Is what you see what you get?

You’d think that when you viewed promotional material for photographers you’d actually be seeing the photographers work wouldn’t you?


A recent post on The Consumerist website seems to show you need to be careful and not take for granted that the photographs in ad’s for photographers are always what they seem. It is alleged that Groupon promoted a photographer using another photographers work, and then when it was pointed out they replaced with a stock photo. A stock photo is one purchased from a library. It’s not one necessarily taken by the photographer who’s advertising.


And here’s some inside information for you. A well know Italian Album manufacturer provides sample albums for photographers. (I know, I have one – and it stays in it’s box in the office!) I can’t count on both hands the number of times I’ve exhibited or visited Wedding Fayres and seen these sample albums on display – full of beautiful images taken in Italy by a different photographer. I think there’s a fine line between displaying a sample album and crossing the line to the customer believing it is your own work in the albums.

Here’s a link to the Consumerist article.


So the moral of the story is always to ask – is this your work, and as always – buyer beware!