SBer's observation

[FantasticDisFamily]

Ok guys - I'm laughing about this situation now but at the time I was furious. As I'm sure many of you do I use the Picture Maker at my local Sam's Club when I want to enlarge/crop photos for my books. I noticed when I stopped in this last time that they had a sign up that professional photographs that had been copied without a written release would be destroyed but would have to be paid for.

Ok, that is really standard practice and Sam's must have been hit about this recently because they haven't been to vigilant in the past. I'd already planned to take my release when I made copies of photos from the upcoming cruise.

But here is what happened (sorry I know I'm rambling a bit).

I made enlargements to 8 x 10 size of two cast photos from recent shows. I took both photos. One is from the wings and one was from an overhead tech booth. Hey - you work shows you get angles most people don't! And I was shooting with high speed film so there isn't flash evidence.

After I finished making the enlargements I took them to the counter to be tagged for the checkout and the "associate" working the counter took them over to the trimmer (I stopped her because I do my OWN trimming) turned to me and said "Where's your release?" Having just seen the new notice I said I didn't need a release as these were not professional photographs. She became really snotty and said she wasn't an idiot of course they were. I showed her the original snapshots and she still wasn't convinced. Finally had to get a manager involved.

If she hadn't been so snotty I probably would have just taken it as a compliment (DH says I should) but it bugged me.

Mainly venting here (so I guess I'm not really laughing yet) but also wondering if anyone else has run into this sort of problem and/or how you would have handled it?

Deb

 

[safetymom]

Why not have a scanner and printer at home that will do photos? That way you don't have to deal with the clerks. Cost is about the same to do it yourself and is much cheaper when you get to the larger sizes.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Actually I do have a scanner at home and the printer will handle photo paper. I've done some but the quality can be hit or miss. And I also prefer the glossy finish on the big enlargements which I don't get on the work I do at home.

I'm also not totally convinced that the inks will last as long. I've had a few digitals DH took with his work camera (Shh...don't tell his boss! ) that I printed and they faded really fast.

But if this happens again I may have to look at it more seriously when we get around to replacing the printer. Adding a dedicated photo printer isn't an option...no more ports!

Deb

 

[safetymom]

The inks in the Epson photo printers are rated to last longer than traditional 35 mm prints. They use 6 inks. All prints whether they are 35mm or inkjet should be protected.

When inkjet prints that were made using the long lasting inks are used in a scrapbook the print life doubles. It is protected, it is kept in the dark most times. So the life is long enough that you don't need to be worried about the life of the print.

There are many people out there with fading 35 mm prints because the developer tried to cut corners. At least with printing your own you can control that.

Most photo printers can also be used for text, etc. I have several Epson printers and I am very happy with the prints that I print myself. 9 times out of 10 if the picture on the monitor doesn't match the print it is your monitor that needs adjusted. Did you ever walk into a store with a tv display. Notice how each tv looks different. That is ok for tv's but not for monitors when you are trying to print.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Thanks for the info...maybe that our printer is too old to handle the special photo inks. I have printed some and they are in albums but they usually are smaller, something I want more for accent.

Definitely will need to look into this further. While it was sort of a compliment to have her think they were professional shots... the hassle was definitely not fun.

Thanks all,
Deb

 

[safetymom]

You can get an Epson Photo 820 for under $100. Yes I am sure you were flattered until she started to give you problems.

If you are scanning, make sure you scan at a high enough resolution for printing. On my Epson scanner I can set the final size for printing. I want to scan at 300 dpi and print at 720 or 1440. When I print any higher I don't see much of a difference and it takes longer and uses more ink.

 

[paulinewdw]

Still hook up two printers...using a switch, one cord, both printers plugger in to same port, that is what I do, I have one photo quality and one laser for printing paper stuff, works for me.

 

[safetymom]

You have to be careful with some of the newer printers when you do that. You have to make sure that you use an IEEE 1284 switch box. If you have USB you could buy a hub for around $20 to connect several printers if you need to.

 

[yummy72]

Deb-

I'm sorry that happened to you! What a hassle! On the bright side, at least your photos are so good that they can be mistaken for professional!

Have a great weekend,
Candi

 

[WDWMom]

Deb,

I wish that would happen to me, but no one thinks my pics are that good.

Are you getting excited about the Disney Cruise? how many more days? I thought you said you were going right when school got out. Hope you have fun. Let's get together after you get your pics developed. I want to hear all about it.

Sue

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Sue,

We fly out of Grand Rapids on the 7 am Delta flight June 20th. The cruise departs on the 21st. Due back in town on the 28th.

Excited is a bit of an understatement at the moment. And that is about as soon after school gets out as I think I'm comfortable with at the moment! Kids aren't done until the 10th, and I really won't be either. So that gives me about 10 days after the end of year rush to finish making sure we've got it all together.

Definitely we'll need to get together after I'm back.

As for the pics - I keep looking at them and thinking they really aren't professional quality. I think it was the angles more than anything that gave her that impression.

Whatever.

Deb

 

[BevS97]

I'm sure that all professional photos have something printed on the back of them saying they can't be copied, if there's nothing on the back, then i would have thought they had no cause to argue anyway.

bev

 

[safetymom]

Copyright photos without Copyright Notice...
Why we Can't Copy a photo which appears professional,
but doesn't have a copyright notice!

Basic Copyright Info:
It is illegal to reproduce photographs taken by a professional photographer or other copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright owner even if it does not include a © symbol or wording.
More Copyright Info:
As with any image, your possession of a copy of an image does not give you any rights to use it as you wish. Only the copyright owner, or the owner's legal agent, can give you permission to copy, distribute, or publicly display the image.

 

[safetymom]

BUT I PURCHASED THE PHOTOS AND PROOFS...

Do not automatically assume that, because you purchased a package or even the proofs of the package, you own the right to reproduce the photos. U.S. Copyright Laws state that the images of a professional photographer are considered to be "original works of art". Those images are considered to be "Copyright Protected" and you must get permission from the photographer to copy or publish. In other words, you purchased a copy of the "original work of art" (image), but you do not own the own the right to reproduce the image. Ask the photographer, he will let you know his policy, and get it in writing.

 

[pattyT]

I worked at a subsidiary for thr NY times -
I hired a coworker to photograph my wedding!
He could either just give me the film - or he would have them developed so they would be ready when I got mack from the cruise - I opted to have him do it.
When they came back they had copyright stamps on the back despite the order (in written form) not too!
So whatever, I brought a photo to the CVS picture maker - and they wouldn't let me do it - EVEN though I had the paper!
So when I showed up the next day with the negative and had them make a copy for a cheaper price they felt pretty stupid!

patty