STOCK IMAGES OF *REAL EVENTS* - LET'S DISCUSS
Something interesting fell into my lap today … a new ‘idea’ is about to launch … and IMO it ain’t the kind of Christmas present any of my wedding and event industry followers are gonna like that much … the topic of this particular blog post is:
STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY OF REAL EVENTS AND WEDDINGS
In other words: YOU work an event … you pour your soul and soles into it … blood, sweat, tears … you are paid, it’s your work, it’s your signature … your ‘touch’ is all over that motherf*cker … then:
THE PHOTOGRAPHER SELLS THE IMAGES, AS THEY LEGALLY CAN SINCE THEY OWN THEM, AND A PLANNER (OR OTHER EVENT / WEDDING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL) BUYS THEM, THROWS THEM ON THEIR WEBSITE OR SOCIAL MEDIA, AND PRETENDS IT WAS THEIRS!
YOU ALL GOING WTF RIGHT NOW?
Yeah … thought so. I’m a huge advocate for STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY … as in: a company puts together a shoot … they make BEAUTIFUL things … they have them photographed … and they sell them. Now, from what I’ve seen … the stuff that’s about to fly out there isn’t great to look at … sorry, not sorry … it’s not the quality I look for … it’s not, say:
Sourced Co
Haute Stock
Kate Max Stock
standards … BUT: the principles behind this are f*cked … it’s f’d up in so many ways!!! SELLING EVENTS AND WEDDINGS OTHER PEOPLE BUILT.
Like, for instance: let’s say you designed a stationery suite for a REAL WEDDING, and it was put in a layflat … and then a newbie stationery designer or just someone who doesn’t have a portfolio comes along, BUYS the photo of your stationery design that was for a real bride and then puts it on their website as “their own work” << you good with that!?
And here’s the other thing:
THE PHOTOGRAPHER SELLS THEM!?
As in: this photographer is the only one who did it??? How on earth did those details get there? How did guests arrive? How did flowers end up on the tables!!?? Did this photographer do that too??? I get owning your photos … but SELLING the work of other people??
ICK. GROSS. EW.
Legal or not, it’s just not right. Throw legal in my face all day long, but what about character??? … man … let’s discuss:
TELL ME IN COMMENTS:
YOU COOL WITH THIS BEING A THING? YOU GOOD WITH WEDDING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS POSING WITH EVENTS + WEDDINGS YOU YOURSELF CREATED!?
And if all the comments: are: we love it, we think it’s great, we are such fans!! Heather, you suck!! << I’ll know where they came from ;) because nobody who creates weddings and events should ever be cool with this sh*t.
XO~ Heather
