Putting photographs on websites:
When my website was first launched in 2003 many photos were included all over the website and the online art gallery was open to all. Unfortunately within a short time many photos had been copied and reproduced all over the place, even printed without permission in commercial documents such as product catalogues. Google also lists photographs separately to the website they are sitting on, when people search specifically for images, thus encouraging unauthorised use.
The vast majority of unauthorised photo copying is illegal. It’s rampant and many people think nothing of removing a watermark, and some don’t even bother removing it. It’s a potential nightmare for anyone earning a living in any creative field.
Changes were vital if I was to continue to be able recording life on outback cattle stations, because these expensive and time-consuming trips are funded primarily by sales of photographs.
This is why the largest number of my photos (more than 800) can only be seen in the books ‘Biggest Mobs – Longest Shadows’, ‘A Million Acre Masterpiece’ & ‘Life as an Australian Horseman‘, not on the internet, anywhere. Photographs included at the top of this website are an accurate indication of the types of photos included in the books. Also, a money-back guarantee of satisfaction is offered to book purchasers.
Photographs of previously framed artworks can also be seen in the exhibition & events section of the website.
If you have any queries don’t hesitate to contact me.
Posting photographs on social media sites:
Basic versions of social media accounts are free. The owners obviously have to make money to pay for it all and most obtain income via advertising. But usually, hidden in the fine print ‘Terms of Use’ which few ever read, is also a user agreement allowing the social media company to use all content uploaded by users – words and photos – for whatever purpose the social media app owning company chooses. As far as I know nothing has happened in this regard yet but the potential is there because all users of these sites have agreed to it upfront.
Photographs are also appropriated from social media sites – it’s easy to remove accompanying text. The only photos I post to social media accounts are photos taken on my mobile phone – not images taken on my professional photography equipment. And all but the most mundane phone images are watermarked.
Tags: Fiona Lake Photography