Today’s PSA that everyone should be aware of!
A couple of weeks ago I posted my top three questions that I had not answered publicly. Among those questions was the one regarding deal sites, and in my answer I showed a stolen image. The use of that stolen image gained some attention in the boudoir community and brought forth some very interesting information about Groupon and Living Social and I think it is very, VERY important for you all to know this. Deal sights actually make it a practice to use STOCK IMAGES and NOT the photographers work. Many photographers running deals don’t seem to care. Some insist on using their own( and yeah, they absolutely should!) but way too many, don’t. That is why it is even more important to research the photographer you choose on a deal site.
- Not sure if the image belongs to the photographer? You can drag and drop an image into Google Image search and website hits come up. If the image has lots of hits from different sites and usage, then it’s a stock image and results may look like this:Â
- If the image gets one hit and it links to a photographer different from the one presenting the offer with a full watermark, then it is likely a stolen image.
- If the image shows no original and no multiple use sources but it looks so much different than those present on the deal photographers website, then there is a good chance it’s not their work. Sometimes an image is so much better or uses lighting not consistent with that shown on the photographers website(and the sample image cannot be found on the website) then this is a good clue that you are not getting correct representation of what the photographer can actually do.
I believe wholeheartedly that if you cannot show clients a sample of your own work and be proud of that, then you have something to hide or shouldn’t be charging for your work. Sadly, I have seen many photographers use stolen or stock images to lure unsuspecting clients into booking. My belief is that this is very deceitful and can even hurt your client especially with boudoir images. Boudoir is not an easy thing to shoot and quite frankly the wrong poses and angles can take even the most beautiful girl and make her look frumpy, thick in the wrong places and just not so great overall. I’ve seen it, heck I have even done it a time or two when I was learning! LOL.
So my warning to everyone, if it seems too good to be true, it likely is. Be careful and research the photographer. You can score some amazing deals and I am certainly not anti-deal site, but I think it’s wrong what they are doing in regards to using stock images especially when consumers assume(and have every right to assume) that the work shown is representation of that photographers skills. Sometimes it is, but more often than not– it isn’t. You can no longer assume, so please take a few minutes and check the photographer out before clicking that “Buy” button.
Want to book a session with a skilled boudoir photographer that shows all her own work, who is fun, kinda cute and will make you feel like a supermodel for the day? I know just the gal. *wink, wink*
bcoterie@sbcglobal.net or 408.460.1855
