How to handle parents scanning shots

tjl1388

I shoot casually for my daughters competitive cheeleading gym and do quite well selling shots off of my smugmug.

The issue I am having is one that has been an issue at the last gym in Ga. we were at as well.

The parents buy some pictures, 5x7, 8x10, ect. The day after they recieve the pictures up to facebook they go scanned and all.

Any ideas on how to stop this practice? I am hesitant to speak with the parents as when I did this at my last gym the sales to the parents spoken to drastically dropped. It is the age old argument of "I bought the picture, it's mine."

zoomer

Encourage them to do it but request that they put a note that you were the photography, don't fight it, use it for free advertising. They are going to do it, regardless.

When you notice someone has done this drop them a note and tell them thanks for posting your pictures but it would be great if they would put a note crediting you as the photo taker....it is all in the approach.

JimKarczewski

Don't fight it. Give them a 720x720 digital copy with their purchase so they can post it on facebook. Just make sure your logo is prominently featured on the smaller FB images.

You aren't going to get people to stop, that's evident from all the posts on FB I've seen with "PROOF", "DO NOT COPY", etc across images posted in profiles.

zoomer

Don't count on people looking at your logo especially at those sizes.

beetle8

Offer digital downloads as a product, clearly that's what they want. Trying to fight that is a waste of your time. We are in a new world now. I wouldn't go hunting them down and asking for credit either, your just as likely to get them defensive.

I offer DL's and often get sales that include a DL and print/prints of the same image.

This year I started offering a low cost "Facebook profile" sized download (ZF lets you make custom sized DL products) and it's been a huge hit.

zoomer

beetle8 wrote: »

Offer digital downloads as a product, clearly that's what they want. Trying to fight that is a waste of your time. We are in a new world now. I wouldn't go hunting them down and asking for credit either, your just as likely to get them defensive.

I offer DL's and often get sales that include a DL and print/prints of the same image.

This year I started offering a low cost "Facebook profile" sized download (ZF lets you make custom sized DL products) and it's been a huge hit.

^ best idea.

Hikin' Mike

When I was shooting gymnastics, I would give a 200 x 600 (perfect for Facebook) to each kid and post it to my FB page. I would then tag each kids photo. I also include a little blurb about don't edit my photo or watermark.

GadgetRick

beetle8 wrote: »

Offer digital downloads as a product, clearly that's what they want. Trying to fight that is a waste of your time. We are in a new world now. I wouldn't go hunting them down and asking for credit either, your just as likely to get them defensive.

I offer DL's and often get sales that include a DL and print/prints of the same image.

This year I started offering a low cost "Facebook profile" sized download (ZF lets you make custom sized DL products) and it's been a huge hit.

Exactly. I offer digital images for fights I shoot. I offer a high-res and a low-res version. Works quite well.

tjl1388

beetle8 wrote: »

Offer digital downloads as a product, clearly that's what they want. Trying to fight that is a waste of your time. We are in a new world now. I wouldn't go hunting them down and asking for credit either, your just as likely to get them defensive.

I offer DL's and often get sales that include a DL and print/prints of the same image.

This year I started offering a low cost "Facebook profile" sized download (ZF lets you make custom sized DL products) and it's been a huge hit.

I do offer digital downloads but they cost almost double what a 5x7 cost so it is not cost productive for them to buy a download.

I'm gonna try the idea of asking them to credit me in the shots.

beetle8

tjl1388 wrote: »

I do offer digital downloads but they cost almost double what a 5x7 cost so it is not cost productive for them to buy a download.

I'm gonna try the idea of asking them to credit me in the shots.

Good luck