“There is no copyright”

Headshots in Los Angeles by Vanie Poyey

He said, speaking over me when I attempted to explain why I don’t give out all the high resolution images with my packages.  In a very antagonistic tone, he said it again after I attempted to explain a second time “No no no there is no copyright, who does that?” .  So I wished him luck and hung up the phone.  The actor will remain unnamed but I was a little perturbed by the hypocrisy of this fellow “artist” during this one way conversation which started as an inquiry of my services.  Musicians live on royalties, actors live on residuals,  and photographers live on licensing their images and most of us “do that”.

As my colleague Joe Henson from NY so eloquently put it…

“This issue is definitely one of the biggest struggles in our profession, the concept of licensing fees for the needs of different clients.  Because photography has been devalued by the explosion of talented amateurs who have no real need to protect the rights to their work and because original digital files are reproducible with no degradation of quality, we professionals have to dig in our heels and protect what little value we have left to the rights of our work.  I find it easiest to explain licensing fees to my clients by establishing a link between my rights as a photographer and the rights they retain in their given field.”

To establish that link with the acting profession, I would like to point out that as an actor your union protects the rights to your image in many ways one of which is by making sure you are properly paid for the different uses of your image.  If a show plays an episode you’re in x amount of times, you get x amount of residuals.  In addition, if a show plays an episode you’re in on network TV vs. basic cable, you get x amount of $.   Similarly if you book a national commercial, you get compensated differently than if you were to book a regional one or a straight buyout.

These laws are in place to prevent your image from being exploited without proper compensation.

The same goes for all artists, architects, painters, poets, novelists, filmmakers, and yes photographers.

The Copyright Act of 1976 protects the creators of content, visual or intellectual.

So to get to the point, when you pay x amount of dollars for a headshot session the images of which are intended to be used for your personal promotional needs, you get x included in your package.  For me to exercise some control over how my photographs are used and to prevent them from being used in a manner not intended or paid for, I don’t give out high resolution images.  Instead, each high resolution image is purchased separately and paid for separately with a small copyright mark placed unobtrusively in the corner somewhere.  I ask that you respect my copyright.

If Warner Brothers decides to use your headshot to promote their next show, then Warner Brothers will need to license the rights to that image from me.  The value of that headshot changes when used to bring in big bucks by way of exploiting it as advertising for a show.  Starting to see the similarities in what we do as artists?

I hope so because there is copyright.

-Vanie

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe!

The following images are of my fellow clients, actors I’m grateful for because they support and respect my work as an artist.

Check out Tish’s blog as she documents about her session with us here!

Tags: acting headshot, Acting Headshots, actor head shots, actor headshot, actor headshots, actors headshot, actress headshot, digital headshots, great headshots, Head shot photographer in LA, Head shot Photography in LA, Head shot Photography in Los Angeles, head shots, head shots in los angeles, Head shots LA, head shots los angeles, headshot photographer, Headshot photographer in LA, Headshot photography in Los Angeles, headshot photography los angeles, headshots, headshots for actors, headshots in los angeles, headshots la, headshots los angeles, headshots portraits, LA Head shot Photographer, LA Head shot Photographers, LA Head shot Photography, LA Headshot Photographers

10% off Trick or Treat Sale!

Acting Headshots by Vanie Poyey

Tell your friends!  It’s Halloween Weekend and we’re having a spooky sale!  Book your session on Halloween Monday (October 31, 2011) and receive a 10% discount on any package.  The bigger the package, the bigger the discount.  Happy Halloween!

*Fine print…not valid with other offers .

See Gary’s previous shots HERE.

Don’t forget to subscribe!

Tags: acting headshot, Acting Headshots, actor head shots, actor headshot, actor headshots, actors headshot, Head shot photographer in LA, Head shot Photography in LA, Head shot Photography in Los Angeles, head shots, headshot, headshot photographer, Headshot photographer in LA, headshots, headshots for actors, headshots in los angeles, headshots portraits, LA Head shot Photographer, LA Head shot Photographers, LA Head shot Photography

Headshot Marketing Tips Anyone?

Headshots by Vanie Poyey

Keep a look out for the September 22nd issue of Backstage’s Spotlight on Headshots where I talk about marketing tips for headshots!  Can’t give away whose photos will accompany the article but your picture might be included!

The following images are all taken at or around our new studio in the Los Angeles Arts District!

Amy Tolsky was the first client in our brand new loft!  Here she shows off her quirky personality in both the professional look as well as in the friend look!

Whether edgy like Beau Dawson or sweet like Will Hawkes, everyone needs someone to lean on.

Danny Epstein did a great job displaying a range of his talent with all these fantastic looks!

Lauran Siegel brought so much variety to the shoot!  Is there any role she can’t play?

Marlene Sharp knows how to bring out some spunk!  She captures this look perfectly.

Husband? Kids? Work? All the way from New York, Elissa Piszel can handle it all!

With a classic smile and these big brown eyes Daniel D. Kountz can win anyone over!

Patrick Quinlan can get to the bottom of any case and handle any client.

Three time returning client Jason Broad is always a pleasure to work with.  He can work any job from the office to the streets!

If you enjoyed this post, please “share it” and subscribe!

Tags: Acting Headshots, actor head shots, actor headshot, actor headshots, Actor's headhsots, actors headshot, actors headshots, actress headshot, Head shot photographer in LA, head shots, head shots in los angeles, Head shots LA, head shots los angeles, headshot, headshot photographer, Headshot photographer in LA, headshot photographers, headshot photographers in la, Headshot Photography in LA, headshots, headshots in los angeles, headshots los angeles, headshots portraits, LA Head shot Photographer, LA Head shots