Why?
Well, it’s an unfortunate fact that sometimes when photographers submit their work to blogs like this they don’t always do so with the permission of the couple. Then the couple is notified of the feature (or they find out through friends) and while most are thrilled – some are not.
Though blogs are not required in any legal manner to take down the wedding, we often do because, well – it’s best to keep people happy.
However, I’d like to take this incident as an opportunity to explain ways in which this can be avoided in the future.
Photographers: Aside from always obtaining a model release form from your couple, please take the time to explain to your couples who are not familiar with wedding blogs that by submitting your work to wedding blogs it is a great way to not only promote your business, but to help other brides and grooms find their dream wedding photographer. If the couple is not comfortable with having their wedding featured, don’t submit it for publication.
Brides & Grooms: Wedding blogs are legitimate businesses. We have tax identification codes, accounting books, and the like. We ARE digital publishers. In most cases, we are more often viewed than print magazines. Unless otherwise agreed upon, photographers own the copyright to any photograph they take and can submit them to any publication they like. Encourage your photographer to submit to a wedding blog – it’s a way to help their business and show your support.
If you’ve signed a contract with your wedding photographer, which in most cases includes a model release, and your photographer submits their work for publication on a wedding blog, asking for it to be taken down is poor form. You wouldn’t contact a print magazine to do the same, would you? Don’t put your wedding photographer in the awkward position of having to ask to take your wedding feature down.
Apologies again for not having the wedding here that you wanted to see… but if we all take a moment to educate our readers, couples, and photographers, hopefully things like this won’t happen in the future.
Sounds to me like since the photographer submitted it to you and had model release forms and all that – you had no legal obligation to take it down!
That is true. Besides running this blog in a legal manner, I am also a photographer as well. And I know that unless otherwise agreed upon with a photographer, the photographer owns the rights to any image they take and they can do what they please with them. Anyone who says otherwise clearly knows nothing about this business and should educate themselves before putting their foot in their mouth.
I had the same thing happen with a boudoir session. The photographer was apologetic that the client freaked out that her images could be shared around the blog world but I must add that the bride had very revealing images which I never published because they made me even blush. I took down the post as well but you are completely right – it’s best to keep everyone happy
PS – glad you shared this!
Couldn’t have said it better myself! I’ve had this happen, and it’s not a fun position to be in. Especially when the couple is really unreasonably nasty to you. Oh well, that’s what karma is for.