The Field Editorial Photography… Thievery A Problem?
Editorial Photographer A photobuyer calls you and says, “We like the photos you sent us and have scanned two dozen of them into our database.”
“You what…?” is your response.
The photobuyer responds, “You have a lot of pictures that we feel we could use in the future. We’re building an in-house reference file. Any problems with that?”
Consider it a compliment. Scanning of photos by a photobuyer needn’t be a threatening experience. Twenty-five years ago, when photocopy machines were new, a buyer copying a photo “for the files” seemed tantamount to copyright infringement to stock photographers. Gradually, however, stock photographers saw they were getting sales from the photocopied reference photos on file with photobuyers.
The same is happening today with scanning. The photobuyer scans photos to obtain low resolution (i.e. not reproduction-quality) “thumbnail-size” images to put into their reference “view-only” database. A software program cross-references them.
In the future, scanning your selections will be commonplace. No need to fear thievery any more than you do at the present. And particularly if you are working within the confines of a photobuying community where you know your buyers and they know you. It’s important to remember that the editorial photobuying community that you are working in makes all the difference in the world when it comes to the issue of thievery. It would be rare to hear of larceny.
In the editorial stock photo field, I’ve never heard of a photobuyer intentionally “stealing” a photo. There’d be no sense to it. The photo editor has a budget to work with; there’s no material profit to him or her to “borrow” a photo on the sly. Besides, the photo will be seen by hundreds, thousands of viewers. Most gangsters say this is not a profitable way to get away with something illegal.… Continue reading
