Of course that could have a chilling effect on boudoir portraiture, an already chilly affair. But I guess that would need a model release which still gives the commissioners of portraiture and bridal pictures a certain copyright-like power over the photographer. I wonder how much of that $18K the bride got?
I have earned my living as a photographer all my life – commercial clients – but I still wonder how I, as an individual, would feel had I commissioned a photographer to shoot for me,
had paid him for his creative effort, and then later discovered he’d been using the work for which I’d already paid him, to supply the needs of another client.
Now there’s a certain logic to that within the commercial world because both sides are a little more aware of copyright issues – or they should be – but in the case of work commissioned by a civilian client, then I think that’s not the same thing; at the very least, there should be a standard, plain language form issued by all photographers taking on private clients telling them of the possibility of the products of their shoot being used elsewhere without any reference to them or their opinions on the matter.
It’s become a rather murky puddle and I don’t think it does anyone’s reputation or standing a lot of good.
Rob C