A couple want me to delete their photos....

[zetson]

I took some photos of a couple at a party on Saturday. I used two reflective silver umbrellas for the shooting, and the photos were stunning! I think I can say that I have never shot a better party portrait. But, this couple have had a drink too much, so they weren't exactly sober.

So yesterday morning, I got a phone call from the guy, and he asked me not to publish the photos them at Facebook and similar. I said I would respect that, and we hung up. He called me later that day. He said he had talked with the girl, and they had decided they wanted me to delete the photos.... I said that was out of the question since these photos belong to me. He continued by saying that they were afraid that the photos would end up in "the wrong hands", since this girl was actually in another relationship and she was afraid that her man would get jealous... I said I would think about it.

So, what should I do? Should I lie and say I have deleted them? In that case, I really have to be careful of what I do with them. I have to hide them deeply and never show them to anyone. Or should I make it clear to them that they have no right to tell me what to do with my own photos? The problem is that this place where I live is a very small community, and everybody knows everybody. The word is spreading fast, and if I get a rumor on being a ruthless photographer, I'm afraid that people turn their back against me and it will be very difficult to get hired as a photographer. At this party, several guys came up to me, and said that they admired my photography and wanted me to shoot at different occasions, like concerts and portraits. It's too bad if this gets ruined if I decide to fight for my rights.

Any thoughts?

[Cypher]

Sometimes its better to cut your losses and uphold your reputation. Me personally ? I would hate to have to stand down, but my reputation is more important than the shots. Believe me great shots will come again, but your reputation especially in a small town could get blown to pieces easily.

At the end of the day its your call, You could chose to make it a password protected zip file etc.

[BigFuzzy]

Honestly, unless you really think you'll get something out of those images, I'd just go ahead and delete them even though I'd normally say "f@ck off, they're mine, don't get drunk in public if you don't want to risk it!"... but as you note, it's a small community and it sounds like the negatives may outweigh the positives on this one. Then they'll be happy with you and may actually talk about how good you are.

In the end, the question is what would you get out of keeping it vs. what could you lose not deleting it? You know the answer to that best.

If it's really killing, you then just say you deleted them and hide them very deep in the archives!

[jdepould]

So let me get this straight, the rumors that you won't delete the photos of this "couple" are spreading, but they're more worried about the photos getting out. Barn door? Horses?

This kind of crap annoys me to no end. Had a similar thing happen a few years ago. More or less told them I wouldn't use the image, but wasn't deleting it; they needed to take responsibility for their own actions in public, etc.

[zetson]

Thank yo VERY much for your input, guys!

These shots were Dave Hill straight out of the camera, and I will not delete them for now, mainly for studying the light in them. Some of them work really well, while some of them don't have the kick. I want to find out what causes this.

I could create a password-protected file container using Truecrypt, and they and everyone else won't ever see them. But then I have to lie. Is that usual? Do photographers lie in situations like this? Like Jamie says, it has happened before.

[Jim Poor]

Why lie?

Simple "I'm not going to publish them, but you can't demand that I delete them either."

Originally Posted by zetson

Thank yo VERY much for your input, guys!

These shots were Dave Hill straight out of the camera, and I will not delete them for now, mainly for studying the light in them. Some of them work really well, while some of them don't have the kick. I want to find out what causes this.

I could create a password-protected file container using Truecrypt, and they and everyone else won't ever see them. But then I have to lie. Is that usual? Do photographers lie in situations like this? Like Jamie says, it has happened before.

[zona5101]

I think you should post them here and we'll tell you if they're keepers!

[gturner]

Originally Posted by zona5101

I think you should post them here and we'll tell you if they're keepers!

LOL!!! classic chirp

If you really need to keep them, keep them.

I with the fuzz on this one.

[jamesev]

By the sounds of things, if the girl is in another relationship, was at a party with this guy, and they have something to fear because they weren't just there as friends, then it sounds like her relationship is not going to last anyway.

Thing you got to consider is which is going to stand the test of time the longer; your photos or her relationship - where are each going to be in a year or two, I know where the sensible money would be:

You delete the photos and they are gone forever. On the other hand where will these two people be in a years time and will it even be remembered. Either she'll be in that relationship or not. Chances are things will have moved on significantly and the issue of the photos getting out into public will be, well a non-issue.

I think its a very knee jerk reaction on his (and her) part and have only considered their positions in the here and now.

[wulf]

Are the photos in question worth making a fuss over? If they are not that outstanding, then perhaps it isn't worth quibbling over and your archive will benefit from a little less clutter. On the other hand, if they capture something that none of the other photos do (ignore the question of who is in each photo), then how about deleting them from your set of the party. If you aren't going to ever publish them in connection with the party, it wouldn't hurt to expunge them from there even if you actually keep them somewhere else. Sophistry? Well, yes, but they get what they said they wanted.

If they really push for confirmation that all copies of the picture are expunged from every storage location, then what about all the eye-witnesses at the party? What about anyone else who might have snapped pictures that caught them? If they insist, then perhaps think about what you would want to charge for the sale of complete rights to destroy a picture.

Wulf