Print rights on photos

You need to call him! Ugh. I get so upset when brides get ripped off. Tell him you're not thrilled with the pictures he took and not happy with him pulling a fast one with your final product. I think he needs to know you're upset. Tell him you need full resolution pics with NO logos.

Jerk.

Did you get a contract? If so, what does it say in regards to print rights? And is he just showing you the proofs or the final pictures? Sometimes if its the proofs they will logo them since they aren't final.

I have the rights to all my photos. They do not include a watermark and my photographer included a letter that states that I may print them, etc. I agree with Sarah, tell him you want full resolution photographs without a logo. With full resolution you can print them anywhere and however big you want because their quality is better. Did you have a contract? I'd start going over it right now.

Ask him and check contract. Did he say those were the proofs or final photos. My photographer is giving us all our rights. We are getting all our photos on a CD for us to print and do what we want with them.

You definitely should not be getting photos with a watermark all over them. I also don't understand the no printing bigger than a 5 x 7... If he is giving you high resolution images, then there should be no issue printing bigger.

If he is giving you the print rights they should be full resolution and should be able to print any size. I would read over your contract carefully, you may a misunderstanding. Hope you can work it out.

Amber, what does your written contract say?

Unfortunately, that is what actually governs what he can do, legally. Even if you didn't read the fine print on the contract and didn't realize that it contradicted what you discussed, that's going to play a major role in what happens next. (My background is in contract management, FYI.)

If your contract doesn't include a statement giving you print rights, then you have to email him - PUT IT IN WRITING - but start with giving him the benefit of the doubt - and be very specific: "We're so excited to get our photos, but we noticed that all the ones you shared have your watermark on them, so we can't print them ... when we talked on xx the xxth, you agreed we had print rights up to size 5x7, but that above that you said we had to professionally print them anyway, because they would not turn out right. Please let us know by what date we'll have access to the non-watermarked prints. Thanks!"

This way you document what he told you in the verbal conversation, you specify the date of the conversation, and you state the precise terms he gave you, and then you request a specific date for him to provide them. You also establish a civil tone, which is important if you have to escalate the conversation later.

Also, check the contract for any language about 'digital' rights, or publishing rights. You may find some coverage with language that lets you post the photos, or have watermark-free e-copies, which is a way around the whole mess.

It's possible that he's still doing touch-ups, ,and doesn't want you printing them because he thinks they're not 'final' or ready. But if they ARE final, and he tells you he has no recollection of the conversation with you, and you can only order prints through him, then you need to consider next options, ranging from a compliant with the Better Business Bureau /Chamber of Commerce in the town where he is based, or even considering legal action. If you consider legal action, I would not recommend to threaten him with that, but instead to find an attorney to send him a letter - it will carry much more weight if you actually do hire one.

The rub is this: anything you do that involves a lawyer is going to create an expense. If you do not have digital rights to the photos, and the only way you're getting your photos is in print form, then it may be worth it to you to incur additional expense to get them. But if you have digital rights - e.g., to post to your FB page - then it may not be worth it to get into a fight. Start with your contract, though - that will really determine what direction you go.

P.S. The reason he likely has backed out on giving you 5x7 print rights is that once you have the digital copy, you can print ANY size you like. It sounds like he's making $$$ on forcing people to print through him.... if he charged you a low price for the work, then he's augmenting his income this way. If his price for the hours he worked was comparable to other photographers, then he's just being greedy - but if he's been smart enough to write this into your contract, then it's going to be tough to fight this.

It sounds like he provided you medium resolution photos, that would print a 5x7 well, but anything larger would have artifacts. What does it say in your contract and did you save any pre booking communication records? I personally don't do that, or place a proof mark or logo on hi res files I provide. Some established studios do that, because:

-They don't want a crappy retailer print representing their work

-At one time wedding photographers lived off of print sales when season was in the slower stage.

I don't like the bastardization of our craft any more than he does, but i don't like bait and switch and what was agreed to should be provided to the customer. You have to dig into the contract and other communication.