A copyright gives the creator of the work the rights to
copy, distribute, publicly display or create derivative works from the original
work. A copyright also gives the creator the right to license those rights to
others. Copyright covers; photography, music, motion pictures, magazines,
books, choreography, sculptures, and more. Since I am a photographer I will
cover the topics that pertain to my work.
When I create a photo by pressing the shutter button on my
camera, the image that I have created is immediately copyrighted. With that
said, if I have a photo “registered” with the copyright office, that gives me
more of an ability to enforce my rights and generally “registered” works come
with a higher penalty for violation.
Even if I don’t have an image registered,
I still own the copyright and I can still seek penalties for violation of my
copyright.
I am considered an
“independent contractor” when I am hired by a client to perform a
service. Therefore, my clients do not own the rights to the images that are
created by our session. If you purchase and are provided with digital images,
you will be provided a limited print and usage release to duplicate low-res
images (printing up to 8x10) as well as a set of images to share online with friends and family. The
included print release is quite detailed in it’s terms on the use and the reproduction that is allowed.
My images that are posted online through my Facebook or my
website are also protected by copyright law and does not mean that they are
public domain for you to copy or distribute (whether they have a watermark or
not). That includes printing them if you do not have a print release (by downloading and printing through your computer printer or elsewhere). As far as printing is concerned, every photo that I post online with a watermark is uploaded as a web viewing resolution and not a printing resolution.
I generally
do not have a problem if you like to share your photos through my Facebook
page, by pressing the share button, as well as using one of my images as a
profile picture as long as it is not cropped and the watermark remains. A photo
credit that links back to me is great, but giving a photo credit does not mean
that infringement did not occur. Technically if you download and upload one of
my pictures to your Facebook or email, you have technically infringed upon my
copyright, unless I have given you written permission to do so (for those that purchase digital images, a print release is included as well as web resolution files). If you are not sure, please ask.
Every image that I upload, regardless where I upload it to
and regardless whether or not it is directly implied or not is;
©Lauren
Beasley Photography, LLC, All rights reserved. It is illegal to copy, scan,
distribute, or alter without written permission. PPA ID # 8241145. All images
created by me, Lauren Beasley. Since I am incorporated, my copyrights last for a term
of 95 years from the date of first publication or 120 years from the date of
creation, which ever expires first.
I used the, “PPA Copyright Kit”, available to Professional Photographers
of America members to help guide me in the creation of this information.
www.PPA.com. I also got permission from PPA to use the copyright protection image posted in this post.
