UPDATE : Take Your Photos Down

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Ugh.  I've been so busy and have thousands of photos to go through, catch up my challenge ( yes I've kept up with the weekly challenge to myself just not the posts)

Anyway, I finally posted some photos to FB from a family event from the July 4th holiday last night.

Today, I got an formal/ informal  ' cease and desist' order from the parents of some of the children in the photos. Yes, at least one parent is an attorney if not both.     I never even thought about the legality of posting someone else's children to the internet.  I dont even know what the laws or etiquette  would be about that issue; taking photos, posting, as your own work.  Especially when they placed their children into the family photos in the first place. 

The situation: My niece and brother-in-law asked if I had my camera with me ( of course I did) and would I take  take photos of her newborn son and another nephew visiting from Arizona,   A family gathering with some photos, event situation.    Only then ( when asked) did I go to my car and bring my camera out for photographs.  The baby was not cooperative and neither was the tired new mother.  For about 3 minutes I took some photos and I thought several came out really cute.

My niece also had her friends at the event and their two beautiful children that were placed with my two nephews into the photos.  They were there and saw what I was doing  yet they never objected and even help pose their children for the ' family' shots and even posed themselves into a few photos.   Actually, most of the good photos had their children in the family group shots.    Actually, none of the good ones of my own relatives came out except images with the other children in the photos.  So, there are none to share with my family members on FB unless sent in private message.  Certainly now, I will not send that way either in case they are posted by someone else in the family for fear I would be sued.  

I'm a tad embarrassed- very embarrassed. It is odd that recently, I work on photos but dont post because I second guess each shot--'not good enough, could be clearer, same ol' subject, etc'   I finally post something only to get a notification to immediately remove from the internet even though the subject was never brought up at the time and they inserted their own children into family photos anyway.  

I never publicly or otherwise state " I am a photographer' or offer my services for sale. I present myself as a hobbyist/enthusiast. .  

Feel free to put your input, Pro or Con, into my situation. Maybe I could have a better understanding

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Oh sad and sick.  I posted another link on the next page about someone stealing images of her child for advertisement.   Not the same as sick predators though. 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Lonnie, I can relate and know your bewilderment and embarrassment.  Thanks for sharing your situation also.

It is strange that these folks have pics ( very few but they are there) on FB and Instagram.  

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

I know the legal rules as I purchase a lot of stock photography for work. Non commercial stuff can get a little more dicey.
I don't think you did anything wrong. Clearly a misunderstanding that didn't need such a harsh response. The polite thing to do is just remove it and ask next time.
I never post any people shots online unless I have asked the person if it is okay. Just my policy. I mostly do it because it's how I would like to be treated.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Good advice, Nancy

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

http://petapixel.com/2015/07/10/photographer-upset-after-seeing-dau...

[Richard Crowe]

When we adopt out a rescue dog, we like to get pictures of the dog and its new family.  However, we always get verbal approval (I guess in this era of litigation - written permission would be better) to post the shots on our website and on our Facebook page.  

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

FYI  I shared a blog post picture once of children in Guetemala going to school in a bucket across two mountain tops. I cited the photograper and there was a message asking that if they didn't want me to share i would take it down. I didn't hear anything for over a year during which time my cousin who is a documentary maker saw my post, went to Guatamala and made a film about the children. The film won awards.  I then got an invoice by email followed by a letter and then a solicitors letter demanding payment of €10,000 for the photographer and a huge legal bill!!! I nearly had a heart attack.  My ex (who is terrific at this sort of thing) rang the lawyer who was in England and whatever he said to him had the desired effect as they stopped. My cousin was also threatened for about two years until the bully eventually gave up.