Not given credit for photos

[D 550D]

Hello guys!

First let me just say I'm not a pro. Am just a passionate amateur photographer that has never been paid for work. I do it to have fun, gain experience and build credibility for my work.

So last week I was asked to cover a volleyball match at my highschool.
When I came to the gym, a guy from my country's highschool volleyball league approached me and asked if I could send him the pictures from the match to be published at their website. I said "Yes" and asked if I can watermark them. He didn't agree.

I sent the photos the next day via email. I recived no answer via email nor any other way.

The photos just got published on the website and I was not given any credit despite my work was published in the gallery.

Since credibility and recogniton is my only "paiment" I sent the guy another email kindly asking him to list me as the author of the phots. It's been a few days since than and I didn't recive an answer.

What should I do?

Should I just get over it?

I guess not. Than everybody can do whatever they want with my work.

What do you think?

[CameraMan]

I think you made a mistake by giving him the photos after he told you not to watermark them. You should have come to some sort of agreement before you sent him the photos. I would ask him to either give you credit on the photos or take them off the website.

[D 550D]

Originally Posted by CameraMan

I think you made a mistake by giving him the photos after he told you not to watermark them. You should have come to some sort of agreement before you sent him the photos. I would ask him to either give you credit on the photos or take them off the website.

I did ask him to give me credit in my second email, but I have yet to recive an answer.

I should probably wait a bit more...

I also don't want to make to much fuss about it. After all the shots where good, but not great.

[jra]

If I were you, I would just let it go. For the most part, getting photo credit is pretty meaningless.

[CameraMan]

Originally Posted by jra

If I were you, I would just let it go. For the most part, getting photo credit is pretty meaningless.

Yeah but all that does is encourage more people to steal other peoples photographs. I'd make him take them down. It does you no good if your name isn't credited so what's the point of them being up there in the first place.

[tats]

Since Slovenia is in the EU I did some quick research and found this -

"Copyright belongs to the author on the basis of the creation of work. Registration is not required for the work to be copyright protected; the holder of the right can enter or save the original version or a sample of his work in the register of protected works. Copyright lasts for the duration of the author's life and 70 years after his death."

The EU has almost analogous DMCA take down procedures, so if you feel strongly about it, you can always send him and his ISP a DMCA notice to remove the offending photos.

[CameraMan]

I keep forgetting this is a global forum and forget to check the location of the OP.

[coolpbkid]

Next time dont ask about the watermarking.. You either sell him the photos or put your watermark on them so he doesnt even have to give you credibility. Watermarks work better than "This photo was taken by ______"

[jra]

Originally Posted by CameraMan

It does you no good if your name isn't credited so what's the point of them being up there in the first place.

I guess that's the "crux" of the issue.......what was the point of the photos to begin with? Considering that the OP's goal was not to make money or run a business, I was assuming they were doing it as a favor to the school and kids.....if that was the case, a photo credit isn't really that big of a deal IMO (although I do admit that it would've been respectful for the school to include the credit). On the other hand, if the OP was shooting primarily for photo credit, then I guess it would be a point of contention that should warrant a follow up.

[CameraMan]

True... but, unless you run the watermark through the middle of the photo, that watermark can get edited out as well.

[CameraMan]

The OP was asked to photograph a volleyball match. What kind of publisher takes someones photos for free and doesn't give the photographer credit for them. No matter where you're from that's still pretty cruel.

Sounds like a Craigslist scam to me.

[jra]

Originally Posted by CameraMan

The OP was asked to photograph a volleyball match. What kind of publisher takes someones photos for free and doesn't give the photographer credit for them. No matter where you're from that's still pretty cruel.

Sounds like a Craigslist scam to me.

I would agree....it was certainly disrespectful at best and I wouldn't defend the school for leaving it out (shame on them). That said, if the OP's greater goal was achieved, I would suggest just letting it go. I guess in the end, it really depends just how much importance the OP places upon having the photo credit.

[airfrogusmc]

Originally Posted by jra

If I were you, I would just let it go. For the most part, getting photo credit is pretty meaningless.

Yep. From advertising type work you usually never get credit. I usually never get credit in newspaper ads, billboards, annual reports and one usually never gets any new clients from credit but if the check clears now thats really something. Like JRA said let it go and if its really important moving forward get it in writing before you give up the image. I would say get the check first and don't worry so much about the by-line.

[CameraMan]

True, he did give up the photos without working out an arrangement first. Lesson learned hopefully.

[airfrogusmc]

Lotts'a lessons can be learned but two big ones are first put value on what you create. If you don't value it no one else will and credit doesn't feed the beast and if credit is important get it in writing first but I say get the check and don't worry so much about credit.