photographer w/ stolen portfolio

kxr4trids · 12-20-2010, 11:35 PM

I can't decide whether to be outraged by the fraud or amused by the righteous indignation of people who bought their weddings on craigslist for $300.

I remember reading a couple months back about a photog who was contacted by a novice wanting to know if they could use said photog's images in their portfolio. [the photog said no, but posted the anecdote]

Doesn't seem likely it was on this forum but couldn't remember.

Complaints Against Local Photographer - wtvr

philippe · 12-21-2010, 01:03 AM

About the same story happened to me.
Years ago, on a prospect meeting with a major advertising agency, I showed my portfolio.
As almost all of my pictures are used in printed publications (brochures, books, annual reports etc.). I only put these printed matter in my portfolio, why show them on a laptop if printing is the final goal?
So, on that day just by accident, I happened to lose (I think I did so) one of the brochures from my portfolio.
A few months later, I had a call of an former client's communications manager, who told me he had seen this very same brochure in that agency's portfolio and presented as one of their latest projects. That manager was the former communication chief of that particular company for whom this brochure was made for...

That's not the only 'story' I saw happening around me, a few years ago, I stopped working in the advertising branch, their attitude made me feel sick, now I earn less (a lot...) but feel better!

Digitalis · 12-21-2010, 01:13 AM

I have had numerous attempts from either individual photographers through to larger studios to use my images in a deceitful manner. Fortunately my older sister being somewhat of a specialist in copyright law here in Australia, all it takes is one phone call from her and they get the message.

I was applying for work at a studio which has a less than stellar reputation (the studio will go nameless) they asked me if I wanted to leave my portfolio behind with my CV - to which I answered " you people won't let people walk out of here with a folio of their own portraits for anything less than $400, and you expect me to let you have my portfolio for free? " - I don't expect to hear from them, but I suppose that is the lesser of the two evils.

FullertonImages · 12-28-2010, 06:54 PM

Well, I would love to say that with that amount of negative PR, that photographer's career is over. But unfortunately, it is all too easy to just start a new website, with a new business name, and new stolen portfolio images, and do it all over again. Hopefully the BBB will take legal against the photog, or the clients will serve a class action suit.

Although, I found it pretty funny to listen to the woman's critique of the images. "There's this little white circle thing, she's not centered in the picture..." Hahaha.

George Lama · 12-30-2010, 08:40 PM

Turns out there are numerous complaints about her, there was a FB page started by her victims, and there are/were several warning posts about her on Craigslist. Wedding Wire has some severely negative reviews about her and I'm sure other wedding websites would show the same.

Her website is shuttered also.

It's more than over for her if the State AG office gets on her case...

Ouch - http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=322412774022&v=app_6261817190

Framed · 01-01-2011, 09:49 PM

This brings to mind a question that runs through my head when I view some of the beautiful work posted here. Seems like stolen work getting false credit is becoming an internet issue. Yet, I never see a watermark on pics posted here, just curious why that is?

12-20-2010, 11:35 PM	#1
kxr4trids Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: VA Photos: Albums Posts: 227	photographer w/ stolen portfolio I can't decide whether to be outraged by the fraud or amused by the righteous indignation of people who bought their weddings on craigslist for $300. I remember reading a couple months back about a photog who was contacted by a novice wanting to know if they could use said photog's images in their portfolio. [the photog said no, but posted the anecdote] Doesn't seem likely it was on this forum but couldn't remember. Complaints Against Local Photographer - wtvr

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12-21-2010, 01:03 AM	#2
philippe Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Flanders Fields Posts: 463	About the same story happened to me. Years ago, on a prospect meeting with a major advertising agency, I showed my portfolio. As almost all of my pictures are used in printed publications (brochures, books, annual reports etc.). I only put these printed matter in my portfolio, why show them on a laptop if printing is the final goal? So, on that day just by accident, I happened to lose (I think I did so) one of the brochures from my portfolio. A few months later, I had a call of an former client's communications manager, who told me he had seen this very same brochure in that agency's portfolio and presented as one of their latest projects. That manager was the former communication chief of that particular company for whom this brochure was made for... That's not the only 'story' I saw happening around me, a few years ago, I stopped working in the advertising branch, their attitude made me feel sick, now I earn less (a lot...) but feel better!

12-21-2010, 01:13 AM	#3
Digitalis Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Adelaide. Posts: 9,171	I have had numerous attempts from either individual photographers through to larger studios to use my images in a deceitful manner. Fortunately my older sister being somewhat of a specialist in copyright law here in Australia, all it takes is one phone call from her and they get the message. I was applying for work at a studio which has a less than stellar reputation (the studio will go nameless) they asked me if I wanted to leave my portfolio behind with my CV - to which I answered " you people won't let people walk out of here with a folio of their own portraits for anything less than $400, and you expect me to let you have my portfolio for free? " - I don't expect to hear from them, but I suppose that is the lesser of the two evils.

12-28-2010, 06:54 PM	#4
FullertonImages Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 886	Well, I would love to say that with that amount of negative PR, that photographer's career is over. But unfortunately, it is all too easy to just start a new website, with a new business name, and new stolen portfolio images, and do it all over again. Hopefully the BBB will take legal against the photog, or the clients will serve a class action suit. Although, I found it pretty funny to listen to the woman's critique of the images. "There's this little white circle thing, she's not centered in the picture..." Hahaha.

12-30-2010, 08:40 PM	#5
George Lama Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Buffalo/Rochester, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,133	Turns out there are numerous complaints about her, there was a FB page started by her victims, and there are/were several warning posts about her on Craigslist. Wedding Wire has some severely negative reviews about her and I'm sure other wedding websites would show the same. Her website is shuttered also. It's more than over for her if the State AG office gets on her case... Ouch - http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=322412774022&v=app_6261817190

01-01-2011, 09:49 PM	#6
Framed Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: KC Posts: 45	This brings to mind a question that runs through my head when I view some of the beautiful work posted here. Seems like stolen work getting false credit is becoming an internet issue. Yet, I never see a watermark on pics posted here, just curious why that is?