Just when you think you've seen/heard it all....

[jungleland26]

I shot a wedding (one of many) 2 months ago....I saw a link to a photography website having the same name as the bride in an email from the bride. Opened the link...viewed the slideshow and was rather unimpressed...

I then proceeded to view the BIO, FAQ, CONTACT, PRICING sections and more...

Each section is a VERBATIM match of my website.....Literally copied and pasted...


bw!bw!

Now what do I do??

[turbo212003]

give us examples so we can look for ourselves:)

[Karl Johnston]

I don't quite understand, the bride ripped off your website and is now doing photography ?

[jungleland26]

I don't quite understand, the bride ripped off your website and is now doing photography ?


yes

[SOK]

yes

And she stole your bio? How does that work?

[jungleland26]

And she stole your bio? How does that work?


My bio format is unique....She filled in her own info obviously...used the form, intro and closing

[SOK]

So her bio - and I'm assuming her contact page - are not exactly 'verbatim' or 'copied and pasted'. I think you confused a few respondents by throwing that in.

What about prices?

Not much you can do about her stealing your style...apart from being flattered I guess? The joys of the internet.

Let your images speak for themselves...and hers speak for her.

Speaking of letting things speak for themselves...can we have some links so that we might be the judge?

[jungleland26]

So her bio - and I'm assuming her contact page - are not exactly 'verbatim' or 'copied and pasted'. I think you confused a few respondents by throwing that in.

What about prices?

Not much you can do about her stealing your style...apart from being flattered I guess? The joys of the internet.

Let your images speak for themselves...and hers speak for her.

Speaking of letting things speak for themselves...can we have some links so that we might be the judge?


On my "investment" page I discuss how I feel package pricing is a bit too boiler plate and how my pricing is on a client basis....


I'm not going to post links as I feel it's in bad taste and bad business to do so in this situation....

[sapearl]

Sorry about the rip off style (or flattery as has been suggested?) but now you have me curious: what is pricing on a client basis, or maybe what I'm really asking is how do they know where you start?


On my "investment" page I discuss how I feel package pricing is a bit too boiler plate and how my pricing is on a client basis.............

[SOK]

I'm not going to post links as I feel it's in bad taste and bad business to do so in this situation....

Can we at least see yours?

[tfizzle]

this is like saying, "I've got the most amazing shot ever" and then never post it. booo...lol

[Karl Johnston]

To quote an internet meme...
:D
"Pics or it didn't happen"

I can understand not wanting to post it for professional reasons but the thing is that's hilarious (I mean who does that, honestly?)

[nicksan]

Happens all the time.
When I put together my website, I certainly browsed other websites and used them as reference. I wouldn't blatantly copy someone's website, but there's really nothing stopping folks from doing that either...

[dolfinack]

To quote an internet meme...
:D
"Pics or it didn't happen"

I can understand not wanting to post it for professional reasons but the thing is that's hilarious (I mean who does that, honestly?)

(lolled at above)

lets see the dirt...

[CaityB]

I'm interested in seeing this also, but I can see why you might not be ready to share that information. Better person, etc..

I've referenced other people's sites (there is a guy in Australia who used the same bludomain layout I did and I am using some of his Q&A's, but he's in Australia. He's magnificent!) As far as format goes, I can understanding using some here and there, but entire paragraphs?

Have you asked her about this?

[samueli]

What about the layout, is there anything copied totally verbatim? If it's a total cut and paste, you can always file a DCMA. If your graphics and layout where jacked, I would be contacting the persons web host with file dates and things like that.

[jungleland26]

To answer your questions..

No, she did not use any of my images...She just used my site layout (sitemap) and then copied and pasted the text and changed the personal content as needed....I'm the one with the daughter, not her..


I hope I'm being somewhat clear..

also, no I have not contacted her...I really don't know how to address this...I figure the referrals, if any, are more important than this issue..

maybe I'm nuts...

[canonnoob]

can you show us your website so we get an idea

[CaityB]

You think she will refer you to others when she is trying to start her own photography business????

[jungleland26]

You think she will refer you to others when she is trying to start her own photography business????


YES! She does not have content or quality...Looks like she shot one wedding (based upon what's on her site)...and that wedding was that of a member of her bridal party.....

[CaityB]

Okay, I see what you are saying, but apparently SHE doesn't think her quality is poor. If I was starting my own business and I had enough faith in it to post a website AND shoot someone's wedding I don't think I would be referring someone else who's stuff I decided to steal...


Just a thought. I do hope you are right, and she will though.

[cdifoto]

YES! She does not have content or quality...Looks like she shot one wedding (based upon what's on her site)...and that wedding was that of a member of her bridal party.....
You obviously don't know what a referral is.

[samueli]

Then I wouldn't worry about it. People do that all the time. If it's not verbatim copying content along the lines of plagerism, or completely stealing a site layout and branding, there is little that can be done. And even if it was worse, there is still little to be done. Most successful protection I've heard about revolves around article/copywrite, and to a lesser extent images. Site maps are stolen everyday.

I'm surprised that someone would instantly proclaim themselves a wedding photographer.

[jungleland26]

You obviously don't know what a referral is.

Evidently you do. Pat yourself on the back:rolleyes::rolleyes:


73 weddings booked this year, 39 of which are referrals. Let me know if you want to compare P+L's...

[sapearl]

With the type of higher market you're booking in NY & Philly as well as the large number of referrals, I'd say let it go. Yes, it is aggravating and show's she's got a lot of nerve..... I would be PO'd too for a while, but your work will speak for itself.

But as others have said, unless there's blatant infringement your legal recourse may be difficult if you're inclined in that direction. You do successfully charge higher than the average (at least here in the Midwest) so I would be curious about your site and work. You are obviously doing something right. Too bad you don't have a link in your sig as others have suggested ;).

To answer your questions..

No, she did not use any of my images...She just used my site layout (sitemap) and then copied and pasted the text and changed the personal content as needed....I'm the one with the daughter, not her..
........

[mattyb240]

Evidently you do. Pat yourself on the back:rolleyes::rolleyes:


73 weddings booked this year, 39 of which are referrals. Let me know if you want to compare P+L's...

Surely this forum is better then this ;)

[Tarzanman]

Hey. I'm starting up a photography business. Can I have a link to the website so that I can copy it too? I promise to change the background color and move some tables around

[chakalakasp]

Evidently you do. Pat yourself on the back:rolleyes::rolleyes:


73 weddings booked this year, 39 of which are referrals. Let me know if you want to compare P+L's...

http://i672.photobucket.com/albums/vv87/melliott2811/Internets/Hilarity/oh-snap-chart.jpg

[cdifoto]

Evidently you do. Pat yourself on the back:rolleyes::rolleyes:


73 weddings booked this year, 39 of which are referrals. Let me know if you want to compare P+L's...
You can't possibly know what a referral is if you think someone who's copying your website to start her own business is going to refer people who ask her for her services to you.

Read what CaityB said.

[butcha27]

An old saying is "imitation is the greatest form of flattery"

Take that as a positive.

If she doesn't compare quality-wise well is there an issue?

You do say yourself there is no shortage of bookings.

[Fenster]

Oh, snap.

[Lightworks Imaging]

If I had 73 weddings this year, (or even 39, for that matter) I'd be pretty thrilled. Let your work speak for itself. Someone that's shot one wedding for a friend and throws out a shingle, probably isn't going to be around for too terribly long. Consider it part of the "price of doing business".

[Karl Johnston]

73?!?! WOW ! I struggle to get one.

[jungleland26]

If I had 73 weddings this year, (or even 39, for that matter) I'd be pretty thrilled. Let your work speak for itself. Someone that's shot one wedding for a friend and throws out a shingle, probably isn't going to be around for too terribly long. Consider it part of the "price of doing business".


Agreed, I was just in complete shock when I saw it. I'm not planning on addressing it...

As I saw on her facebook profile that she has in fact already REFERRED another couple to me for their wedding.... They were ogling over her wedding images and they both said "we need your photographer"...she gave them my website... That's a referral...:cool::cool:

[CaityB]

Agreed, I was just in complete shock when I saw it. I'm not planning on addressing it...

As I saw on her facebook profile that she has in fact already REFERRED another couple to me for their wedding.... They were ogling over her wedding images and they both said "we need your photographer"...she gave them my website... That's a referral...:cool::cool:


Good then. I'm just shocked she did that after "taking" your site stuff. That's all. Get it?

I'm sure you can see where I am coming from.

[cdifoto]

Agreed, I was just in complete shock when I saw it. I'm not planning on addressing it...

As I saw on her facebook profile that she has in fact already REFERRED another couple to me for their wedding.... They were ogling over her wedding images and they both said "we need your photographer"...she gave them my website... That's a referral...:cool::cool:
That's interesting. And weird.

[symbolphoto]

Hire a lawyer if she refuses to take it down. Pretty straightforward. We've done it for similar issues.