Disgruntled with a parent....

[Ropinamoment]

I'm pretty miffed at a parent on my son's baseball team and I know I won't do anything about it, but I wanted to blow off steam to people who would understand.

The head coach of my son's team invited me inside the fence for shots of the kids playing ball. She even asked me if I could put them on my website for everyone to see. I've always snapped shots and if I get something cool or good, I'll print a 4x6 and give it to the kid's parent at the end of the season.

I did as the coach asked and took pictures of the kids and I put them on a private gallery on my website. I gave the coach a bunch of cards with the password to give to the parents. My husband was talking to the head coach and one of the parents about the site at the last game and the coach mentioned that she'd like to buy a couple of 4x6's from me. The other parent had the nerve to tell her that she didn't have to do that, if she would do a print screen and just cut it out from a full sheet, you don't have to buy one! My husband was shocked. I know that what she prints won't be the quality that someone that buys one will get, but how rude! You right click on my images and it clearly states that they are protected by copyright. I guess I'd have to put my logo smack across the middle of all my shots to prevent something like this. Not that I'm going to for something as simple as a kids ball game that I had really no intention of making money off of. Just chaps me!

[JohnT]

I would still inform that parent that doing as she suggests violates federal copyright laws and gives you grounds for litigation if necessary. Or something like that (you could probably smooth it over a little :-).

[babybluetx23]

UGH! I had some people at Dodgeball last year tell me the SAME THING! I was SO urked that I am providing you guys with some fun pictures to look at on the internet and to remember the fun they had.

[JoeBannon]

You can sue her for breaking your copyright since you are the one doing the sharing. If you want to prevent them from making their own prints, you'll have to put a huge watermark on the image.

[engstrom]

Maybe you could explain the situation this way: you are talking with the coach when she mentions getting another job to help pay bills. You tell the coach why get another job when you can walk right over to that parent's billfold and take money out of it.

[JoeBannon]

Originally Posted by JohnT

I would still inform that parent that doing as she suggests violates federal copyright laws and gives you grounds for litigation if necessary. Or something like that (you could probably smooth it over a little :-).

That's wrong too, but hey, we live in a world of fear.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by engstrom

Maybe you could explain the situation this way: you are talking with the coach when she mentions getting another job to help pay bills. You tell the coach why get another job when you can walk right over to that parent's billfold and take money out of it.

LOL Exactly.

[Ropinamoment]

Well, I intend on intentionally not posting anymore pictures of her child. My witchy side is telling me to go back and watermark only her child or remove all the pictures of her child from my site. What miffs me the most is the gall that she has to tell others that she is blatanly getting around buying the images. The coach already stated that she intends to buy good copies. Another parent has already ordered 7 double prints. Like I said, I'm not doing it for the money at all, I enjoy taking pictures of my child and his team, and I'm glad to share with the other parents.

[boxofrocks]

Just put a heavy watermark on them. That will discourage most, but not all, of that monkey business.

[KdLaneJr]

Nah, skip the watermark, skip the confrontation..., put a notice to the parents on your pasword protected site explaining how to "steal" your copyrighted work like "parent so and so does".

You know, something along the lines of; For those of you who lack ethics, morality and go to church just for show, here's how to steal these from me instead of buying them.

When stirring the pot, always turn the heat up and make sure it boils over. LOL

[boxofrocks]

Originally Posted by KdLaneJr

Nah, skip the watermark, skip the confrontation..., put a notice to the parents on your pasword protected site explaining how to "steal" your copyrighted work like "parent so and so does".

You know, something along the lines of; For those of you who lack ethics, morality and go to church just for show, here's how to steal these from me instead of buying them.

When stirring the pot, always turn the heat up and make sure it boils over. LOL

I assume you're kidding about that. Although, there's been many a time when I've been tempted to do something similar.

[KdLaneJr]

While I was kidding, it takes a lot to get some peoples attention and peer pressure is still the best way.

(short of litigation that is)

[Ropinamoment]

Ken, thats very tempting! My revengeful side is peaked at the thought!

I won't be posting any more of her child. I probably won't even take anymore of her child. It does make me wonder how many parents are taking her advice.

[KeepsakeGirl]

always watermark.....always....you NEVER know who can steal them....even another photographer posting YOUR work as theirs!

[KdLaneJr]

Oh..., I wouldn't stop posting pics of her kid. Just down size them and down rez them, add a ton of noise... so she can't help but notice that images of her kid always 'suck' while all the other kids look great.

Yeah, I know. Probably not a good idea either. But it sure would be fun.