How Do You Tell a Friend Not to Alter the Photos You Did?

[fofazoju]

So the title pretty much sums it up.

I did some family photos for a friend - and unless something happened from when the CD went from my hands to hers, she definitely changed the coloring around - to the point where it looks HIDEOUS and I am almost embarrassed she put my name on the photos.

Now, how do I politely ask her if she changed the photo coloring (she cropped some as well GRR). I know, I should have done this BEFORE I gave her the CD (lesson learnt). Now I just don't know how to do it without sounding all artist primadonna-y (yes, that is a technical term).

Any thoughts??

[Jim Bryant]

Just say, "I was looking at the photos and color is way off. Did you happened to alter the images? If so, please don't alter my photos anymore."

[prabbit237]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

If so, please alter my photos anymore."

(Sorry, couldn't resist pointing out the typo.)

[Durnik20]

I would start screaming at her about how hard you work while waving a knife around (chefs knives are good but I am partial to the filet knife) this works for me.

Seriously though, there is not nice way to do it so just pull them aside and say because your name is associated with them, its important that the images be unaltered. If they are a friend they will agree and you can never bring it up again if they get all upset and annoyed then its good you learned it now.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by prabbit237

(Sorry, couldn't resist pointing out the typo.)

sorry..I was in a hurry to get out the door! Thanks.

[fofazoju]

Well I guess this will be a lesson in assertiveness for me :P

She said she hit the "glow" button in picasa when she was loading them into her pc. And then said "hope you aren't offended" and that she still loves the original coloring.

It's not that Im offended at all. I just hate the coloring. Ugh, now I don't know what to say. Wish I wasn't so focused on offending people!!!

Thanks for input

[Ambrosia76]

See I am obviously not as nice as some of yall. When I did the shoot for my friend and gave her the disc I told her if she changed to pictures in any way I would break her fingers off. She said ok, Thanks.

[WadeCourtney]

Originally Posted by Ambrosia76

See I am obviously not as nice as some of yall. When I did the shoot for my friend and gave her the disc I told her if she changed to pictures in any way I would break her fingers off. She said ok, Thanks.

This sounds like something I would say. hee hee

[kingpatzer]

Are you certain that she changed the photos and it's not an issue of color space clashes? Did you give her a photo edited in AdobeRGB and she's displaying it using sRGB for example?

It sounds like it is probably more egregious than that, but you should be certain that it isn't just something to do with color calibration and color spaces coming into conflict before you take an accusatory tone.

Once you're positive, just politely ask her "Excuse me, but I'm wondering if you edited these images in any way? They don't look the same as they did on my monitor when I gave them to you."

If she says "yes," then you simply say "Could you please only use the images I presented you without altering them. My brand is important to my business and when people edit images and then pass them off as my work it can create problems because the image really now is your style and not mine and I wouldn't want to have a customer disappointed because they thought they were getting you as the photo editor and not me."

[fofazoju]

Thanks for the detailed reply!

I had thought about that at first and didnt ask her in an accusatory tone. I did end up just asking if perhaps when she downloaded from CD she choose to save in the same manner you suggested.

I just said you know, we photographers get kind of anal about how we compose and post process images that when they are altered we get all weird. So, that was enough I think.

She then told me she hit the glow button on facebook (I didnt know there was such a button), which is why they looked that way. I mean they have been there for months so I don't expect (or even care) for her to delete them. I don't know what I was expecting when I mentioned it to her...everyone on her list has already SEEN the photos so it's kind of a lost cause. I guess just to get it off my chest felt good. And lesson learnt - stress to clients not to alter my photos

In the end, it wasn't a big deal and I just realize I need to work on being more assertive - especially if Im going to make it in this world o' business She completely understood and I guess that's all I can ask for!