Had a request to take down a photo

I have been a nightclub photographer for 8 years across the country and for many magazines. There are many things that happen in clubs that do not belong in pictures posted for most to see. You get to decide to be A) a gentleman having fun at the club with the beautiful girls, and politely responding to requests to remove pictures or B) being the creepy guy with the camera who stalks girls, nobody wants to pose for, and gets complaints to the club Manager.

The second factor is that Facebook automaticaly removes pictures based on a certain number of complaints. If several people complain about an image, FB assumes it violates its policies and removes it without review or appeal. It could also take down the whole gallery, or all your pictures, or freeze your account the same way.

If there was an embarassing picture of your partner, you would feel the same.

-Scott

TattooedAffliction wrote in post #11400067
Well, the only reason why I want to leave it up is because it's a good photo. Most of my fan base is on Facebook, so that's where most of my business comes from.

I can sympathize with the guy and his girlfriend for wanting it taken down, but I don't appreciate him trying to contact me under false pretenses as a potential client to try and get me to call him so he can play telephone tough guy with me.

So you are using the image commercially.... to promote yourself and your business, and you have just admitted that here on a public forum that any lawyer or jury can read when you get sued... and you apparently don't have a signed model release.

You're goose is freakin' cooked if you don't take the image down immediately.

sspellman wrote in post #11403700
I have been a nightclub photographer for 8 years across the country and for many magazines. There are many things that happen in clubs that do not belong in pictures posted for most to see. You get to decide to be A) a gentleman having fun at the club with the beautiful girls, and politely responding to requests to remove pictures or B) being the creepy guy with the camera who stalks girls, nobody wants to pose for, and gets complaints to the club Manager.

The second factor is that Facebook automaticaly removes pictures based on a certain number of complaints. If several people complain about an image, FB assumes it violates its policies and removes it without review or appeal. It could also take down the whole gallery, or all your pictures, or freeze your account the same way.

If there was an embarassing picture of your partner, you would feel the same.

I don't do "nightclub photography" and don't have any understanding of the market. Who, exactly, is the market?

If the market is the patronage of the club, then it seems to me that that a photographer would never want a to show a "compromising" image in his portfolio--that "market" would not be served by a photographer who was as likely to harm them as not.

If the market is editorial, then perhaps anything would go...but clearly to me, the same portfolio can't be used in both markets, and a Facebook portfolio is to the patron market, not to the editorial market.

You have two choices here, and both are YOUR choice. On one hand. The guy asked you nicely to take it down. This whole 'false pretense' thing is crap! He probably just wanted to ask you personally to take it down. It wasn't anything sneaky, he probably just prefers to speak with a real person. He wasn't rude or anything else. On the other hand, if you don't take it down you could find yourself the victim of a real beating the next time you are at that club or any other club. You don't know this guy or who he knows. As far as he is concerned, he asked you nicely once. If you blow him off or go with this 'false pretense' thing and make a mountain out of a mole hill, you might find yourself in a situation you don't want to be in. I used to be a bouncer in Atlanta years ago and I can only tell you what would have happened to you if this was my girl or one of my friends girls and you refused to take it down after being asked nicely. Now, I'm not that guy anymore but do you really want to find out the hard way if this guy is or isn't?

The smart move here is to take it down, tell him you understand and it's no big deal. Ask him to introduce himself the next time you are at the club. Get to know him and his friends and build your clientele with a warm introduction. You want to build your business, right? You will get a ton of respect from this dude, this girl, and their friends if you take it down and introduce yourself to them. Give them your card and you can earn their business. It's the smart move.

EDIT- sorry, I didn't read far enough to see you took it down. LOL That was the best move.

Just take it down...

merlin2375 wrote in post #11403878
Just take it down...

This thread and picture should both be burned.

I think you're already doing what the majority suggested........ I would also take it down, last thing I want is to upset anyone over a single photograph of themselves. If it was a photograph of an object or just anything other than a person then different story but people have feelings and do stupid things when they're drunk. Good lesson for all the young ones out there thinking no one is watching when they go do stupid crap they don't want others to see after it happens.

cdifoto wrote in post #11400264
I'd leave it up only because I don't let people bully me.

I didn't see it as bullying; the guy made a pretty polite request...

How come no one has questioned that we are taking this guys word that the girl wanted it down? If she had initiated the contact I would say take it down in a heartbeat.

To me it smells like she was having fun but has an insecure controlling boyfriend.

Under current circumstance, I say tell him to pound sand. If she calls you or contacts you, take it down and offer the discount photo shoot that Staszek said. His response was the only one in this thread that turned this situation into making you more money. Props to you Staszek

CTP wrote in post #11404153
How come no one has questioned that we are taking this guys word that the girl wanted it down? If she had initiated the contact I would say take it down in a heartbeat.

To me it smells like she was having fun but has an insecure controlling boyfriend.

Under current circumstance, I say tell him to pound sand. If she calls you or contacts you, take it down and offer the discount photo shoot that Staszek said. His response was the only one in this thread that turned this situation into making you more money. Props to you Staszek

That attitude right there could cause you to loose some teeth in this world.

Well, he emailed me back thanking me for taking the photo down, and wished me luck with my business. So, all is well.

Thanks again for the advice everyone, and I apologize for this being drawn out like it was. I didn't think for a second this would turn into a 4 page thread.

Bosscat wrote in post #11400502
You are accepting bad behaviour..lying is just wrong.....and not acceptable.

It drives me crazy when people use the mistakes of others as an excuse to shamelessly continue with mistakes of their own.

ya ya.. u are the better man..bla bla bla.... so u going to bend over like this for anyone who doesnt like a photo you take... good job... i'm just saying... because you know.. its your fault that she made out with some girl/guy right.. and it just happend to be in front of you ...with your camera there... people need to take responsibility for their actions.... but the dont....kinda sucks eh!?

geee..... i guess it must have been sooo bloody hard for her to walk up to you and say "please remove the photo, i dont wish for it to get out" ...since she was under your PHOTOGRAPHIC MAGIC SPELL and ALL... buahhaahah... ppl are bloody retarded...

now - i dont know if you took the photo with your 200mm from the back of the club..being sneaky.. if that was the case..yah okay..thats creepy... but i think that wasnt the case and you were right there and she put on this show in front of you... either way.. its done

you took a photo down that you liked.. and shes still going to be makig out with girls/dudes next weeekend at the same club.. lol..... i can bet my money in it

photographer 0 idiots 1

enrigonz wrote in post #11404606
That attitude right there could cause you to loose some teeth in this world.

With that attitude I may loose teeth but you will end up in the hospital.

This "what if" scenario goes both ways.

She asks, take them down. Someone not involved in photo asks, be suspicious, that is all I am saying. How we do know the "boyfriend" is not another club owner?

blah, blah, blah we can go round in circles on this one.

TattooedAffliction wrote in post #11404611
taking the photo down............... So, all is well.

Wow. Sucks the photo is being used on the club's page now.