Comments on: Photographers Now Stealing Other’s Photos on Flickr

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:58:55 +0000

I am shocked at this! I mean really, use your own photo! It should be in your contract that you are allowed to use any of the photographs that you take for your business. I worked for Nikki about 5 years ago and she never gave me any of my work. She posted it on her website, I was young and to afraid to ask for it. Later when I did, she said her hard drive crashed. Not sure whether to believe that now or not.

Bummed by this, because she is actually a sweet person!

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 02:19:55 +0000

We used Nikki for our wedding 1 year ago and I just want to say that she was dishonest with us. I never received particular shots I asked for and our 16X20 we received is of very poor quality. Our palm trees around us are in perfect focus while we are blurry. We attempted multiple emails, phone calls without any response. We had a friend who also was contacting her about a upcoming wedding and she was able to contact without difficulty. Hope this helps someone else from getting caught in situation.

By: A.J.

A.J. — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:29:39 +0000

“it was a mistake, she honestly apologized for it. people are making such a huge stink over nothing.” – Vanessa

That’s part of the problem isn’t it? That people think taking someone else’s work ISN’T a big deal? That misrepresenting your business to the public ISN’T a big deal? As photographers we should be doing more to educate our peers and the general consumer.

In 2000, linking directly to someone else’s image content was consider foul, now it happens everywhere. It’s so predominate on the web it’s just not worth the trouble to try and do anything about it.

I would hate to see the same thing happen to copywritten images.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 06:13:24 +0000

@greg, Even if there was a kid who did it (not respecting others) I don’t buy that story because the post date and NOW is nearly a month. As a business owner she must have seen her own blog? Are you telling me the kid created the promotion too?

As Sherri posted below your first comment….

My issue is that Nikki’s excuse is that she asked her assistant to get a stock image that she could present as her own.

@ Vanessa
What are the other “professional photographers” doing that are “much worse”?

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:53:44 +0000

it was a mistake, she honestly apologized for it.
people are making such a huge stink over nothing.
i KNOW of other ‘professional’ photographers who do much worse and offer no apologies…
nikki was kind enough to retract the image, apologize directly to sherri and apologize to the public.

By: Susy

Susy — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:51:48 +0000

Amazingly, another CFL photographer does the same thing. Tabitha from Ultimate Images has her photos edited on Flikr and posts them on her own as well.

By: Steve - Kickfoto

Steve - Kickfoto — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:11:58 +0000

Okay, but imagine all the illegal uses of flickr photos that the owners don’t know about, or those that a printed and distributed in different countries. I just wish flickr would stock describing all rights reserved photos as ‘public’ and call them ‘can be viewed by anyone’.

As for what happened in this case, people will do what they think they can get away with and nothing will stop that. a professional photographer should know better.

By: Eric Hamilton

Eric Hamilton — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:44:03 +0000

Legally sourced or not, it is deceptive and immoral to use stock photography to promote your photography services. The obvious implication is that you created the photographs on the site, and people are making buying decisions based on that implication. They are evaluating your photography and your style to decide whether or not to hire you.

If the photographs aren’t yours, it’s bait and switch — and that is illegal in the United States.

By: Tracy a.k.a. clikchick

Tracy a.k.a. clikchick — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:35:46 +0000

Pretty sad. Who can you trust?

I’m glad she posted the apology but I agree… seems like it was illegal and unethical regardless of where she thought the image came from.

By: Sherri J.

Sherri J. — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:35:33 +0000

My issue is that Nikki’s excuse is that she asked her assistant to get a stock image that she could present as her own. Which, IS STILL ILLEGAL! You cannot apply your log to a stock image and present it as our won work; this violates the terms of use of ever stock agency that I’m aware of.

Additionally, based upon Nikki’s voicemail, which she left for me after I called her to demand that she remove the image and post an apology, indicated that she knew the image was up on her site, bearing her logo, she just didn’t know it came from flickr.

It’s Nikki’s job to educate this assistant and make sure she works within the requirements of the law, not use her as a scapegoat when she’s found out!