Sole Access

[candleman]

A few weeks back i shot a wedding, and one of the bridesmaids was a photography student...

She brought her T1i +430EX to the wedding, and snapped a few shots of things when she wasn’t in the actual ceremony.
No problem.. don’t really care

Then., when off to the formal session at the lakeside, she brought it with then too.
Didn’t bother me at all at the time, because she had the unofficial videographer who (also tagged along for some reason) to hold it while she was in the shoot.

What i didn’t see.. was that when i was working hard, concentrating on posing the couple, .. she was standing behind me clicking a shot of what i had just set-up!!

The photos hit facebook a day or two ago..
All the best pics she has are of MY poses which (in my opinion) she stole from me.

Now.. i have nothing good to say about her images, and i don’t want to put her down. (if anything she made me look even beter)
All i want to know is.. how can i stop this from happening again.
I don’t want people stealing my poses and my ideas to make their own portfolio look better.

How could i word this in the contract to stop this from happening again.. and.. can i stop this from happening...

Thanks for your help.

[OsmosisStudios]

Clause in your contract: you dont mind people having cameras but if they're being a nuissance (which is up to you), you reserve the right to tell them to bugger off.

[Digidave]

It may be annoying as hell, but what exactly can you do about it? You can't Trademark poses. I don't think anyways. Now, if they are using flash, that's a different story because that would actually be interfering. Them just standing back & snapping shots doesn't qualify as interference. My opinion? Just grin & bear it.

[Jamfke]

When I got married, our photographer made it clear that she didn't mind family and friends snapping a shot here or there during the ceremony, but she didn't want anyone else using a camera when she was doing the actual posed shots.

I don't know how you should word it in your contract, and I honestly don't know if you could actually stop it unless you had an assistant watching out for you.

[Xposurepro]

Originally Posted by Jamfke

When I got married, our photographer made it clear that she didn't mind family and friends snapping a shot here or there during the ceremony, but she didn't want anyone else using a camera when she was doing the actual posed shots.

I don't know how you should word it in your contract, and I honestly don't know if you could actually stop it unless you had an assistant watching out for you.

That's exactly what you do. Any time you are posing a client .. no cameras allowed !!! This being for a wedding, toddler, senior, whatever. You just word it as ... cameras are not allowed !!! and for weddings cameras are not allowed except during the ceremony !!!! LOL
Most people have the common sense when you tell them .. you can't do that while I'm working .. they say oh ok and its not a big deal.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Clause in your contract: you dont mind people having cameras but if they're being a nuissance (which is up to you), you reserve the right to tell them to bugger off.

yeah, i'm going to add something in there now... but i think a discussion during the signing of the contract meeting is a good place to bring it up.
problem is often people nod and say "yes we understand" .... then it comes out the other ear.

Originally Posted by Digidave

It may be annoying as hell, but what exactly can you do about it? You can't Trademark poses. I don't think anyways. Now, if they are using flash, that's a different story because that would actually be interfering. Them just standing back & snapping shots doesn't qualify as interference. My opinion? Just grin & bear it.

i'm not trademarking poses.. its more a case of my research, my experience, my effort,.... then someone steals my work.
i see it as me being an artist that has painted a picture, some guy snaps a shot of it and takes credit for my work.
if she wants to be a photographer.. she can get her own client and spend her own time reading about posing, learning to remember poses under pressure, learning how to explain the pose and direct the couple INTO that pose....... and then she can take her own pictures.
Looking at her images, she managed to screw up everything except the pose... which was mine.

i dont want to be a jerk about it.. i'm finding it hard to find the words to explain it without sounding like a complete looser. I believe i'm justified in asking them not to shoot.. i just need to be able to articitculate that to people.

Originally Posted by Jamfke

When I got married, our photographer made it clear that she didn't mind family and friends snapping a shot here or there during the ceremony, but she didn't want anyone else using a camera when she was doing the actual posed shots.

I don't know how you should word it in your contract, and I honestly don't know if you could actually stop it unless you had an assistant watching out for you.

sounds good, but i need to paint it in a positive light somehow. but yeah, i'll definatley set it to something along those lines.

glad you're still quoting me

Originally Posted by Xposurepro

That's exactly what you do. Any time you are posing a client .. no cameras allowed !!! This being for a wedding, toddler, senior, whatever. You just word it as ... cameras are not allowed !!! and for weddings cameras are not allowed except during the ceremony !!!! LOL
Most people have the common sense when you tell them .. you can't do that while I'm working .. they say oh ok and its not a big deal.

thats a good explaination actually... "any time i'm posing people"i'll simply ask the B&G to politley pass the messages on to uncle Bob and cousin Tony who bring their big cameras.

[Jim Poor]

Another approach I've seen is: "Take all the photos you want, AFTER I've finished taking mine."

[prince]

This makes me feel better. Know why? I was at a friend's wedding (Hindu style) in May and they had hired a professional. During the ceremony I went close to the stage with my camera and flash to snap some pictures. However, I did keep in mind to not interfere and watched the pro do her work. Whenever she stopped I would get to work. She wasn't posing B&G but taking pictures while the ceremony was going on. I also didn't go too close to the stage where she was working giving her space and respect for her work. Best thing? My friend thought I had some pictures way better than the pro's. I imagine the boost to my confidence

Pro at work should NOT be interfered. I saw one of her cousin's hubby snapping away pictures without giving any thought. I was irritated at that my self so I can imagine your reaction.

At others suggested, making it clear at the contract signing & negotiations' time will help to mitigate the problem a bit. I am not sure if you do this but I read in the "Hindu Wedding" article recently and found it to be a useful tip, to have a coordinator assigned by B&G from their side to help you point who are the true "close" relatives whose pics need to be clicked while helping you keep distractions away while at work.. You might want to try this if you are not already doing it.

[candleman]

well.. i've added this to the contract

(company) shall be the only professional photography service operating on the day. Photographs by friends or family may be taken at any time with exception of the following situations.
posed formal shots,
If they are obstructing The Photographers work
Causing a distraction to posed groups

Should The Photographer feel his/her work is being adversely affected by the actions of such individuals, he/she reserves the right to ask the individuals in question to stop what they are doing, or to move to the side so that the work can continue, so we can deliver the best images we can possibly create.

lets see how my next couple tomorrow night react to it.

[BCampbell]

I think you need a stronger penalty. Your client is going to tell their friends and family "Oh yeah, bring your camera, if the photographer has a problem with it he'll tell you." Then you have to babysit a half dozen people with their new DSLRs all day.

I would add wording that beyond some very low number of violations there's a monetary penalty or you reserve the right to take your ball and go home.