Paul Manke Photography

After the wedding is over, the thing you look forward to your wedding photographs. Aren’t they “yours”? Aren’t you able to do what you want with your photographs? Why would a photographer charge for a disc of images that are “yours”?

This is a question professional photographers deal with on a regular basis. Some feel that copyright laws seem to blur in this area. But here are all the things you need to know about your professional photographs.

This is what the law states:

It is illegal to reproduce a photograph taken by a professional photographer or studio without their written permission.

If you print photographs or have a lab print photographs, both you and the lab can be liable for copyright infringement.

Many labs carry release forms that need to be completed by you as well as your photographer or studio that photographed your event.

If you are unable to contact your photographer, you can call the Professional Photographers Association which offers a locator service. The number is 800-786-6277.

Did you know?

-Purchasing prints of a photo, CD or DVD from a professional photographer or studio does not transfer the copyright of the photo to you and the photograph cannot be reproduced without a release.

-You can be personally liable for copyright infringement even if you did not intend to break the law. Good intentions are not a defense for copyright infringement.

-Copyright law protects photographs even if the photographer has not obtained a copyright registrationand even if the photograph is published without a copyright notice.

-Copyright law gives a professional photographer exclusive rights including the right to:
–Reprint the photograph
–Create modified images based on the photograph
–Sell reprints of the photograph
–Display the image publicly

-Making a few changes to someone else’s photograph does not remove the copyright protection or make the modified photograph free for your use.

-Just because a photograph is on the internet does not mean it is in the public domain.

We at Paul Manke Photography are very cautious regarding copyright infringement. Please check your wedding photography agreement for more information on how you can use your disc of digital photographs.

Being clear on what the law states regarding copyright issues will help protect you as well as your photographer.