My name is Steve Ferency. I am a photographer and videographer for a mid-size marketing agency but am writing this as a photographer, so off goes my agency “hat” for a moment. Going back to the beginning of that last sentence. I am a photographer and do consider myself an artist. I use the medium to show people things, places, and experiences that they may not have been able to do or participate in physically.
In today’s world of social media sharing, businesses, brands, artists, agencies (such as BrickStreeet Marketing), individuals, etc., all have one thing in common. Someone is taking and editing the photos needed to build marketing/awareness. And unless you are using stock photography, which there is certainly a place for, sharing these photos involves a certain social etiquette.
Why You Should Give Credit to Your Photographer… and How.
Let’s talk about Social Media for a brief moment. Social platforms are used by photographers to showcase original work. Without social media, it would leave us having to break into the broadcast media world (That’s another blog for another time). Simply said, we rely on these social platforms to market our work.
Giving your photographer credit when using their images in your social media campaigns or posts is very important, although not everyone understands why.
By giving credit you’re tying the image to the creator of the photograph. Every artist, us photogs included, put a little piece of their heart into each and every piece created. You can say that we are our work.
Followers of your page are viewers of your content. They may really like a photo and want more information on the photographer (or agency) to work with them in the future.
Many photographers do not use watermarks, logos, or other identifiers on their photos, me included. I personally feel it takes away from the beauty of what was captured. Some will disagree, and it’s all personal preference. So when there are no credits or identifiers, this leaves the photo to be devoured by the cyber gods.
If you had a great experience with a photographer, it’s sort of like a review of their services. So, you should give credit.
Now that you’ve read this far, you may be asking yourself, “How do I do that properly on social media?”
Most, if not all platforms have a button called the “Share” button. This is by far the simplest way to credit a photographer. Sharing the content directly from the page where their work is published takes everything and bundles it up for you in a simple click or two.
You can also type @photographerspage to tag them on posts to be sure they are created. Be sure to tag the correct page. There are many pages in the cyber world so always be sure you’re tagging correctly but do it you must (my attempt at a Yoda impression).
If you are not sure what the usage rights are to a photograph that you’d like to use, it is always best to ask. It helps build the foundation of trust and respect between you and the photographer.
If you are using the photos in an article, blog, or for any other reason, try and get written permission, especially if you are told to do so by the artist, and use the age old Photo Credit stating Photographer Name and Business Name”. Example, Photo Credit Steve Ferency / BrickStreet Marketing.
Thanks,
Steve.
photo credits
