Portrait client editing photos - What would YOU do?

So. This just happened to me....

Shot a senior session. Then I checked facebook for the senior to see what they have done with the photos. Helps me to see what they like and a way of checking up on the use of the photos. Well... I checked one senior and they made a collage of a few of them (which is fine) but they also edited a few of them and added a sepia filter to it. I am not a fan of sepia on most photos and do not use it.

I can definitely see why this may be a more common issue with seniors. They all like to think they need to over-edit EVERYTHING and add "instagram" filters to every photo.

I am debating on emailing them and reminding them that they do not have the rights to edit them (as stated in the signed agreement) and politely explain to them why I do not allow them to edit them - It does not represent my work. I do not want my photos out there being edited by someone else representing me. I do not want potential clients seeing photos and forming an opinion of my work based on someone else's edits. Especially when it is an edit I do not like nor one that I do.

I have also thought of emailing them and letting them know I saw the post and noticed the sepia edit. Then remind them of why I don't allow edits. Then offer to send them a sepia version of the photos.

Right now, I am doing nothing. I'm just sitting on it and thinking about it while I monitor their posts to see what happens. I don't really want to let them know I can see their posts. I also don't want them to blow it out of proportion and complain to potential clients without even explaining to them why it is wrong.

Have any of you run into this before? What have you done or what would you do?

Was the "no editing" policy spoken about as well?

I know you have it in your contract, and it's the clients responsibility to understand and adhere to the contract they signed...but in my experience, contracts as a whole are glanced over at best.

In my opinion...was her edit of the photo a large decrease in the quality of your work? Did the sepia filter she added make the photo look drastically different then how the photo would have turned out had you provided a sepia version?

If your goal is client satisfaction, then you probably want to sit on this one.

If your goal is maintaining the integrity of your artwork, then you should remind them of your policy.


Side note - unless the client is facebook friends with your or your photography page...mentioning you saw their post could come off a little creepy, even if it is a client. I have "checked in" on clients to see if photos were posted/shared/etc, but personally would never mention anything they post unless that connection has been made.

This seems to be a highly debated topic these days and I can see both sides. For me, I usually go the route of not saying anything, and for that matter not really worrying about it in the first place. In a digital world people are going to post, and in doing so crop, edit, filter, etc. Most of my work comes from WOM, not an image they saw on Facebook or Instagram. I'd rather not lose out on potential business because I pissed off a client about a post I creeped on. Again, I get it, it's in the contract they agreed to, but I've always lived life "picking my battles". So far that has served me well. YMMV.

Boone13 wrote in post #17828259
I'd rather not lose out on potential business because I pissed off a client about a post I creeped on. Again, I get it, it's in the contract they agreed to, but I've always lived life "picking my battles". So far that has served me well. YMMV.

That's kind of what I was thinking as well. They are very happy with them and commented on how easy I was to work with. They have also expressed interest in a family session once we get some actual snow.

agrandexpression wrote in post #17828249
Was the "no editing" policy spoken about as well?

I know you have it in your contract, and it's the clients responsibility to understand and adhere to the contract they signed...but in my experience, contracts as a whole are glanced over at best.

In my opinion...was her edit of the photo a large decrease in the quality of your work? Did the sepia filter she added make the photo look drastically different then how the photo would have turned out had you provided a sepia version?

If your goal is client satisfaction, then you probably want to sit on this one.

If your goal is maintaining the integrity of your artwork, then you should remind them of your policy.


Side note - unless the client is facebook friends with your or your photography page...mentioning you saw their post could come off a little creepy, even if it is a client. I have "checked in" on clients to see if photos were posted/shared/etc, but personally would never mention anything they post unless that connection has been made.

Yes, I always read through it with them and explain EVERY paragraph and ask if they have questions.

The filter wasn't horrible. And yes the goal is always client satisfaction WHILE maintaining integrity of work.

To both of you... following up on your work and how it is used is not creepy. It is market research as well. Know your client so you know who/how to market to them. This client also follows my page. When I get likes, I always check out who is liking my page, where they are located, and what exactly they like about my page.

Anyway.... I am not going to say anything about it. I will just make sure I explain everything again when we do another session.

At the very least, I think this thread is a good topic to be discussed. I'm sure others have run into this or will at some point.

I don't see a "Win" anywhere in quoting legalities to him. Two things...
First, maybe ask him to add something like, "Look what I did to this image!"
Better yet, bite the bullet & add a good sepia image to what you deliver. "If you can't beat them..." ; )

PhotosGuy wrote in post #17828308
I don't see a "Win" anywhere in quoting legalities to him. Two things...
First, maybe ask him to add something like, "Look what I did to this image!"
Better yet, bite the bullet & add a good sepia image to what you deliver. "If you can't beat them..." ; )

It would be nice if they said "I edited these images, here is the link to the photographer's images." That way, at least everyone would know.
I have also thought about sepia versions to my deliverable. Just need to come up with a good PS action I can run them through. I currently run them through a custom B&W action then edit ones that are "off." Could do the same for Sepia.

BlakeC wrote in post #17828296
To both of you...following up on your work and how it is used is not creepy.

Following up on your work and messaging a client about a sepia filter are two different things. But that's also my opinion. There's no absolute right way.

Boone13 wrote in post #17828333
Following up on your work and messaging a client about a sepia filter are two different things. But that's also my opinion. There's no absolute right way.

Agree.

BlakeC wrote in post #17828296
The filter wasn't horrible. And yes the goal is always client satisfaction WHILE maintaining integrity of work.

Of course it is. But there will be situations where they both can't coincide, at that point you'll have to decide which is more important.

BlakeC wrote in post #17828296
To both of you... following up on your work and how it is used is not creepy. It is market research as well. Know your client so you know who/how to market to them. This client also follows my page. When I get likes, I always check out who is liking my page, where they are located, and what exactly they like about my page.

I don't think anyone has a problem with you following up on your work. It is research to see which photos were liked the most, and comments made about the photos. I do it, and maybe others do too.

To me, the possible issue is making it known you were checking out their page...especially if they aren't an actual "facebook friend". Yes, you were only looking at posts related to your photography work...but people can misinterpret that.

Unless they are blasting your work...I personally don't see the need to bring up facebook or any social media platforms to current/former clients. I'm probably in the minority on that one.

I certainly understand the desire to not have images edited, especially when it is put in writing in advance of the shoot. However, once you let go of digital images you have to expect this to happen from time to time.

you could probably do a change to sepia in a matter of minutes (if you can track down the image easily) why not just do the change, make it better, and point out the differences in the two images? Include a very low res sample and tell him he is free to use it if he points out how much better yours is than his. Be polite and tell him you are not upset by his edit but that next time he might consider contacting you for a re-edit. I donno, might work.

here's an example of someone editing one of my images, LOL:
https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1443484

What would I do? I would cash their check and go on my merry way. When I'm doing this sort of photography, I don't make art; I make photos in exchange for money.

Perhaps, if the client is doing further edits to the photos that I provided, then I would question myself: Am I not delivering what the client expects, or what the client wants?

PhotosGuy wrote in post #17828308
Better yet, bite the bullet & add a good sepia image to what you deliver. "If you can't beat them..." ; )

Agreed. Deliver what the client wants; make art for yourself when you're not beholden to the client.

Welcome to the hazards of the digital photography world. In spite of any written and verbal advice, how can you possibly control or prevent alteration of delivered JPG files? You cannot. Even if you deliver only pictures as hard goods on paper, folks can scan in prints (or even photograph it with their cellphone) and then edit them, too.

Remember that photography is part craft and part art. Your opinions of what is 'good' in the art part of the world will not necessarily match what someone else thinks is 'good', and that is the nature of the art beast. I hate Picasso art, but that makes it no less valuable!

I am a big believer in photographers legal rights but I also think that the law (and some photographers) have failed to keep up with the modern internet/social media market. Kids today aren't getting senior shoots done because they want a posh picture to hang on the wall. They do it because they want to be seen doing it on social media. The timeline event you provide is more important to many of them than the actual images.

In addition they are heavily into user generated content - remixing, mash-ups, adding filters. It is normal for them to make changes to stuff and provided it is done for personal use I would let it slide.

Some of my best referring clients are those who have butchered my shots of them with IG and other filters.

This did not "happen to you". Work you produced was used and appreciated. If you say anything word will get around and your business will suffer.

Many photographers are such "precious flowers" about their "unique work" or "talent". You took some photos, you were paid, let it go.

Your name will be tied to that work. Make it stop. As a compromise offer to edit a couple in a style that would satisfy him and not embarrass you. I'm very clear with clients that this is the absolute #1 condition they must understand and agree to. No editing beyond cropping will be allowed.