So you've hired a photographer to take pictures of your family/wedding/pet baby elephant. If you're as brilliant and amazing as I'm certain you are, you've also hired ME to take your pictures! You pay your photographer (me), you have your session and you get back tons of gorgeous photos (from me) that you'll treasure forever and want to share with the world. Buuuuut it might surprise you to know that you don't actually own those pictures.

It's true! In the United States copyright law states that the person who clicks the shutter owns the photo! Not the person who owns the camera and not the person who is in the photo.... just the photographer. Here is a beautiful rhyme I just made up to help you remember this law:

Whoever clicky, owns the picky.

Oh my god, I'm a friggen poet.

(Here is me. Owner of every picture I take. But I don't own this one! It belongs to this babe.)

BUT WAIT... I paid for them, shouldn't they be mine?

When you pay your photographer for your photos what you're actually doing is paying for the rights to use them personally. Personal use could mean any or all of the following: printing your photos, displaying them in your home, gifting copies of them to friends and family or sharing them on social media. I grant my clients all of those personal use rights very specifically in my contract! It's of a huge benefit to my business to have my work shared and I'm happy when my clients do so. But because I own the photos, my clients are not allowed to sell the images, enter them in contests, use them for advertising or give them to other companies to use in advertising without my permission. This is also detailed very specifically in my contracts.

(Is it starting to click?)

Are there exceptions to this rule? What if I WANT to own the copyright to my photos? How do I do that?

There are certainly exceptions to this rule! I have sold the copyright of photos to clients who wanted to own them exclusively. However, owning the copyright involves a different kind of contract and a much higher price tag. 

Ok, so what if I want to keep my images private?

That's ok too! This is a common request from my boudoir clients who don't want nakey pictures of them on the internet but there are allll sorts of reasons why a person may want to keep their images private. Perhaps they have a foster child and are legally not allowed to share pictures of that child. Maybe they have escaped an abusive partner and don't wish to be found. Whatever the reason, I'm not an a-hole and I respect my client's need for privacy. It takes zero effort for me to not be an a-hole. Don't be an a-hole. 

So in my contract with my wedding venue it states that my photographer is required to sign a contract with them granting them full rights to my photos so.....

Ok, HOLD UP. This is something that I have seen pop up as an issue more and more and I want to address it head-on. There have been a number of venues across the country that aren't allowing photographers to shoot on their property unless they grant them exclusive rights to the images. Now, private properties ARE allowed to determine who and who isn't allowed to take photographs at their venue. BUT, these venues are essentially committing Legal Blackmail and frankly, it sucks. As a photographer I have always allowed the venues I shoot at to share my imagery with proper photo credit. I've even let venues use my pictures in their own advertisements as long as I am credited in the ad! However, what some venues are trying to do is bypass the need for credit or payment by refusing entry to the property unless a photographer signs a contract granting exclusive rights to the images. Some venues have even gone as far as having the intended couple sign a contract that grants the venue the rights to the photos but legally the couple can't do that because why?

BECAUSE THE PHOTOGRAPHER OWNS THE IMAGES.

So, what if this is a venue that you are ABSOLUTELY in love with and you just have to get married there or you will just DIE??

Then go ahead! Get married there! Just be aware that there are many, many photographers (myself included) who will walk away from a wedding before signing away the rights to our work.

(Here I am, walking away. Taking NONE of that bullshit)

The point I'm trying to make is... talk to your photographer about what your expectations are for your photos. If you want to own the copyright, ask your photographer what that will cost! Also, make sure you READ your contracts. Not just with your photographer but with your venue and other vendors as well. Communication is crucial and will save you tons of hassle.

But most importantly, please remember what a brilliant poet I am.

Whoever clicky, owns the picky.

xoxo

-j

P.S. If you have a pet baby elephant I'm gonna need you to call me immediately.

Now that we're just one day away from the new Roaring 20's, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at my favorite moments of the last year. With just over 70 photoshoots and weddings, 2019 was the busiest year yet for Jenn Spain Photography! I can't thank all my incredible clients and followers enough. Making art for a living is one of my greatest joys in this life and I love sharing it with all of you. 

Now, come take a peek at some of my favorite captures of 2019!!!

Best Kiss

Before they got married I told Caleb I wanted to get a shot of them kissing in the aisle and when I gave my cue he swept up his new bride so perfectly. The slight dip, her hand behind his neck and the gorgeous colors of their florals... muah!

Best Expression

This cutie was so amped up during her at-home family session that she couldn't stop jumping and spinning. In an attempt to get her to look at the camera I asked her if she should see the butterfly in my lens. "Wait, I need to get my magmafime glass" she told me. She REALLY wanted to see that butterfly! Her squished nose, slight fog on the glass and those magnified baby blues just tickle me.

Best Newborn

I mean.... COME ON. Puppy breath, chubby belly and endless amounts of wrinkles? Stella was pure gold.

Best Artistic Leap

Every once and awhile I shoot an image that becomes an iconic one for me. This is the moment I realized that my boudoir studio had something incredibly special to offer to women. 

Best Skies

Getting out of LA and finding myself under Albuquerque's incredible sky scape absolutely nourished my artistic soul this past summer. Add in my drop-dead gorgeous bestie and you've got this piece of magic.

Best WTF

This was probably the happiest I've ever been on a photoshoot. I learned so much about the care and life of honeybees and I got to capture this amazing moment that a couple of bees just chilled on the finger of their beloved beekeeper.

Best Candid

My friend's grandmother taking her very first jello shot. Need I say more?

Best Poop

This tiny cutie abruptly ended her 3 month shoot by pooping directly into her fathers pocket! Keys and wallet be damned- when ya gotta go, ya gotta go! Thanks for the laugh, Nora!

Best Laughter Thru Tears

I admit I often get a little teary while I'm shooting weddings but this moment took the cake! Kris' vows took several starts as he kept finding himself overcome with tears and then doubling over in laughter at himself. His emotions were palpable and every guest (including myself) was crying and laughing as we shared in his struggle. With the encouragement of his amazing wife and officiant he made his way thru some of the most heartfelt vows I have ever heard. It was truly beautiful to witness.

Best Theme

We pulled out allllll the vintage styling for this Intimate Empowerment session and I am OBSESSED with the way it came out. Fully clothed with a sexy twist just might be my new favorite thing.

Best Mother/Daughter Moment

The look on sweet Kim's face as she barely keeps it together while her daughter's help their youngest sister get ready for her wedding just melts me. I shot 2 out of 3 of her daughter's weddings and this stunning family is such a joy to shoot!

Best Selfie

The photo that catapulted my little family into International Fame. We were picked up in dozens of publications around the world and we even made the front page of Reddit. I am enormously proud of our little zucchini baby. It was freaking delicious. 

Honestly, narrowing down these moments was incredibly hard work. Even as I type this I'm remembering 20 other photos that are also AMAZING. But that's always how it is, huh?

Happy New Year, babes. I love you all so damn much.

-j

Two weekends ago I had the most wonderful engagement session with Eugene and Tess. We were supposed to have our session in the Arts District but of course the rain had other plans for us. When I suggested switching locations to Grand Central Market they jumped at the idea! Not only do Tess and Eugene consider themselves foodies but it's hard to think of a more iconic downtown LA location than the market! The market was as bustling and busy as it always is but the bright lights and vintage backgrounds made for the perfect spot to document their engagement.

This engagement ring just took my breath away! It's a sapphire that looks turquoise or even green in the right light. Tess is a huge lover of plants so it's pretty much the perfect stone for her.

Tess and Eugene met on Tinder! They chatted only briefly before meeting for a date and they've been by each other's side ever since. As luck would have it, they're both from the midwest which makes planning their Milwaukee wedding just a teensy bit easier!

I told Eugene and Tess to sit at the bar and order drinks (capturing my clients as naturally and comfortably as I can is ALWAYS my goal) and these sweet and generous should ordered me one too. Cheers!

I'm so happy that these two found each other, fell in love and hired me! This delicious session was definitely one for the books!

Huzzah!