Photos and copyright?

Interesting. That seems to be pretty common now to just get the files and print them yourself. So we’re you able to get the letter or are you waiting for it?

You were given the chip so they were released to you, freely. And you paid for them. I see no issue. Our photographer told us we could do whatever with ours. We've printed them and shared some on Facebook.

View Quoted Comment It just happened today
They sold me the pics i havent messaged my photographer about the letter
She takes pics as her hobby ive no idea if she has a letter...

View Quoted Comment I shared mine on fb too
Shes like a friend
She was his friend he recommended her
Yes i have the blue chip she had in her camera

I use to work in a photo lab for a retail store. Just another way the company covers their butts. Sometimes "rights" by photographers aren't given. Silly right? But there are some photographers who the rights to photos they took of you. Just like at a portrait studio. The photographer/photography company doesn't want you taking their portrits to a local chain and reproducing their product. (your photo). Walmart can get sued by companies if they print a photo that has no release. If you tell Walmart that you have rights they are free from a lawsuit based on your information. Or the photographer signing a photo that says you have their copyright release. Kinda a convoluted thing.

Hi Heather. It sounds like the Walmart photo department is wanting a print release from your photographer. It's just a measure to protect them legally. If she gave you the disc/card with the images to have them printed, I'm sure it won't be a problem. Just ask her to send you a signed print release. If she doesn't already have one she uses, she can find sample wording online. Most photographers have something about that in their contract, but it sounds like you may have had a more casual arrangement with her without using a contract.

It is a law in some states to have written consent from the photographer. This happened when I printed mine to Sam's club( Wal-Mart affiliated and owned). I just had to have a signature and they gladly printed my photos. Not a big issue, but it would be nice to know before hand though!

Under US Copyright Law, the person who clicks the shutter holds the copyright. No matter if you paid or didn’t, you have to have written consent from the copyright holder to make reproductions of images that you don’t technically own. You paid to have print rights, not to own the copyright (most professional photographers sell only printing rights, not copyrights. Amateur photographers may not care or know the difference). Regardless, the person who took the photos would need to sign a release for you to print them.

Its important for printers to respect copyright laws. As usual, a few bad apples ruin things for everyone else. How do they know you have permission to print? The sad truth is that some people lie to try to get things cheaper, but if a printer, like Walmart, were to get caught doing this without written permission, penalties can be up to $100,000.

Just have your photographer give you a written statement that you have permission to print. Fun fact - when I print myself (I’m a professional photographer), I also have to have a written release.

I went to Walmart once to print some of my pictures from Disney and they asked me for the same thing lol! I was shocked 😂

Our photographer gave us a written release. Yours should have done the same.

View Quoted Comment Ours did the same thing! Gave us the disc with a release letter in case any issues

This is actually pretty common. When we get ours back, they will automatically come with a release letter. Since this is a hobby, your photographer may have just forgotten to give one to you, or may be nee enough that they didn't realize this would be needed. Simple fox, though. It is a good thing to have because I am fairly certain you always have to answer a question about having the rights to have the photos printed, and if you didn't have that letter, who knows what kind of trouble could potentially happen. My mind always goes to potential troublespots. But don't let Walmart keep the letter. You will need it in case you ever want to have more photos printed in the future!

I know that I can't sell my photos to any magazines as they are the copyright of my photographer. I can't edit them. I can choose to print them from him but I received my images digitally, so I suppose I can print them for my own use but can t go ahead and print to sell. I'm not sure exactly but that's what I imagine. It would be unaffordable to pay for all of your pictures as prints.

Usually if you have paid for the images your photographer should have sent one... the one we used for our maternity, newborn and daughters 1st bday pics did that sent me an email saying I had rights to them, however the photographer were using for wedding who did our engagement pics did not she just sent me a mobile gallery. I guess it depends it might be quicker to have your photog email you a release so you can just show it to them

View Quoted Comment Yea it would have been nice to know i didnt think it wss an issue

Have you tried shutterfly? I have the app and I get free 4X6 prints and I had professional photos of my daughter done and they didn't ask for a letter or anything. A lot of times they run promotions for free 16X20's and things.

View Quoted Comment No never heard if that one
Thanks might check it out for my wedding pics

I had a similar issue reprinting/copying a photo of my grandfather at Target a few years ago. They wanted a letter from the photographer which I couldnt provide since it was an army portrait from WWII - the guy was almost assuredly deceased! I ended up going up to the top manager of the whole store who finally did the math that the picture exceeded the maximum copyright limits for that kind of image and were under "implied consent" of the subjects or their next of kin for reproducing...

I didnt get a letter for our engagement shots - but they were taken by my FFIL and FBIL on my not really professional quality (though still really good) camera. I havent had trouble getting fittings photos of me printed at CVS so I will probably go there, you do them completely on your own with self serve kiosks so the staff never see them.