Altering images from your photography session

If you've ever been had professional photographs taken, you may or may not have noticed a clause in the contract that states that you may not edit your images. But wait, they're your images, right? Why can't you edit or alter them? When you purchase professional images, you own the image, but you don't actually own the "rights" to the image. Your photographer retains the "rights", also called copyright, to your images, and those rights include how you can display them, whether you can print them, and how you can use them online.

Why does it matter?

• Copyright policies aren't the only reason that your photographer doesn't want you to edit your images. A photographer's editing style represents their brand. Changing the photo misrepresents their work and could lead to a couple of different scenarios.
  • In the first scenario, you put a filter on images that change the feel of the images. Someone sees the images on your social media and loves them. They hire the same photographer, but when they get their images back, they're disappointed. They don't look like your images and aren't the style they were hoping for. Through no fault of the photographer, they have an unhappy client.
  • In the second scenario, you put a filter on images and post them on social media. Someone sees the images but doesn't like the style, so they look elsewhere for a photographer.

What is considered altering?

• Adding filters or doctoring of photos in Photoshop
• Removing a logo or studio name
• Color correcting, including changing from color to black and white
• Clipping people or objects out of the original shot

If in doubt, always reach out before making any changes.  Most photographers are willing to work with you if you have a specific image that you would like edited a certain way. Let's connect if you are considering hiring a professional photographer.

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