I’m a food photographer for restaurants. I have a contract for all my clients to sign. Starting work with a new client, I gave it to them:
Client: I’m never going to read it. Just summarize it for me.
I did. He signed it.
A couple of weeks later, I saw my photos on their Instagram account – butchered with Instagram filters. My contract states photos may be used in social media but must remain “unedited and unaltered.” I messaged the client politely to ask them to remove the post and remove the edits if they’d still like to use the image.
Client: You told me I didn’t need to credit you for the photos, so I own them – I can do whatever I want with them. I don’t like to work with people who give me trouble.”
Me: That’s not what I said, and the contract you signed is much more clear on the matter.
Client: I regret hiring you. I did you a favor by giving you business plus complimentary food. Don’t forget, you asked me for business – I didn’t ask you.
But I also asked you to not infringe on my copyright?
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