I'm regret that I'm having to make this post today, but I think this topic affects a lot of photographers, and writers around the globe. Yesterday, Kim from Seattle DP, alerted me and a host of other bloggers that our photographs were being lifted by the unscrupulous crowd at*Photos World News. I can only speak for myself, but I've invested a lot of time and money in my photography career. It is difficult for photographers to actually sell their work, and perhaps it's because people find it far too easy to simply download our work and print them off, or publish them on their websites without our permission. I'm fascinated when people actually say to me, "I'm going to print off some of your photographs and hang them in my home!" On one hand, I'm flattered that someone would like my work enough to frame it and hang it. On the other hand, why would they assume they could take my work without asking or paying for it? Would they walk in an art gallery, take a painting off the wall and walk out with it? Of course I can put a watermark on every photo. And to be honest, most anyone could remove it in Photoshop faster than I could add it. I've read the sneers on some photography sites that claim photographers who watermark their work are assuming their work is " so good that someone might want to copy it." Well that's not really the point is it. The point is that photographs and text are owned by the photographer and the author, period!
And for the record, it is my pleasure to donate photographs and/or photography time for any charitable organization that asks. To be able to give back to my community is a privilege.
(* If you are unable to open their site, HOORAY, they've been shut down but sadly there will be more where they came from.)
This blog is open for business. Feel free to have your say but please keep it civil and respectful.
