Copyright Explained

Now that you’ve had your photoshoot, you’ve had your viewing session (if applicable) and you’ve chosen the images you want and you’ve received your photographs, you own the copyright to those photographs, right?

Not quite, no.

There is a general misconception that once you have paid for and received your images, either in digital format, as a print or canvas, that the paying customer owns the copyright.

Whenever anybody presses the shutter button to take a photograph, whether that be on an i-phone camera, a tablet, a point and shoot or a dslr camera, that person owns the copyright to that image. But in just the same way that an author who writes a book, or an artist who paints a drawing owns the copyright to their work - when you buy a book or buy a painting, you don't assume you have also bought the copyright to that work do you?

When you receive your digital images from your photographer -  they are releasing them to you with printing rights only. This entitles you to make as many printed copies of your digital images as you like. You can design and print an album with them, you can print a huge canvas with them, you can have them printed on thank you cards. But unless you have written permission from your photographer, what you can’t do with your images is :

• Edit them with photo editing software
• Sell them in any form or use them commercially such as in advertising
• Upload them online without displaying the photographers watermark or crediting the photographer
• Enter them into competitions or gain financially from them
• Claim them as your own work
• Photocopy or scan prints

So, “printing rights only”, really does mean all you can do with your images is print them.

We hope that explains the difference between copyright and printing rights, but if you have any questions, please get in touch, either with us, or your chosen photographer.

Why Book A Professional Photographer?

In our last post, we looked at when was the best time to book a photographer to photograph your newborn.

(You can read it here)

In this article, we'd like to look at WHY you should book a professional photographer - to photograph not only your newborn baby, but your children, your family, your engagement, your wedding - even your graduation!

Digital photography is so cheap and accessible now. Today most of us carry a camera all the time - on mobile phones and tablets. Even Digital SLR cameras are relatively cheap and accesible to the general public. 

Only a couple of decades ago professional photography was a science which involved complex light calculations, fiddly rolls of film and the mysteries of a dark room and developing fluids. However the basics remain the same as in the era of film and professional photographers understand those elements and how to use them in a digital era to create stunning art. Film has now become a digital card, you can immediately see in camera, the effects of changing any of the manual settings, and the darkroom has been replaced by editing software. With the advance of this technology, photography has lost some of its mystery and there is nothing to stop anyone picking up a camera, switching it to automatic and calling themselves a photographer. But does owning a good camera automatically make you a good photographer? 

We are now the most photographed generation - with the least number of physical prints. How much of your child's life is captured on your mobile phone - and how often do you ever do anything with those images? Will your child be able to flick through prints and albums when she is an adult and stare in wonder at the clothes you chose to dress them in or look back at how young aunty Margaret looked at Joanne's wedding?

A good photographer will treat their portfolio of work as art and should spend time with you finding out about you and your family, discussing your home decor with you, establishing what wall space you are looking to fill, whether you prefer canvas, frames, a single image to create dramatic impact, whether you are looking for a grouping of images, or a boasting album to send to proud grandparents.

Your family albums should definitely be mostly made up of candid moments, your family holidays and 'snaps' but having regular professional photography ensures you have stunning art that your family can treasure forever - heirlooms you pass down for the next generation to enjoy. Below are some examples of how professional photography compares to your own snaps - the good the bad and the well, not so good!

Beautiful baby smiles for the camera - and there's no doubt this will be a treasured memory for mum and dad, but would you put it on the wall ... 

... or would you rather see this?  This is the same child in a professionally taken portrait.

Care to look at blurry fingers and mostly hat ....

... or a clean, crisp, stunning portrait?

{image supplied by Tiny Posers}

 Prefer a shot of a nappy and nostrils ...

... or a piece of art that speaks volumes?

{image supplied by MaddyZangles}

Nice try at a pretty flower girl ...

... but look what a professional can produce

So please, by all means keep enjoying photographing all your memories, but please do consider seeking out the services of a professional to create stunning portraiture for your home and your family to enjoy for years.

(With kind thanks to the parents who willingly allowed us to share their images)

When Should You Book?

When you see professional images of newborn babies, have you ever wondered how old (or new!) those babies are?

The majority of BANPAS photographers will ask to see you and your newborn baby ideally before they are 14 days old.  

8 days old - so curly and perfect

{Image supplied by Shellie Wall Photography}

When they are still this young, your baby is much easier to soothe and pose and your photographer can get all those delicious shots of your baby's rolls, and tiny new fingernails.

All squished, just like inside mum's tum

{Image supplied by Ellie J Photography}

Once a baby reaches 2 weeks old, they start to become much more aware of their surroundings, making them harder to settle and their muscles are becoming stronger, meaning they are less willing to be curled into poses.

3 week old baby who struggled to settle and refused to sleep

{Image supplied by MaddyZangles Photography}

So when is the best time to book a photographer for a newborn baby portrait session?

The simple answer is, any time after your 12 week scan.

After you've seen the first image of your baby - it's time to book a professional!

{Image supplied by Elen Studio Photography}

When you contact one of our BANPAS registered photographers, they will ask you for your expected due date.  That date is then pencilled into their diary with an approximate 2-week window either side.  Once your baby arrives, simply get back in contact with your photographer as soon after birth as possible and they will then be able to confirm a day in their diary.  All newborn photographers will have "wiggle room" in their appointment diary.  This is why it's so important to book as early in your pregnancy as possible.

Our members are experienced at working with babies so new, their clamps are sometimes still in place.

{Image supplied by Jayne Sutton Photography}

If you're worried that 14 days is going to be too soon after birth for you to even consider getting dressed and going out in public, all of our members are experienced at seeing new mums, making them comfortable during the session as well as being very hands-on with their models - soothing and posing the babies themselves.  This means mum and dad can take a much earned break and just sit back and watch the magic happen!

Small and tiny in Daddy's safe hands

{Image supplied by SR Portraits}

Some of our members are also mobile - which means they can come to your home for the session.

To find a BANPAS registered photographer near you, please visit our website

What Is A Composite Image?

You might see some of our articles use the wording "this is a composite image".

Lots of our members will have images very similar to this in their portfolio of work

A newborn baby's head is the heaviest part of her body, and it is not safe to expect a baby to be able to support the weight of her head on her wrists in this pose.

This baby has not been balanced in this position, nor has the photographer taken the image as quickly as possible before the baby topples over.

The photographer has used a composite image technique using two images and merging them together in photoshop to produce the final image.

 Images kindly supplied by MaddyZangles Photography

For further reading on what poses BANPAS expects to be photographed as composites, click here