RT Weddings Photography

Wedding photography image rights and copying?

A few years ago, before the age of digital, all photography was taken using film and negatives.

The photographer would always hold onto the negatives and therefore hold on to the copyright as there was only ever one set of negs. At the time this was also seen as a very lucrative position to be in as reselling to the couple, the family and friends was making a good return.

The digital age however has bought about a huge change, not only are the professional photographers utilising digital technology, but the majority of family and have also got digital cameras at a wedding. This has impacted on reselling quite considerably as most of the time the professional takes a shot, there are usually 10 or more budding amateurs stood behind taking a very similar shot.

If as we suspect, the reselling has dwindled and now that we have a means of duplicating the digital negatives, I am of the opinion that these should be handed over to the customer on completion of their wedding package. This does mean that you will have to set out a comprehensive package at the time of booking otherwise the customer is most likely to take the images and outsource their own albums, and other items from low cost suppliers. In my opinion the added value of handing over the digital negs does increase the worth of the package and at present is a big step ahead of most of the competition.

This is the best of both worlds as the photographer can still hold on to the rights to the photographs and continue to utilise them for marketing purposes, and grant the customer permission to reproduce the photographs for non-commercial purposes.

At the end of the day the customer is the key factor in a wedding and we are all striving to provide the highest level of service.

By Dean Robson - RT Weddings