model wants her name removed....do you?

[ndsimm]

So I get an email from a Bride I shot last year (model release included in the contract) telling me that someone Googled her name and her pics on my site came up. I'm thinking "Great, goood for you!" Wrong...
She's asked me to remove her name, I can keep the pics up, but she just wants her name removed. My release says I can use the images for display and publication in print and web so the pics would stay up anyway, but what's the deal lately with people and googling names?????

[brad]

Its all the rage... googling yourself.

Does your release say you can use her name in conjunction? If not, then you probably should remove her name.

I never use B&G's last names... so it shouldn't be a problem.

[KdLaneJr]

Was she not happy with your images of her?

[Robin Binder]

Yeah, I know some models that just want there privacy. I think good business is to just use initials or instead of the models name, use the event or date taken.. (shug shoulders)

[rott]

To be fair, there are legitimate concerns with this. We have a friend who's last name was on our site for a while, until a former CPS "client" googled her. She found out about it somehow (I didn't ask how). She understandably didn't like that too much, and kindly asked us to remove her last name.

[ndsimm]

Originally Posted by KdLaneJr

Was she not happy with your images of her?

she loved the images which was why I was surprised. When she first took them, she forwarded the link all over the place. I do understand the privacy issue and hadn't really thought about it so I went ahead and removed it. This whole google your name stuff just seems kinda vain to me

[KdLaneJr]

I don't think googling your name is vain. I think in today's society it is important to know what information is returned on a search of your name.
It's like paying the phone company to not publish your home phone number in the white pages. You either want to be found or you don't.
I'm sure that your bride never thought about anyone googling her name and locating images of her on your website when she signed the contract w/model release. It does give us all something to think about.

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by ndsimm

she loved the images which was why I was surprised. When she first took them, she forwarded the link all over the place. I do understand the privacy issue and hadn't really thought about it so I went ahead and removed it. This whole google your name stuff just seems kinda vain to me

I don't think it's so much about googling your own name, as it is being concerned about what pops up when somebody else googles your name. For instance, it might not look so good if a potential employer googles a person and finds blog or forum posts that are embarrassing or damaging, etc.

Still, I'm not sure why she would be concerned that her wedding portrait comes up. It's not like that's anything to be ashamed of. I guess some people would just prefer that little or nothing comes up in a search for their name, although in today's world that seems just about impossible.

[LoungeLizard]

What Jeff said...just remove it and worry about other things.

[snidow]

Maybe there is an old boyfriend or stalker she would like to avoid, just thinking there could be lots of different reasons for not wanting her name out there. Although I would think she would not want the photo up with, if a stalker was the case.

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by LoungeLizard

What Jeff said...just remove it and worry about other things.

This is the answer....

[Howard Barlow]

I'm glad you took it off. I'm not sure how it would be any kind of disability to us, as photgraphers/business owners, to honor simple requests. Having a person's name is not really necessary, IMO. The image is what you want.

OTOH, if a client asks me to remove the image(s), I would immediately, regardless of why they asked. I can't imagine refusing to honor the request. It may be a wonderful image. I will have a release, or it wouldn't be there in the first place. But, why would I "prove a point", only to lose a client? No one image, or collection of images, will make you a success.

I did have one 20 y.o. model's mother, while sitting there looking at proofs, say to her, "I wouldn't let him use these for display or advertising without compensation." Before the girl could respond, I said to her, "Oh, if using these will embarass you, I would never display these." She about crapped right there.

"Of course, I want you to use them." Turning to her mother, she said, "Momma, keep out of this!"

If you could have seen the young lady, you would understand why she wanted to be on display. She became one of my best clients, even after she got married and had kids.