WTF & WWYD

jfgrad06

A friend of mine just texted me and said "My friends company just bought the venue you used for your reception. I sent her pics of it off your FB to use on her new website, hope that's okay"1. WTF? She had no right to give out my pics.2.The friend she knows works for a local bridal shop, and her company bought my venue. I personally do not like that bridal company, I had a crappy experience there, and I don't know that I would have given them pictures on my own. But I'm not generally one to make a fuss over things. Would you want the pics removed, or let them stay?2. And this is a biggie with me. The pics are from my pro photographer, and I think the website needs to credit her acocordingly. Agree? Also, legally, shouldn't they have to credit the photographer? And should my name be in there anywhere since they were mine? Not sure how it works...I guess I'm just kind of irritated she gave out my pics to a company I don't care for, without asking my permission first. And I want to cover any legal issues, so any advice would be great. Thanks ladies!

Night_Sprite

I think it is perfectly appropriate to tell her you aren't comfortable with that and you want them taken down. 

katiewhompus

Honestly I would pull those pictures off that site as fast as you could. She had no right to volunteer your pictures without your consent and you could probably get into trouble with your photographer if she doesn't believe that you personally didn't put those pictures up there without permission.Nothing else just write the site/venue and tell them you did not give permission for your pictures to be released and take them down.

arbolita

I would take it as a compliment.  Your name doesn't have to be anywhere on there, but you should probably tell her she needs to get permission from your photographer before using the pics, and then they can deal with how they want themselves represented.

Koopa17

Ew yes, this would piss me off.  I would tell your friend to retract her permission to them to use YOUR pics.  Tell her 1) you cannot pass out the pics without the photog's permission and 2) you don't like the company and don't want to endorse it.  I'd probably follow up with the company too and make sure my pic would never be used.  That was incredibly rude of her.

LarissaAnn

Actually, the new owner should not use them - and is not allowed to use them - without permission. Photographers own the rights to their photos, so yes, your photographer would have to give consent and could demand credits AND compensation. If your photographer gave you the rights to your photos (as ours did), you also have standing to demand the same. If you don't like this company, don't advertise for them. Demand they not use them.

kinsey0628

yeah that is definitely not kosher to use pro pix without crediting the pro.  mention that to your friend.  i would also want them not used.  tell your friend that is not cool.  also, don't freak out too soon.  it sounds like your friend made the dumb move, but the company she sent them to might be smart enough not to use them.  just tell her it is not ok.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I'd contact them and say it's your picture and the rights are owned by your photographer and you'd appreciate it being taken down because they don't have permission from you or the photographer to have it on their site.

julezlee

I would just text her back and say: "No, actually that's not OK. I don't want my photos used that way. Please tell your friend not to use those photos."

kikibaby

She is infringing on your privacy AND stealing the photographer's work.  Not OK in any way, shape or form.  Ask nicely for them to be removed.  If they are not, send a certified letter.  If that doesn't work, time for a cease & decist order.

lpstl

I think I'd flip.You need to tell her those are professional photographs you own the rights to, and you are not authorizing their use. You might want to check your photog contract, because distributing them for commercial purposes might not be ok at all.

BubbleJ

I would tell the friend she was out of line first off. Then I would contact to company and say sorry, the photos were not hers to give and you don't want them used. If they refuse (which they could, some people are like that) I would tell them the photographer needs full credit. I would also want the wedding date up there, so people can see that the wedding was not done under their management. And isn't it false advertising to use a wedding that they didn't have any part of?

TiDa2009

I would contact your friend and have her/him request the pictures be taken down as she did not have permission to offer them. If they are left on the website, then, yes, the photographer needs to be credited and maybe even asked permission for using her/his work as "advertising".

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

And honestly? If I had a neutral opinion about the place, I might just say, "fine, you just need to credit the photographer." But since your opinion is slightly negative, I'd demand the take-down.

LesPaul

Legally she doesn't have the copyright to distribute the pro pics.

LarissaAnn

Right. It's not just a credit issue, it's a compensation issue. If they want to use the photos, they need to pay the photographer for the right to use them for advertising purposes. Or they can hire the photog to take new ones.

jfgrad06

I haven't said much to my friend about being distressed by this. She saw it as doing me a favor, ie, "Now tons of people can see your gorgeous pictures" but didn't really get that she had no right to send them. And the company hasn't contacted me about anything, which I find odd. As business professionals, they should know how this works.I have the rights to the photos, but would still like for the photographer to get credit. I haven't seen the website, it's a work in progress from my understanding. I want to actually which ones, and how many before I get too upset over it.It's a weird situation. If I had liked the company, or maybe didn't even know them, I might let them use my pics. Also, if she had asked my persmission first, I would feel better about it. But stealing my pictures for a company that I don't like...well, it sucks.

jfgrad06

And isn't it false advertising to use a wedding that they didn't have any part of?And THIS! Anyone have the answer?

tidetravel

I would tell her to take them down, and then tell your photographer that this company was using the photos without their permission.  The photographer will probably have more "legal authority" than you do.

tidetravel

Even if you have reproduction rights to the photos, it is usually for personal use/distribution.  Most photographers still retain copyright to the pics, because they were the ones that took them.  Using the pictures for commercial purposes is VERY different than posting them on facebook, is probably a violation of your contract, and more than likely NOT ok with the photographer, at all.

janedoe1113a

I would demand them be taken down.And I think you should personally contact the company yourself, not wait for them to contact you.

tidetravel

And isn't it false advertising to use a wedding that they didn't have any part of?And THIS! Anyone have the answer?Depends on how the pics are used.  If they are just there to "showcase" what the venue "could" look like during a wedding, then it's probably ok.  If the company is implying that they had anything to do with that particular wedding, then it would be false advertising

kinsey0628

don't be afraid to just tell her you are not comfortable with it. and if you want to spin it so you don't look like the one making a fuss, just pin it on the photog needing credit... she doesn't know whether you have the rights to the pix or not. also, why would she think she is doing you a favor that tons of random strangers can see ur wedding pix?   seems more like a violation of privacy to me...

LarissaAnn

They won't contact you for permission. You need to contact them. You'd be surprised how many businesses don't act professionally.

jfgrad06

I'm going to e-mail my photographer and see what she says. I do have the rights to the photos, but as PPS said, commercial use is different. If she says they need to come down, then that's what will be done.

squirrly

I would just text her back and say: "No, actually that's not OK. I don't want my photos used that way. Please tell your friend not to use those photos."THIS. 

vgmartinez

I would also be irritated and would probably get them off the website.

smokeybailey

Even if a photog gave you the rights to use your photos, they probably did not give you the rights to use the photos for commercial use.  By all means, have them pulled down immediately.  Advise her that her company can reach out to the photographer and purchase images.  Of course, they cannot purchase any images of you unless YOU signed a release allowing the photographer to license your images for commercial use.

thesuninherhead

I'm thinking that your photog will have something to say about this.