The winds, they are a-changing.

As Facebook announced changes to its photo hosting applications, we as photographers must adapt and change with it as well. Facebook now allows you not only to upload high resolution images, but also allows anyone and everyone to download those high resolution images as well. For free. Anywhere, anytime, without our knowledge.

This concerns me for a few reasons.

Not for my clients, as I trust them, I respect them, and I include the high resolution images with every session anyway, for their personal print use. I know my clients have nothing but good intentions. My concern is for other people. People who originally would only be able to right-click and save a web-resolution image can now download a large copy of any photo on my (or anyone else's) Facebook page. This is a huge copyright liability. I will be uploading only web-resolution versions from now on, but my clients DO get the high-res images of their own session, and can essentially upload my high res images to their own page. *GULP!*

I have already had to deal with people using my photos to promote their business without my authorization, now I have to be concerned about strangers all over the inter-web saving my highres images, for any unauthorized use? Yikes!!! I have already heard horror stories of photographers who have seen their images plastered in mall kiosks without their consent, images being hijacked and stolen for promotional use, etc etc. This new change makes me very nervous, Facebook.

So here's my solution. It's based on the honor system. From now on, each and every session will include TWO cds. One will contain the high resolution images, with express language stating that they are for personal print use only. The second cd will include web-resolution images. Clients may use these images on their personal sites, blogs, facebook page, etc. The web-resolution images will be much smaller and not able to be printed without being grainy and fuzzy, but will be the correct size and resolution to look great on the web. This new change means a little more work by me, and a little more work from you, my clients. Because I'm basically trusting you. I'm trusting you to not give away my high resolution photos for free to the world.

After all, you paid for those images. They are as much yours as they are mine. And I hope you feel as protective of them as I do.

Thanks.

Stephanie:)

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