Profile for stubby43 - fotomographers - friends using your photography as facebook profile photos?

stubby43 aka Phil is a 25.42 year old boy, has been a member since December 22, 2006, has scored 3,809 submissions, giving an average score of 2.65, helping 191 designs get printed.

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Nov 21 '08 by stubby43
14 Comments
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fotomographers - friends using your photography as facebook profile photos?

So I was wondering if it annoys anybody else when friends take your photography and use it as their facebook profile photos?

I dont really know how to take it because it is a photograph of them and they kindly allowed me to take photos of them and I guess its a compliment that they want to use that image to say hey this is my identity.

But on the other hand facebook claims ownership of the photo as soon as you uploaded it, their uploading it to their profile so in effect they are taking credit for it and they havent asked me permission to use the photo they've just assumed they can.

Part of me thinks I'd feel better if they'd ask my permission to use them because I prefer to see photos taken with my slr as part of my portfolio of work, meaning that its more like art work than say a point and click camera anyone can use then problem is I dont think people understand the distinction.

I'm kind of confused about the whole thing.

Phiffer on Nov 21 '08 at 8:42am

punch them in the face

stubby43 on Nov 21 '08 at 8:46am

Well thats always a solution.

trindli on Nov 21 '08 at 8:47am

tell them it bothers you

gtoast99 on Nov 21 '08 at 8:49am

then problem is I dont think people understand the distinction.

As a non-artist myself, I don't understand the distinction. :/

stubby43 on Nov 21 '08 at 8:53am

Trindli, I am thinking about doing it but I'f rather have another option for them, I dont want to just say no completely because they've let me take a photo of them.

In my friendship group were constantly filming and taking photographs of each other, we usually release one new video a week and quite alot of photos so I kind of feel that I should atleast give them something.

I'm kind of looking for other peoples thoughts about it.

stubby43 on Nov 21 '08 at 8:58am

A photo taken thats intended to be a piece of art work is different from a drunk photo people have taken with a 8 megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom that does everything for you.

I work harder with photos done on my slr because I'm I'm at the very least thinking about the shutter speed and the focusing and then editing them afterwards.

sonmi on Nov 21 '08 at 9:05am

i personally wouldn't care, because.. it's facebook. if they were using the portrait of themself on their personal portfolio website, then maybe.

sonmi on Nov 21 '08 at 9:07am

if they don't properly credit you and that bothers you, then you could always be casual about getting credit for it. comment on their profile picture with, "whomever took this picture is an artistic genius ;)", or something stupid like that.

gtoast99 on Nov 21 '08 at 9:07am

A photo taken thats intended to be a piece of art work is different from a drunk photo people have taken with a 8 megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom that does everything for you.

I guess I still don't see why.

The only difference is the intent of the person taking the photo. And even that may be wrong- the only difference is the intent of the person displaying the photo. Take those drunken snaps (not taken with the intent of "art", frame them, hang them in a gallery, put a lofty title and an art institute's name on the door and -voila- same photos, now art.

The other way round works too. Your art is also nothing more than a pretty picture if that's how it's displayed.

...

Hey, I think I just got why you're upset.

mooseinmyshoe on Nov 21 '08 at 9:09am

I love it when people use my pictures for their profile.

Usually, their friends comment on it saying something about it, and my friends usually give me credit.

I take a lot of picture at horse shows and I get kinda jealous when they choose someone else's pictures over mine.

Hellpanda on Nov 21 '08 at 9:34am

I used to do my site for a living, and when people used photos I'd taken of them as a myspace profile picture etc. I was happy because it was all promotion (I stamped name of site on photos). However, I've had big magazines steal my photos on several occasions and that makes me sad :( .

My basic rule of thumb is to keep everything medium-res or lower and not worry too much about it. If one of my friends uses a photo I took of them they usually give me photo-cred, and I think that everyone should adopt this practice.

stubby43 on Nov 21 '08 at 10:16am

Ok, thats kind of interesting, maybe I need to establish some ground rules with my friends then, p.s your photographies amazing mate, way better than mine.

BaronVonMonkey on Nov 21 '08 at 10:30am

I really don't see the problem if it's just for facebook- surely you should be flattered that your friends are happy with the photos you took of them? They are your friends after all, it's not like some randomer is taking your pics and claiming them for themselves

stubby43 on Nov 21 '08 at 1:41pm

Well at least were establishing that I'm the only who feels like this, to be honest a big part of it is I dont like facebook.

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