I don’t know how to really feel about this. On one hand, I am happy that people like my pictures and swatches enough to use them in their articles, but it is also frustrating to feel that they think so little of me that they don’t even bother to ask me if it’s okay to use them. I googled “Wet N Wild Saved By The Bell” and this is what came up on THE FIRST PAGE. I looked at the second page and it was more of the same.
This video here used my swatches and bottle pics in their video. There is a credit mention, but I don’t recall anyone even shooting me an email to see if it was okay. The people over at Buzz 60 seem to be the ones responsible for this video, but it’s all over the place from AOL to The Detroit Free Press.
Video Link 1 Shown on Channel 9 News Front Page
Video Link 2 Shown on First Coast News Front Page
Video Link 3 Shown on AOL
Video Link 4 Shown on Detroit Free Press
You want to know what really annoys me? I am more than happy to let people use my photos. I am honored when people ask me if they can share them on their blog or article which is why this is so disappointing to me. Don’t get me wrong: any blogger who is just starting out and is slowly building readership loves the exposure and treasures every single new reader and commenter. For those of you who blog about cosmetics/nail polish, you know how time-consuming it is to swatch color after color, take a billion pictures hoping a few of them come out right, edit them and then have to write up a post. I do this because I love it. I love sharing all my polish finds and what I think about them, but this is still my work; I spend my time and energy on it.
I hope no one thinks I’m taking all this too seriously or that I’m blowing it out of proportion. It’s just frustrating. Why can’t people just ask? I know that sometimes images get shared around the internet and it becomes almost impossible to find out where the images initially came from so I know that MOST people aren’t doing this to be rude, but it doesn’t stop it from being just that: rude and inconsiderate. For other bloggers who may have used my pictures without permission–even if you gave credit–I would recommend that you read the following article. There are a lot of things that I didn’t know when I first started blogging so please read this article that one of my favorite bloggers, Amanda, shared on her blog. Don’t let yourself get wrapped up in something like that. It’s unfortunate, but it could happen to anyone.
Anyhow, let me know what you think about this. Am I just being too sensitive?
I don't think you are being unreasonable. They are your pictures and you should be asked if you are okay with them being used. People shouldn't just take other people's stuff. I think you should contact the people who made the video and the people who took the pictures from you and ask them to take them down. I believe it is within your rights.
Lauren
It's really disappointing but then I realize it just happens so much that I don't even know if it's worth it to get upset over. I think the video is the one that bothered me the most because part of me thinks those people should know better. I can sort of understand the random bloggers who take pics and give credit and think it's ok, but they are opening themselves up to a lot of problems if they happen to take that one picture where the owner will create a big stink.
I just went through all my posts and either reverted some to draft or edited them to remove certain pics. Thanks for posting this. And I know you hate watermarking (I hate it too!) but maybe it needs to happen. Didn't seem to help in the Sinful Colors incident but I guess it wouldn't hurt….
I know! When I read that article, I had to go through my hundreds of posts and edit out any picture or drawing that wasn't mine. I think that from now on, if I didn't take a picture, it's not going on my blog.
I'm seriously going to have to consider the watermark thing. 🙁
imo i think you should tell them something..
Yeah…I probably will. It's bothering me too much to just stay quiet.
You're not being unreasonable. The pictures belong to you, not to anyone else. I seriously considered the fact that my pictures could be used without my permission before starting my blog, and if that was worth it or not. Contact those people that are using your photos and see what they say.
People suck sometimes. I feel like I'm just going to have to get over it. I don't think I have the strength right now to get mad at them or ask them to stop using them. Ugh….don't want to feel like I'm just rolling over and playing dead.
Yeah. It's hard to just let it go, yet you fell like you need to fight for your work.
I don't think this is unreasonable, either.
Those people suck. 🙁
I don’t think you are being unreasonable. They are your pictures and you should be asked if you are okay with them being used. People shouldn’t just take other people’s stuff. I think you should contact the people who made the video and the people who took the pictures from you and ask them to take them down. I believe it is within your rights.
Lauren
It’s really disappointing but then I realize it just happens so much that I don’t even know if it’s worth it to get upset over. I think the video is the one that bothered me the most because part of me thinks those people should know better. I can sort of understand the random bloggers who take pics and give credit and think it’s ok, but they are opening themselves up to a lot of problems if they happen to take that one picture where the owner will create a big stink.
I just went through all my posts and either reverted some to draft or edited them to remove certain pics. Thanks for posting this. And I know you hate watermarking (I hate it too!) but maybe it needs to happen. Didn’t seem to help in the Sinful Colors incident but I guess it wouldn’t hurt….
I know! When I read that article, I had to go through my hundreds of posts and edit out any picture or drawing that wasn’t mine. I think that from now on, if I didn’t take a picture, it’s not going on my blog.
I’m seriously going to have to consider the watermark thing. 🙁
imo i think you should tell them something..
Yeah…I probably will. It’s bothering me too much to just stay quiet.
You’re not being unreasonable. The pictures belong to you, not to anyone else. I seriously considered the fact that my pictures could be used without my permission before starting my blog, and if that was worth it or not. Contact those people that are using your photos and see what they say.
People suck sometimes. I feel like I’m just going to have to get over it. I don’t think I have the strength right now to get mad at them or ask them to stop using them. Ugh….don’t want to feel like I’m just rolling over and playing dead.
Yeah. It’s hard to just let it go, yet you fell like you need to fight for your work.
You need to contact all of them and tell them to take your pictures down. I would also contact the bloggers who got their pictures stolen by Sinful Colors and see what else they've done. It's bullshit that people think everything on the internet is free for the taking.
It's really disappointing. 🙁 I know I should contact them but I'm just so frustrated about it now that I don't even want to get started on that. I guess I should be honored my pictures are "steal-worthy" lol
I don’t think this is unreasonable, either.
Those people suck. 🙁
This is getting kinda ridiculous lately with how often this is happening…whats a lil more ridiculous is that I feel kinda bummed no one want to steal my pics lol ….seriously though, I understand how bloggers or instagram users end up stealing other pics, but when its a company or a publication that does it…just baffling.
I think that was the craziest part. It's not like it was a beginning blogger who didn't know any better but a segment produced by some "professionals." I guess it's not that surprising considering all the stuff that's been going on lately, huh?
That sucks that people steal your photos!
I know. 🙁 Such a bummer.
You need to contact all of them and tell them to take your pictures down. I would also contact the bloggers who got their pictures stolen by Sinful Colors and see what else they’ve done. It’s bullshit that people think everything on the internet is free for the taking.
It’s really disappointing. 🙁 I know I should contact them but I’m just so frustrated about it now that I don’t even want to get started on that. I guess I should be honored my pictures are “steal-worthy” lol
This is getting kinda ridiculous lately with how often this is happening…whats a lil more ridiculous is that I feel kinda bummed no one want to steal my pics lol ….seriously though, I understand how bloggers or instagram users end up stealing other pics, but when its a company or a publication that does it…just baffling.
I think that was the craziest part. It’s not like it was a beginning blogger who didn’t know any better but a segment produced by some “professionals.” I guess it’s not that surprising considering all the stuff that’s been going on lately, huh?
That sucks that people steal your photos!
I know. 🙁 Such a bummer.
You are not being unreasonable. It's not that difficult to reach out to you and ask for permission. I for one know this 😉
<3 You are the only person who has ever asked me and of course I was happy to say yes. I don't get why some people just take pictures…it's so much work to swatch and edit pics and all that. Especially with how much we post!
You are not being unreasonable. It’s not that difficult to reach out to you and ask for permission. I for one know this 😉
<3 You are the only person who has ever asked me and of course I was happy to say yes. I don't get why some people just take pictures…it's so much work to swatch and edit pics and all that. Especially with how much we post!