Another person painting my photo for painting

Jacqueline_Davis · February 23, 2019, 4:28pm

If it were me Sunny, personally I would say sorry, but no I’m not comfortable with the photo being used for that purpose.
As you say, it would have been easy enough for the person to have asked rather than informed.
I don’t think you are making a big deal out of nothing at all.

Sunny_Avocado · February 23, 2019, 4:44pm

Thank you @Jacqueline_Davis, I really appreciate your answer.

Jacqueline_Davis · February 23, 2019, 4:47pm

You’re welcome. I’d have felt the same way.

Rita_Malenczyk · February 23, 2019, 7:30pm

Yeah, I think not asking is tacky. When I want to paint someone’s photo, I ask.

Mary_Hubley · February 23, 2019, 7:46pm

You have the right to say no. And you probably should think about saying it because you don’t want to imply that it’s OK to do it in the future again. It’s so complicated. Non-artists don’t know about copyright. They think all facebook, Instagram, and google images are a free-for-all. I’ve spent years sending take-down notices to Amazon after unscrupulous vendors outright stole my artwork (even with a copyright watermark right in the middle of the image!!!). It gets tiring, and they wear you down. Hard to ignore, but still - it’s not their work. Yet, I still post my photos and artwork, because after all, where else can you show it?

Sunny_Avocado · February 23, 2019, 7:58pm

Thanks for the support! She left it in a comment, and not even a message.

One real worry I had is that her art of my photo of my dog could be better than mine!! Haha. No joke though.

Patricia_Ann_Rizzo · February 23, 2019, 8:38pm

It depends on what you think. Is it okay for others to use photos of yours or not? I would say as long as they ask permission I would usually allow it. Its those who do not ask permission that drive me up a wall…especially those making money off my art. I’ve found numerous people using copies of my artwork in jewelry, pendants and such, on Ebay and Etsy. I contact them and then turn them in if they don’t comply. So, its how you feel that counts…nobody can advise you on this.

Sunny_Avocado · February 23, 2019, 8:43pm

Thank you! I’m sorry @Patricia_Ann_Rizzo your art has been taken like that! That’s terrible.

Basically, I told her I’m flattered but I am using a lot of those photos for my own paintings and told her to try Unsplash.com I guess it was just the way she informed rather than asked.

Thanks everybody!

Patricia_Ann_Rizzo · February 23, 2019, 9:03pm

Yours probably has been taken too. I wouldn’t doubt it. Mostly the chinese take it and just make pendants and such with it and there’s no way to stop them.

Andrea_Jeris · February 24, 2019, 2:05pm

Stealing is NOT OK. And you should tell her so. And that if she had asked permission you would have said yes. Last time someone stole my art I sent them an invoice and I got paid. (Off the web to print in a catalog) When I have asked photographers for permission I have even offered them a commission if it sold. They say no.

laurelle_cidoncha · February 24, 2019, 2:45pm

I have been in a dilemma the last two days. One of my Facebook and Instagram followers (and vice versa) put up a painting and I knew as soon as I saw it that it was a copy (albeit in another medium, acrylic as opposed to oil) of a painting by a contemporary famous artist whose work I am very familiar with since I admire him greatly. She gave no credit whatsoever. Do I keep my mouth shut? Do I inform the copied artist? Do I say something to the copier? I also see that the person who copied has obviously done this many times before with different artists. Her latest painting she said that she was inspired by a painting she saw on the internet. This infuriates me!

Jacqueline_Davis · February 24, 2019, 2:52pm

I would definitely inform the copied artist!
This is terrible!

laurelle_cidoncha · February 24, 2019, 3:04pm

Thank you, Jacqueline. It is the right thing to do and what I would want someone to do for me.

Annemiek_Haralson · February 24, 2019, 5:15pm

I always make sure that I ask the photographer, and usually don’t ask professional photographers since they have to make a living off it. Work, even on the internet is copyrighted, and it is stealing just to take it. An artist who is serious about their work won’t do this.

Valerie_Larson · February 25, 2019, 9:58pm

Hi Sunny, I’m sorry that you went through this but glad you spoke up for yourself. I would feel the same way about being informed that my photos are being used instead of being asked! Social media has changed everything and brings up so many proprietary questions.

BTW, thanks for suggesting Unsplash as a source for good, free photos - I didn’t know about this site but will be looking at it more closely!

Connie_McLennan · February 26, 2019, 4:56pm

This is a pretty good article. It’s about protecting paintings but may have some tips that would apply to photos, as well.

carol_koonin · March 4, 2019, 2:21pm

Now days with so many pictures on the internet, there could be a similar photo to yours. Anyway it is a compliment if they want to use your photo, and the chances of their painting looking anything like yours are very slim.
I wouldn’t worry about it!!!

Jinghang_Wu · March 10, 2019, 11:55am

Any painting done or photograph taken is naturally copyrighted by the artist, so she is definitely in the wrong to just inform you that she is using your image. Asking you is not just more polite, but necessary… If you feel uncomfortable, tell her that you’re just informing her that no, she’s not allowed to use it. Or if it is a good marketing avenue, tell her to credit you in her post.

I have come across some really interesting images on instagram, and asked the artists if I could use it for my art. They said yes with crediting. But in your case, I might have been so pissed off that I will just say no (she didn’t ask you, but inform you… what kind of attitude!)

Sunny_Avocado · March 10, 2019, 2:17pm

Yes she did inform me, but I think I was kind of overreacting, I guess because I was already planning on painting my photos. I did tell her that I was flattered, but wanted to reserve them for myself…hoped she would understand…and she did. She very politely said no worries.

So it’s all good.

Thanks everybody for the help!

Lalita_Ohair · September 11, 2019, 3:28pm

I’m going to try and answer the question you are really asking, which is how would we feel. My 1st response would probably be to feel a bit pissed off. Then, on reflection I would feel that the person who did it wasn’t thinking clearly, which is a problem many people have. When someone doesn’t think clearly they can do and say very goofy things. You seem to already have made a choice not say anything about her using your photo, so that leaves you with the question how do you deal with your feelings about this. I can only share the way I try to think in these cases. 1st I acknowledge that it really feels uncomfortable. 2nd I try and remember I really can’t do anything about anyone whose behaviour seems to be insensitive. It’s not personal; they probably act like that with everyone. 3rd I’m left with a choice: will I carry this annoyance with me all day or will I let it go. That’s actually a choice and you can choose to hold on or let go. Either choice is OK because it’s YOUR
choice. You may not be able to help it if another misbehaves but you can choose your response. Lots of times we forget this and I always appreciate it when someone reminds me of this simple key to happiness. If you choose to let it go when it pops up in your mind again(and it will) take a breath and simply say I don’t care about that and let it out with the next breadth. Then continue with your beautiful paintings.
I hope that helps!