Recently I had it brought to my attention that a photo of mine had been used in some online advertising, that’s GREAT! The only problem is I wasn’t given any credit, i.e. no mention of my personal or business name ‘Caravan Correspondent’ which I use on Instagram, Facebook and a website.

More than just being annoying, this is downright rude and sadly it’s not the first time it’s happened. This is why it’s the wrong thing to do.

When anything is posted to Instagram or Facebook and a person or business is tagged, the purpose is to gain their attention, possibly directly interact with them and notify them that you have mentioned them or their business. This of course also means they can repost the photo to their accounts BUT, credit should then also go back to the original account. By doing this it’s possible that some traffic will come back to the original person who posted the photo. A win/win you could say.

My issue is when this is one sided. Some businesses have been cheeky enough to use photos where I have tagged them without so much as a thank you very much, seeya later.

I have no issue with others using my photos provided I have first given permission and will be credited with taking the photo. This is as simple as sending a direct message or even a comment asking if the photo can be used somewhere else. To not do that is bordering on infringement of copyright, especially if the photo is used in advertising where the wrong person could be credited or profit is made from the use of the photo. Some people (and businesses it seems) may not know that at the end of the day, you own the rights to the photos you post.

As I’ve said this has happened with some of my photos more than once, but if I realise it’s happened I will usually challenge the person and ask for photo credit. Sometimes I just find it cheeky and brush it off as no harm done, but it does get my back up a little if it’s a business, who should know better. An ‘oops sorry’, doesn’t really cut it.

Funnily enough if I was asked permission to use a photo with credit, I would be chuffed and happy with the possible extra views. Recently however, one of my photos was used by a company without permission, then when I challenged them and asked for credit I was given an ‘oops sorry’ and assurance that credit would be given in a new post.

Instead though, the next post from them had an original part of my photograph ‘photo shopped’ out and replaced with something different – and still no credit. They still didn’t ‘get’ that the photo composition and design were mine just with a photo shopped feature now in it.

Unfortunately for them, I’m persistent and tried to get them to see that I didn’t think it was reasonable to be using my photo in that way. Finally after speaking in person to their ‘person who runs the ads’ I managed to come to an arrangement that resolved the issue. Still no credit, but they will be paying in product!

In future I hope this reminds them to ‘Create or Credit’. Crediting wouldn’t have cost them a cent.

It’s hard enough to try making any money from, or receive credit for creative pursuits so I will chase any injustices down.

Rant over 🙂

Glenys