Permission to Copying my own photography?

Maybe you guys should just use pro labs. Issue solved, no more crappy prints or crappy customer service.

cory1848 wrote in post #11511802
Maybe you guys should just use pro labs. Issue solved, no more crappy prints or crappy customer service.

I never use the quick, store labs for anything else, except for quick prints to show friends or family. If I actually am using the picture for anything or selling it, I use either online sources or a local print shop. But of course for just some quick visuals to show off, online is too slow and local labs are too pricey for something like that.

cory1848 wrote in post #11511802
Maybe you guys should just use pro labs. Issue solved, no more crappy prints or crappy customer service.

Some of us are hobbyists and don't have money to spend on the pro labs all the time. Quick prints to show friends and family are easy to source at places like Walmart.

Beau1k wrote in post #11508727
What good is a release if anybody can sign for it and there's no follow up? This is ONLY to cover THEIR ass not ours.

Yes, that's true.... But I am very glad to hear that the stores are being careful and making an effort to protect peoples' copyright.

It doesn't stop people from lying and saying the photos are theirs. How can the store be expected to completely prevent that?

However, if your copyright is properly registered at the US Copyright office, and someone deliberately circumvents your copyright protections by lying on a form that they own the copyright, I ain't no attorney, but suspect that might qualify for the $30,000 per instance enhancement penalty award in court. And to make it easier, you have proof in writing.

100 images? That's potentially another $3,000,000 on top of what else is awarded (usage, penalties, reimbursement of legal fees).

Now, if it ever goes to court it probably wouldn't all be awarded in a case where someone just had 100 4x6s printed for personal use. It's the potential, though, up to which the court might award.

Think about it folks... Do you really want to complain to the clerk or managemant or even "sue the store" (good luck with that) for their making a reasonable effort to protect your copyright? That sounds pretty ass backward to me. Just sign the form stating that the images are yours to do with as you see fit (assuming they actually are).

tcusta00 wrote in post #11511945
Some of us are hobbyists and don't have money to spend on the pro labs all the time. Quick prints to show friends and family are easy to source at places like Walmart.

Pro labs are not that much more expensive than the Walmarts and Walgreens. But if its just friends and family, I can see your point.

Costco does as good if not better then my local pro lab at 1/3 of the cost.

ryant35 wrote in post #11512608
Costco does as good if not better then my local pro lab at 1/3 of the cost.

And the lab is still in business?

What is the name of the pro lab?

ryant35 wrote in post #11512608
Costco does as good if not better then my local pro lab at 1/3 of the cost.

I would take Costco over walmart or walgreens anyday but I would never even thing about printing a clients wedding photos from there. If Costco was just as good, than that tells me your local lab isnt that good. Even mpix is far ahead of Costco.

Hot Cocoa wrote in post #11508231
yeah, that is just annoying. I would find something to sue for. I hate it when people do that kind of stuff.

You mean that protect themselves from you suing them kind of stuff or the protect your interest as the copyright kind of stuff? Which of those two do you hate?

Shirlsworld7 wrote in post #11508358
Oh I'm not complaining about them being watchful and protecting photographers. I am more or less just asking what or how I need to make up a letterhead which is what I was told I needed... Has anyone else had to write one up and if so what should it say?

Walmart has forms right there at the store for you to sign.

RDKirk wrote in post #11513007
Walmart has forms right there at the store for you to sign.

Yep. When I got my school kids pictures printed last year, they would not release the pictures to me without filling out the form. It was mildly annoying, but not the most traumatic experience I have ever had at Wal-Mart.

cory1848 wrote in post #11512537
Pro labs are not that much more expensive than the Walmarts and Walgreens. But if its just friends and family, I can see your point.

The one hour store is far more expensive than the pro lab I use (Richmond Pro Lab out of Virginia I do believe), except maybe the small prints of 4x6 are about the same. Of course it has to be shipped so everything is done in bulk, still cheaper though. I don't use the local lab anymore because their prices are twice as much as the one hour labs and honestly have gone down hill, they USED to be far above anyone in the film days - but when I stopped using them the quality had just diminished.

hawkeye60 wrote in post #11508331
IMHO every store should have every customer sign a form as a matter of routine stating they are the owner of the photos, instead of making an uninformed judgement of which photos are professional and which are not. The fact is even snapshots taken by someone else belong to the photographer, if you want to get technical about it.

If it's applied evenly... across the board... I'd be fine with it. If it's applied haphazardly, I'd be annoyed and would take my future business elsewhere.

Then again, I have established a good working relationship with a local non-chain photo place, and it feels good to be trusted when I walk through the door.

cory1848 wrote in post #11512895
I would take Costco over walmart or walgreens anyday but I would never even thing about printing a clients wedding photos from there. If Costco was just as good, than that tells me your local lab isnt that good. Even mpix is far ahead of Costco.

Maybe Costco isn't as good mas mpix but it's much cheaper and I don't have to wait and pay for shipping.

Hot Cocoa wrote in post #11508231
yeah, that is just annoying. I would find something to sue for. I hate it when people do that kind of stuff.

this made me LOL