Ok, so on a much less of a light note- I unfortunately have to remind some people that there are federal copyright laws.  And, how these laws affect the seemingly (or I’m assuming) innocent usage of copyrighted photography images. 

Whenever a photograph is taken by a professional photographer, from the moment of creation, the exclusive copyright of that image is with the photographer.  Just because you, your family, your pet, or your business are featured in the image- does NOT grant you unlimited usage of this photo. 

Professional photographers make a living by not only taking these photos and applying their artistic skills to create beautiful images, but mainly in the selling of the completed images in the form of prints, merchandise, or liscensing contracts. 

Here are a few things you may not have thought about that go into your professional photography session & process…

Expenses a professional photographer pays for with the purchase of their services & prints:

• Most professional photographers have a commercial studio (they aren’t cheap)
• Utilities & services for businesses are usually about 1/3 more expensive than residential
• Photographers who utilize a studio usually have pretty big electric bills due to running all those lights, electronics and computers
• Any reputible photographer generally has equipment & back-up equipment to ensure your photography project or session goes smoothly and your images are protected.
• Photography equipment depreciates, breaks, malfunctions, needs repair, needs professional cleaning, lenses get scratched/wear out/become in-compatible when upgrading cameras
• If you have ever asked your photographer to see “what’s in their bag?” Just visualize that each SLR camera body is worth anywhere between $2000-$20,000 each!  And each lens can easily range from $300-$4,000!!! That means that in just ONE photographer’s bag, He/She could be toting around anywhere from$5,000 to $30,000 worth of equipment all to serve your needs!
• Editing programs such as Photoshop typically run around $1,000 and upgrades are necessary every couple years to ensure you are getting the best possible quality.
• High-risk photography such as “pet photography” typically means more risk to equipment. *Think about each one of those nice backdrops your pooch could pee on as $200+ each, and most aren’t readily cleanable (and deteriorate very quickly with frequent cleaning)
• Professional photographers must carry A LOT of insurance to protect their equipment, photos, photo storage, and themselves against potentially sue-happy clients
• Most professional photographers have professional affiliations with organizations such as the PPA or NPPA and although these elite memberships ensure you are getting a quality photographer with good ethics and skills- the memberships aren’t cheap either.
• Of course there are also the normal business operational costs as well (and if you or anyone you know runs a business you will understand) that include: websites, advertising, employees, and so on…

Perhaps you already knew all of this? If not, I hope this helps to shed a little light on the subject of hiring a professional photographer and what it takes to stay in the photography business.  Many people simply think that being a photographer is just having a good eye and a good camera, but that is certainly not the case as you can hopefully now see.

Something as simple as trying to print up your own copies of the photographer’s work greatly cuts into the ability for the photographer to serve you in the future, AND is illegal as well.  Although, most modern photographers will have a blog of some kind with sample watermarked image proofs from your session and allow you to share those with your friends, family, and use on social networking sites such as facebook or myspace- these images are intended to help the photographer spread their name and quality of services.  They are NOT intended for you to try and edit out watermarks and print.

Commercial usage without a written liscensing agreement is also a BIG no-no!  AND can land you serious fines, and court visits as I previously mentioned- these photographs are protected under FEDERAL copyright.  If you are looking to use these photos for any web related projects or advertising functions, you MUST have a written liscensing agreement with your photographer to do so.  Most of the time the photographer will allow you to purchase such agreements for digital or print advertising, ranging from $100-$2000 depending on the photographer and your intended usage of the photos and at the photographer’s personal discrention. 

*Pink Parrot Photo has commercial licensing available, please call our studio or visit our pricing section for additional details and requests.*

Candace Zynda & Pink Parrot Photo are membes of the PPA

All Photos are ©Pink Parrot Photo  It is illegal to copy, scan, or print without written permission
PPA ID#5148214    800-786-6277  <—–You may contact the PPA copyright Q&A line directly.