Pictures I took showing up in someone else's portfolio

[Tom]

I second shot a couple weddings for someone last year.

I went to their website tonight to see their work and how some of their new shoots have gone, and they used pics that I took in their portfolio.

I was certainly paid for my time to shoot for them, but don't you think it is a big problem for them to be using my shots for their portfolio? Those shots are not their portfolio, but rather for that bride only.

Am I way off on this? How should I go about handling it?

[CaptainTom]

unless you had a deal with the first shooter , and it sounds like you didn't, you
can go to him/her and ask that they take down the shots, or credit you for them at the least.
It's probably a simple mistake. I've shot many times with a second and sometimes the images get confused.
It's my opinion that the first shooter should not be displaying your work as his/her own.

[Tom]

The first one that caught my eye was a macro shot I did. They don't have a macro lens, and I used my 150mm macro with the 2x TC. They would have to know they didn't take that shot since they did nothing of the sort.

There was a few more. One where she shot from the floor during a wedding and I shot from the balcony. Obviously, she knew that she shot from the floor, so the balcony shot that I took wasn't from her.

[ldelacruz]

If he hired you to work for him then I would think he should be able to use them. A photographer is like any other business and you were working for that business during the wedding. If he clearly states that he took the photos then I think it would be wrong for him to display them.

[Tom]

Originally Posted by ldelacruz

If he hired you to work for him then I would think he should be able to use them. A photographer is like any other business and you were working for that business during the wedding. If he clearly states that he took the photos then I think it would be wrong for him to display them.

I have no problem with them being displayed. She put those pics in her blog shortly after the wedding.

But I think when I see my pics in their portfolio, they are representing that they took those pictures, which simply is not true and is insulting to me.

[ldelacruz]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

I have no problem with them being displayed. She put those pics in her blog shortly after the wedding.

But I think when I see my pics in their portfolio, they are representing that they took those pictures, which simply is not true and is insulting to me.

I understand how you feel but to me it seems that they offer a service and you were a part of that service. I don't know who they are or how they market themselves but if they provide a service and you were part of that service then they should be able to use your photos. Give them a shout and let them know how you feel and I bet they will trade them out.

[HotHolly]

Its part of being a 2nd shooter, imho. I agree with you its odd to use the 2nd shooters stuff in with your main port. But you can look at it this way. When Mike and I shoot together, I am usually shooting 2nd, intentionally getting stuff he wont have. Such as your macro shot and other stuff he skips and I get. A good 2nd shooter does more than cover the 1st shooters butt - they are getting additional shots that would have been missed if a 2nd shooter wasnt present. If they are going to use your services as a 2nd frequently, I would have mixed a few in to point out how great you are and how well you blend with our style - but it would have been while viewing an entire wedding proof set in the studio. I dont put up the whole farm online, its usually just the best of the best and then my stuff. But thats just me. I dont think its out of line. I also think you should use it to your advantage to get more gigs. She obviously likes what you shot.

[CaptainTom]

A good contract would have solved the whole controversy.

If a dentist hires me to take some photos for them, do they then have the right to display those photos as something they took themselves ?

If I hire you to bake a wedding cake for me, do I have the right to say that I made the cake ?

[Tom]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

Its part of being a 2nd shooter, imho. I agree with you its odd to use the 2nd shooters stuff in with your main port. But you can look at it this way. When Mike and I shoot together, I am usually shooting 2nd, intentionally getting stuff he wont have. Such as your macro shot and other stuff he skips and I get. A good 2nd shooter does more than cover the 1st shooters butt - they are getting additional shots that would have been missed if a 2nd shooter wasnt present. If they are going to use your services as a 2nd frequently, I would have mixed a few in to point out how great you are and how well you blend with our style - but it would have been while viewing an entire wedding proof set in the studio. I dont put up the whole farm online, its usually just the best of the best and then my stuff. But thats just me. I dont think its out of line. I also think you should use it to your advantage to get more gigs. She obviously likes what you shot.

I haven't shot for her since about Feb last year. I went to India and didn't hear from her.

Mike is your husband, right Holly? Y'all are a package deal. I second shot ~3 weddings.

If we were more of a package deal, I would understand it. But I shot 3 weddings for her about a year ago. Not much of a package deal.

I don't particularly want (or need) to shoot more with her. She is a lovely person and I enjoyed working with her, but I have certainly moved on in my career since then.

[HotHolly]

I used us as an example, but the point was more what the 2nd shooters rights and responsibilities are...which would have been in a contract. Different photogs will use 2nds differently.

And I gotta say, Capt Tom is ON THE BALL tonight! Gotta ? captn tom is there. and apparently, he has an interesting buffet of meatloaf and cake for supper. lol. ;o)

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by HotHolly

I used us as an example, but the point was more what the 2nd shooters rights and responsibilities are...which would have been in a contract. Different photogs will use 2nds differently.

And I gotta say, Capt Tom is ON THE BALL tonight! Gotta ? captn tom is there. and apparently, he has an interesting buffet of meatloaf and cake for supper. lol. ;o)

It's a better menu than my usual eating Crow diet !!

[HotHolly]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

It's a better menu than my usual eating Crow diet !!

lol. I hear it tastes like chicken.

[Howard Barlow]

Originally Posted by Thomas Campbell

... they are representing that they took those pictures, which simply is not true and is insulting to me.

Maybe they are saying those are images their studio produced, which it did.

[island bound]

I think they might be saying,
"This is what you can expect from our studio when you hire us for your event"
That's the way I see it.
When you work for them, you are part of their team,
and the portfolio says "this is what our team does"

[Jake]

Without seeing how they are displaying your photos, it's hard to say if it's wrong.


Let's they are advertising "XYZ Photography" and part of the services they offer are multi angles, macro details shots, etc.....
Now let's say they always bring a 2nd shooter to get the details, and different angles.
That would mean they are advertising exactly what they are selling. Full coverage.

Edit: Chris and Howard said it better than me and quicker too!