I think your getting the idea. Doing the same image at the exact same place, from almost the same angle and then posting it on your site was the wrong thing to do. I think your starting to understand why it was wrong and from reading your post I believe that to be true.
I do not think anyone here can say anything about attempting shots you have seen on the net to improve their skills. The true issue was the posting of the image. A) because its a blatant rip off and B) because it gives the impression your trying to tell clients in the area you can take the same shots as The Hoff but probably at a lower price.
But what you do not know is why this thread was started. This thread was because someone actually copied his logo earlier this week. We also had another photographer on here have someone try and steal all his friends and client from facebook. Just in this week.
This thread has taken a turn and is now about stealing image ideas. Sorry if it has seemed to go at you and seems to be about you now. But I don't think that was what Not Lisy, Not Hoffer nor is he Todd Reeves, had in mind when he started this thread.
Unless of course your also the one that copied his logo too. Then carry on and you were the original thought that inspired this thread. Then carry on..
has anyone ever had clients ask you to replicate a shot of a photographer in the same area that they couldn't book? just wondering what everyone would do in a situation like that.
for instance, what if you were meeting a client to book and they brought pictures from ex. hoffer's blog and said i really love these photos and want my engagement shots here and i want these poses...
would you refuse them? would you tell them that you respect hoffer but will use your creative style to make it your own? what if they were insistent and really wanted that shot? would you risk the client not booking with you?
This is a great thread, it has taught me so much more than just about copying other peoples work.
The time I have spent playing around with my avatar to join the support group.. has been a great way to learn photoshop.
Anyway with regards to copying poses, I think that's ok. The problem is that once its been done, copying it is very rarely ever as good. I think this is evident from the posts earlier on in the post. All great togs take their inspiration from looking at other images. Surely thats the nature of the art. Twisting what you do on a regular basis is a talent and it keeps us all fresh.
I really think that what we do here is for the greater good of all of our business. Guys like me post my uncle bobs and you all help me improve
You see I am sure that we all see a new photo,umbrella shot springs to mind from Tony and also the golf tee ring shot and we think wow. Quickly followed by " I wish I thought of that" and "hmm maybe if it rains I'll see what happens" I also follow Tony's Blog and a few others just to keep up with the new idea's and styles. I have not copied any of the pics, but on all the blogs I sometimes look and say WOW thats amazing and think about what I like and how I can something into a new shot.
"hey. stand there, you are a naturally beautiful person, and i'm not going to muck it up by making you look silly and do something you wouldn't already do"
belldandy13 wrote:
has anyone ever had clients ask you to replicate a shot of a photographer in the same area that they couldn't book? just wondering what everyone would do in a situation like that.
for instance, what if you were meeting a client to book and they brought pictures from ex. hoffer's blog and said i really love these photos and want my engagement shots here and i want these poses...
would you refuse them? would you tell them that you respect hoffer but will use your creative style to make it your own? what if they were insistent and really wanted that shot? would you risk the client not booking with you?
i'm curious as to what everyone would do or say ...Show more →
I actually actively encourage clients to look at some of my favorite photographers' sites for inspiration and often ask that they come up with one or two poses each that they really like. I've never then ended up in a location that really matches up well with the poses the clients selected, but if I did, I wouldn't think twice about it. I wouldn't feel bad about it either... I would NOT be misrepresenting the idea as mine to the clients, I'd gladly give credit to the source if I felt it was a really unique source (I mean the day a client comes to me with a pic of dude and dudette laying in the grass, shot from above who the heck do I credit?) and frankly given the unlikely odds that it'd ever be THE SAME location I don't see much of a problem here.
Oh if you're curious why I would suggest they pick out two poses if in practical terms I've basically never then created images like that for them...
well for one it puts me on the spot... after looking at some awesome photogs' pix I figure their expectations are heightened. Freaks me out (quite a bit actually) but I think the adrenaline flow that results from the fear of failure is the best trigger for my personality and for me to get the best results. Yeah I guess I'm one of those "best only under pressure" types
It also gives me some insight into the kind of things they're comfortable with or not, and what they like.
So yeah... I totally encourage it.
Oh, so far the clients have always been very satisfied with the results even though I'm not "INSERT ROCKSTAR PHOTOG HERE" ... so I don't think my thing is backfiring on me so far
I wouldn't call that "ripping off" anything. I see people "copy" other photographer's locations, ideas like this all the time, and there is nothing wrong with it. That shot has probably been done 1000 times before, maybe even a few times in the same location, by other photographers. I've seen the same wedding shots over and over and over again, some identical. Granted, the guy probably did see the original and though "I like that I would like to try that too". There is nothing wrong with that at all.
I've seen pictures that I like, and try to mimic them all the time if I like them. I've also had people mimic my ideas/post-processing too. That's sort of how art works... that's how inspiration works.
Exact duplication of website/blog/logo, that's another story. The framing and logo on the bottom right are somewhat similar.
EDIT: The top picture though is MUCH better than the 2nd picture.
Also, no permission is needed to borrow an idea, like say, having a photograph of a woman and then some guy's feet showing at the top of the frame. I've seen images like that for a looong time, and it isn't copyrighted by anyone.
If I see an image I really like, I may go out and try the same, or do it in a way that makes it my own. If I take a picture and somebody else tries to copy it, more power to him... that makes me feel like I've done a good job. The way I pose somebody, or light a scene, or process an image is fair game for others to replicate (although, it rarely happens ).
Take a look at stock photography for example, you will see the same thing over and over and over again. I don't think I've seen an original wedding picture in my lifetime (well, maybe one or two) and I doubt that I will see many more. This is one reason I don't do wedding photography, I don't find any of it unique or inspirational. I'm not that there aren't some amazing photographs or photographers because there are. Hoffer is one of them.
If you think you've "invented" a particular shot, chances are it's already been done before.
For Hoffer:
I think it was unprofessional to post information on another photographer here,on a public forum.
He did not steal your images and only took your concept.
Image is also different and it's not an exact duplication.
It's also not that unique to call it "my image". 2 people kissing on a bench is not uncommon!
The only way to avoid this issue again is to limit the number of images you post.
In all honesty, if someone would ever post something like this against me on the web and use my name as an example, I would taken them to court for libel.
Then you'd have to explain to the judge how you copyrighted the whole concept with 2 people kissing on that specific bench.
*Not Cool*
Edit, after reading this further it appears as this person already apologized to you previously(even though he did not steal your image),but you decided to post this publicly for everyone to see it.
!!!
