How To Deal With Copycats in The Photography Business

     Some say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
There is a thin line between imitation and copy and some may even say they are the same.
I feel imitation in photography is when someone takes a photo and edits it with a style similar to yours but not exactly the same. Copy is when someone takes a photo with the same exact photo with the same pose, editing style, location, and sometimes even the same person! As a photographer just thinking about when someone is a "copycat" it can make you just cringe! But I'm not here to talk about what the definition of imitation and copycat are I'm here to tell you how to deal with copycats, so here we go!

Identify a copycat. You don’t want to just plain out accuse someone of being a copycat. The first thing you need to do is think about their actions and the situation in order to properly identify if this person is really a copycat. Consider the following:

• Does this "photographer" do the same things as you?
• Has this "photographer" taken photos similar or exactly like yours?
• Has this "photographer" ever taken photos of the same people as you at the same locations?
• Has this "photographer" ever stolen your ideas and tried to pass them off as their own?
• Does this "photographer" edit photos exactly like you, have a business name similar to yours, or have a logo almost identical to yours etc.?

Copycats can not only be annoying but in some forms it can be illegal. For example if someone takes a photo from your website and tries to sell it as their own that is illegal because it is stealing. I know you say why the heck would someone take one of my photos right? It happens more than you think because some people think by stealing a photo and using it as their own it will grow their following or popularity. Why the heck would someone want to take the credit for someone else's work right? Most photographers like taking their own photos and putting in the hard work because when that photo becomes popular the feeling of accomplishment is so much more rewarding! I don't see how people can take credit for someone else's work and feel accomplished because they did nothing to earn it!

(Something To Remember!) One sign you’re doing something right is when people start swiping and imitating. Because Someone is only going to take your ideas if they worth taking!

Now its time to get down to business and tell you all how to deal with the Copycat!


1. Protect Your Work and Ideas (Copyright)
      While it’s smart to develop relationships with copyright specialists and lawyers as your photography work and business grows, you have to be careful about how you go about protecting your work. Because in the end, the copycats and idea thieves will win if you don't take the proper channels to protect your photography work!

1. Watermark Your Images.  Add the copyright symbol and your name to every  image of your work that is online.  You can also include copyright on your website letting site visitors know that none of your content may be used without your permission and that there are consequences for ignoring your request.
2. Google Yourself.  Just a quick internet search can give you a lot of answers and if you see that people are using your images and work to help them grow their business/services. Try reaching out to the copycats and offered them two choices: 1st. use license/Give credit where it is due or 2nd. Take it down.
3. Google Your Images (Every few months or at least once a year). You can do this if you use a  Mac, drag the image from your site into the search box at http://images.google.com/.  a quick Google search for your image can show all the websites etc. where your images are being used.
4. Get a Lawyer.  If you are 100% positive you are being ripped off, contact your (a) lawyer for advice and to take other measures to fix the problem.
5. Don't Stop Creating and Posting Images. If you quit creating the copycats have won. That is what they ultimately want so they can take your business. It takes courage to be creative You are the one doing the work and putting yourself out there. They are copying you because you are doing something right and people are noticing you and that's why they try and steal what you have because they want what you have. For example the popularity but honestly as much as they want to be you it is physically impossible because there is only one you and that's the way it will always be!

So get on out there and do your thing! create, prosper, and love every second of it!

I hope this has helped someone dealing with a copycat problem! Because if this has helped just one person I have reached my goal!

    

Professionalism In Photography

                                                        Professionalism In Photography

        Professionalism, an act every one knows but not everyone uses!

When you own a business it is very important to be as professional as possible. Professionalism is

imperative to gain business and make your clients want to return to your business again in the future!

        Here is the story that brought me to write this blog post. I was checking my personal Instagram and was getting ready to check my photography business Instagram like I usually do. Before I left my personal Instagram I decided to click down there on the little magnifying glass to see the most recent posted stuff and stuff posted near me. I came across a photographer who uses his personal page to advertise for his photography business as well. Now I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that but I personally prefer to have two separate pages because it makes it easier to control. His page name was (I'm not going to state the actual name just give an example) "His first name - blank -  blank  Photography." I was like hey I will go check his page out, because I always love to check out fellow photographers pages and show them some love and kind words! After clicking on his page and scrolled for a second I instantly regretted it. I didn't regretted it because his work was bad because to be honest is was quite the opposite of bad it was AMAZING!!!! What made me regret clicking on his page was the way he posted profanity, and  vulgarity! One post was making fun of women's breast, another post had so many profane words I couldn't even count, and another post about yard sellers with a very inappropriate and hateful comment that I'm not even gonna begin to explain.


     Now to where professionalism comes in. For example say you have a person come up to you and they are interested in hiring you but they want to see your work first so you give them a link to your Instagram page because that is the only type of website you have for your photography. (Which I highly disagree on because you should always have a designated website for your photography business it is more professional and better for business. We will not get in to that because that is for a totally different blog post!) They go and look on there and see your Inappropriate and vulgar post's. There is a good chance they are not going to use you because of that. You have to be respectful and mindful of what people will think of each status you post. Once the word gets out about your posts it can really hurt your business because a post that could have easily been prevented by "thinking before you speak" post (if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all!)


    Always remember to be professional, respectful, polite, and think before you post and speak! I am going to wrap up this blog post here. My goal was to make this post hit in the right spot and get the point across with out this post being to long and boring to read. I wanted to make it just the right length so it was an interesting and intriguing to the reader! Thank you all for taking the time to read this post and I hope it was informational and helped anyone wanting to get in to posting on social media to advertise for their photography business!