We created a group of photographers where we recommend each other when a date on our agenda is taken already. So that said, there is images in my portfolio that I shot on their jobs. How do we deal with that?

First you have to understand the point of view of a studio owner. How would he feel if his bride gets in his second shooter website and  see her images in there? There is a huge risk here she would like the second shooter images more and recommend him instead of the main photographer on her wedding. Well, from my point of view the fault is from the main photographer.

Most photographers when bringing someone that is a good photographer along, introduces them as assistants with cameras. Or just as a mere second shooter. When you do that, you create an idea into the bride’s mind that your images has to be better then his. But creativity can’t be compared, and there is times when your second shooter will have a better idea then you. How to break that risk? – You introduce him as a photographer just as good as you! And that the two of you make a wonderful team! Note this word: TEAM! By doing so, the bride will feel more secure because now she knows she got a good deal and you will feel more secure, because on team work, no one outshine any one.

From that perspective its OK that the second photographer uses the images he took in his portfolio, whoever sees those images (bride, friends of the bride, parents), they will recommend the TEAM! not the photographer. (And the team leader is you, main shooter!)

Most important is, by introducing your staff as a team you are expanding your product marketing. Now you have you, and him offering a   perspective on that particular job.

Let me get you an example: Right underneath there is a  posting about Pictage Modern Book. As soon as I posted that, I got in touch with Pictage to mention that I reviewed one of their products and if there was any infringements they should let me know so I could remove the post. Instead, Logan Holliday, Pictage Customer Experience Lead called me to thank me for the review. Him being a business man understands that feedback on their products from different sources helps then to deliver more and more quality products. And then having not just Pictage marketing, but also other entities talking about their products opens their targets exponentially.

In the other hand, as I mentioned on that post, there is 6 weddings in that album design. Being that 1 of then was shot by me on someone else’s job. The portrait session was shot at one of Joao Castellano’s weddings. And all that he asked is that I put the right credit. – And here it is! -

So how we deal with the copyrights problem?

Main photographers (usually the studio owner) – Learn to introduce you staff as a Team! You will be doing a great favor for yourself.  Also by doing this you are helping someone else and “taking care of you people” as I always like to say. Trust me, your shooters will go that extra mile for you when they realize you also want to help then out and you will also be making the market a favor by bringing the standards higher. This way we can all charge more for our craft and eliminate the temptation of those great photographers that shoots a wedding for $800,00 just because they are trying to build a portfolio.

Second photographers – Understand that although you are photographing, it is still not your gig, and for that you have the responsibility to give the right credits to the right people. (a simple “image taken by me for studio name” will do it). And professionalism: If you ever gets a guest from that wedding you displayed calling you regarding photography, first make sure they would consider the main studio style before yours and from there on is a matter of your judgment. I will repeat for you the same thing: Always take care of your people, and remember that he brought you along his jobs so you could make some money and evolve as a photographer. By doing so, he exposed his secrets as a photographer to you and he deserves the respect.

And in the end for both parts, It all comes down to, treat people nice and with respect. If you are humble to ask to use the images or to remove the images or to give the right credits, I doubt someone will say no for that.

I hope this helps some of you out.

All my best!

Paulo Basseto.

The photographers group I mentioned already have a strong friendship, so whatever images we use from each others job we know there is no need to place a note "picture taken by me for studio name" - We assure 100% that all images in our websites were taken by ourselves - unfortunately there is no Santa Claus and we all studied hard for someone else to use our images.