Bride edited photos further, should I say something?

In my contract, it is specified that the client may not edit photographs themselves, that they can ask me if they'd like something changed.
I have a bride who uploaded three images to Facebook and all three have been significantly edited, each looking different style.
She is interested in prints and I sent her pricing for that yesterday. Should I let it go? Ask for her to remove them?? I'd hate to do that, but at the same time if someone asks who her photographer was I don't want those images to be what represent my work... They have been up for a while though and almost everyone who was going to see them already has... Never been in this situation before so seeking advice from the pros (you)

Thanks!

Do you have clients sign anything before? Just ask nicely if they would care not to edit any photos and post them. How did she get these images? A few tricky things here. If she paid for a usb/disc of the images you may have some trouble. I try to let the clients know before I shoot that please do not post anything on social media without my knowledge, and never remove watermarks or edit. All have agreed. But I do make available to them if they do choose to post a few, I will edit and upload and tag them in the photos, this way I control the images.

Either way, I would say something nicely. This way you don't make anyone mad but still keep your images and editing the way you intended them to be viewed.

The cost-benefit risk weighs strongly to the cost side, particularly considering its already been up a while.

Can you think of anyone who's OK with being told they'd violated the small print in something they'd signed? I'd reserve that for damaging copyright violations.

Before Yelp, you could get away with waving "technically in the right" in the face of the paying customer's desires.

Some of my best referring clients are those who have edited and posted after recieving their images.

Unless she is getting less than flattering comments on the photos about colors or whatever, I'd leave it alone and let the people like and share the heck out of the stuff.

NBEast, Thank you for your advice...

I do go over the contract with my clients one step at a time to ensure they understand, but I do understand your logic and agree for the most part.

I'm attaching tow of the 3 images she posted. The couple shot has extra contrast and shadows on faces as a result, the group photo has a yellow-greenish instagram filter on it. The third photo is just overexposed.

My only concern is that there were many individuals at the wedding, some who I know, that must be wondering what I was doing...

They all have lots of likes and positive comments of course (every facebook pic does) and I would definitely not ask her to take them down (that would be a big blow because she would probably not even post them again). What I think I may do is simply remind her of the fineprint, and request she please not do it to additional photos but that she can leave the ones there. I'm thinking use a painter as an example. If you are displaying a painters artwork in your restaurant, people will recognize it yet only the painter knows it no longer represent his work/style. I will explain it in really "nice" language. What do you think?

Those are nothing. Wait until you have someone selective colour one of your shots, then you'll know they have been edited.

TBH I'd be more concerned about the groom's disconnection to the bride (hand in pocket) in the first and the verticals being off in the second. Those things are far more noticeable than the minor filters that have been applied.

You're making a mountain out of a molehill.

True true. Do you think I should still say something? Not for her to remove them but to please not further edit others?

They are vertical. I double checked. A little bit of barrel lens distortion is all.

Hrm,

I think you're getting worked up over something that is truly inevitable. You're attaching personal sentiment to it. Instead, you should see it as advertisement for future business. Would you rather have more clients who will pay you? Or less clients who abide by your contract to the letter, and do not post/edit/share it. It's unfortunately a broken rule in your contract, but is it really unfortunate? It's a good clause to have in contract if things ever got legal and actually become serious. But for something that isn't serious, just social media sharing/editing on phone no doubt, I would not get worked up over it and instead simply do more work, get paid, and keep going.

You sell a product, and the buyer should probably be able to do what they wish with it, so long as it isn't commercial.

Wrecked fancy cars and fancy torn suits in movies are just advertisement...

Very best,

I really like those edits. Trying to control what someone does with images they paid for, regardless of a contract, will hurt your reputation FAR more than a couple of nicely edited photos. Let it go, and take that clause out of your contract.

If I was your customer and you asked me not to posted edited photos I'd tell you to get s****** and I'd give you bad reviews, regardless of the contract.

Luigi1234 wrote in post #18060516
They are vertical. I double checked. A little bit of barrel lens distortion is all.

The verticals are definitely not vertical. But I think the combination of the camera not being level making the verticals converge and also the camera being slightly rotated that made this one tough to nail. Fixing it would probably mean cropping the women at the sides though.

As to your issue with customers editing, I can understand how you feel. But she is promoting you by posting them to her page right? So there is still the possibility that this will drive traffic to your site right? If she hadn't posted anything, the possibility would be zero.

With social sharing it's a matter of picking and choosing your battles. Each 'infringement' obviously needs to be weighed on it's own against monetary damages not artistic pride. If you are losing money because of their action, then yes, you need to affirm your position. However, with so much 'sharing' on social sites, most people consider their action 'normal' and 'acceptable'.

However, I can also see your point as a creative who has put time and effort to making an image look 'just right'. Rather than putting yourself and your customer in an awkward situation have you considered posting your own carefully crafted response to their post, mentioning how you like what they've done to your image and congratulating them on being so 'creative'. This let's others know that your original was altered by the client therefore changing their perception of the kind of work you do. Basically a form of 'damage control' on your part for something you really can't stop from happening.

Just my two bits.

-Duck- wrote in post #18060652
Rather than putting yourself and your customer in an awkward situation have you considered posting your own carefully crafted response to their post, mentioning how you like what they've done to your image and congratulating them on being so 'creative'. This let's others know that your original was altered by the client therefore changing their perception of the kind of work you do. Basically a form of 'damage control' on your part for something you really can't stop from happening.

That seems like an awful idea to me. It could easily come across as condescending and offensive.

Just let it go. It's not a big deal. I have no idea what people have done with the 100,000+ wedding images I've supplied, and I don't much care what they do with their images. Possibly a new or younger photographer would care more. It's just a photo. Monkeys can take photos.

Not quite how I see it.

If bride posts no pictures, but one of her guests happens to wonder about me and asks her for my info because she trusts her judgement, I'll likely get a call.

If bride posts photos that look like taken with a phone and calls them "my photographers photographs" that same lady will think twice before even asking bride for my number.

Not to mention some of the people at the party already know who I am, and this would only confirm that my work is less than what it is.

Not every photo I take will be 100.00% aligned, just a fact of life.