Comments on: An Introduction to Creative Commons Licensing for Your Photographs

By: J.

J. — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:16:56 +0000

I am currently taking a photography class and we shot portraits of each other in class last week and we are to have one good photo and one bad photo printed out and bring them to class for discussion. I went to Wal-Mart and met up with one of my classmates who was having problems receiving her photos. She ordered them on-line and went there to pick them up and the sales associate told her she could not have them unless she had the copyright because the photos are portraits. She told her they were for our class and told her I was there getting mine printed as well. I got my photos, but another classmate is now having problems getting hers due to this copyright issue. How do I get a copyright? Why would I need one anyway? I am the photographer and just because they are portraits of people does not mean they were made by a professional. Any one with a good camera and a little knowledge about photography can make good portraits.

By: Corey

Corey — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:11:24 +0000

So after reading this I got more confused, sadly.
What I’m looking for, as a license, is I have all rights, my models to at least leave credit with a link, caption with website, etc back to me. I do not want my models to reproduce prints or online copies of my work.
Is there a particular license I’m for this? Thanks!!

By: Corey

Corey — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:10:58 +0000

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:14:22 +0000

I’m hobby level photographer and a freelance writer with a couple low level blogs (as in, they pay, but just pocket change). I mostly use my own photos, but sometimes I don’t have the right image.

I often limit my photo searches to “commercial” use, because I’m not really sure just what non-commercial means. Is it ok to use a non-commercial photo for a blog where the writer get paid? I’m not selling your photo, but I’m hoping that a your photo will help draw eyeballs to my post, thus allowing the website/client I write for pay me.

What do you think? Where do you draw the line for non-commercial use? Do you mean I can use your photo to illustrate my writing, but not to print on a coffee mug?

If I could start using non-commercial photos it would really open up a lot more images. And, just so you know the blogger’s end of the story, we don’t often have time to contact the photographer to see if it’s ok. I need a photo NOW and if I’m not sure about the rights, I’ll just move on and try to find another good one.

Also, it’s interesting to read how many photographers are interested in where their images end up. I think I’ll start dropping more emails to thank people for letting me use their images.

By: Leslie Nicole

Leslie Nicole — Thu, 20 May 2010 18:31:57 +0000

This has given me a new perspective in regards to my own image licensing.

One thing that makes me nervous though are the free textures, etc offered under a cc license with the stipulation that credit and a link is given. What happens in 5 years when FlickrUserAlias account no longer exists, you use said texture in a photograph that is published – copyright complications? Makes me a little nervous.

By: Zack Jones

Zack Jones — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:58:13 +0000

@Mike,

I appreciate your comment and can see your point. After reading the CC information and doing some additional research I did change my images to attribution, noncommercial and share alike. As I understand it this license would allow a site such as DPS to use one of my images in a blog post, give me credit for the original but not include it in one of of their eBooks which I would assume would be considered a commercial use without getting prior permission from me. If I’m mistaken someone please correct me. I doubt, seriously, that adding my images to the CC license pool is really going to make much of a difference.

If you’re bored browse through my phtostream at flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/zackojones I doubt you’ll find anything that’s going to have an impact on your wallet

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:57:15 +0000

I am not saying to not show the work, simply saying to not give away the license. The flood of images have led to good enough is better cause it’s free. This dimishes the art.

By: Connor

Connor — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 00:34:06 +0000

Well, Mike, maybe photography isn’t a good career choice for you anymore? Gear is cheap, talent is plentiful and not everyone wants to make money from it. Expecting people to not share their work just so you can continue making money is both selfish and foolish.

I think the photographers who will make money in today’s climate will be the ones who treat their photos like marketing instead of a product. Give away the photos to build up a following so you can get paid to create… not paid for the creations. Money is still there for people who want to do portraits, weddings, commercial work, etc. But the days of being paid for the photos and not the photographing are probably over.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 06:03:03 +0000

Zack said ”
Photography is a passion and not a source of income so why not share.”

I understand that you want to share, and that is great, but think about what ever your current job is and how you would feel if one day everyone did it for free, so your services were no longer needed. The flood of images has made it near impossible to feed ones self and family.

By: Devansh

Devansh — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:22:07 +0000

@ tabletopdrummer (Donnie)

http://blogs.photopreneur.com/

This website will answer all your questions (and more), about the business aspect of photography. The site is not just for professional photographers, but also for photographers like you and me, who pursue photography as a passion, and wouldn’t mind earning a few bucks every now and then.