Thank you Dianne--I've worked as a commercial food stylist for over 30 years & have access to food photos that I've been a part of. But it's important to understand who owns what--and as a stylist I don't own a photo that I've styled. The photographer (or client) owns them, so I'm careful to get permissions or credit appropriately. I often use shots I've styled at some point to illustrate recipes I share on my Substack, but I always caption with photo credits/links if I haven't shot them (I'm doing more of my own photography these days, but I'll never be as good as some of the food shooters I've been lucky to collaborate with.) In these days of AI, which has basically stolen bits and pieces of all our work, I think it's important to maintain as much integrity as we can.
I totally agree--we just need to be professional about everything, which seems to be sorely lacking these days. Or people don't know the rules (maybe?)...
Not to sound like a goody-two-shoes, but this issue has been a thorn in the side of photography professionals since the advent of social media/blogging. So it's a trigger!
Dianne, thank you for bringing this important issue to light -- it's something I've been thinking about a lot. While I take great pains to do all the photography myself for my own posts, I'm constantly seeing others use "borrowed" images without permission -- which is copyright infringement, as you point out. It is not just wrong; it is a crime. Lately I've started adding a photo credit (with my name) on my own photos, so readers understand I'm playing by the rules.
That's actually a very good idea & I've been lax about that. I tend to not add my copyright to images I take, assuming readers will know that if I don't credit someone else.
I use to do the same but since Dianne wrote us it is better to add copyright to our own images I do add my name. Others will know there is an author on the photos thus maybe preventing them from stealing and what about AI....
I read that you don't technically have to copyright anything, that you automatically own your own work and it is copyrighted, but maybe it is best to use the copyright sign under your photos just to make it clear?
Ooh I love the idea that all these people are criminals. I'm not sure if I want to see them arrested or fined, though. I just want the to play by the rules, as you do!
Yes it is rampant and while AI has taken over many social platforms like Pinterest where the images are just computer generated, there still remains a rampant amount of theft. Smaller sites and bloggers may think it's ok to "just use 1 photo" of mine in a roundup without asking. No, actually I don't want the images of my most popular recipes providing content to that site since I will never get back in clicks to my site what I feel that content is worth. There are also people who copy/paste recipes from blogs like mine and then SELL them on Etsy or Ebay, and of course use my imagery to sell them. The platforms do nothing. There are other small to medium restauranteurs who will use an image of mine in their email blasts to their customers or on their business Facebook pages and astute readers will tell me, hey there's a restaurant called XYZ in Wyoming who's using your images on his Facebook page. I've actually called restaurant owners to tell them no, not ok. Use your own images for your own business, not mine. One guy, after I called him out, used an image who of my friend (she was #2 on Google search, I was #1) and I texted her right away, with his phone number. It's a never.ending.thing. It goes on on every level, in so many ways you don't even think about, there's zero integrity and the general public seems to think that "getting something off the internet" and using it is fine. Sigh.
This sounds exhausting, Averie. And theft is happening at so many levels, as you point out. It's got to be about money (people don't want to pay), and about the ease of taking images off the net. Right now it's very easy.
The most aggravating theft is by Google AI. I can't tell you how many of my photos illustrate their AI.....and there is nothing I or anyone can do about it. I have had other photos used by others when I had the bakery. Each time I was successful in getting those taken down. But I think we will see less and less control over either written content or photos. It's just plain theft anyway you look at it.
Yes it is. I don't know much about AI theft. I suppose it comes down to the same thing: now the software can be trained to steal your images also? Or does a human do it? Bottom line is the same.
I see a lot of people using images that are clearly not freely available. Like you I use Unsplash. When I use an image that's not mine, even if it comes from Unsplash, I give photo credit. The creator was kind enough to make their image freely available, that doesn't mean they don't deserve credit.
Yes. It doesn't cost anything to give them credit. It does point out that I haven't paid to use an image, so I guess people can think that I'm cheap. LOL.
Hopefully not, instead I'd like to believe they see you as kind and supportive. It doesn't take a lot to acknowledge the hard work and creativity of others. And let's face it, none of us does everything completely by ourselves.
As a creative, I appreciate you writing about this. It seems the days of respecting copyright is leaving us, but it is good to know that some people remember and try to do the right thing.
I read this at 7 am this morning and it was an AHA moment. Sourcing is NOT the same as permission. Although it was like the uncomfortable feeling of someone turning on the light after being in the dark for a long time, I certainly appreciate now being able to see. Thanks Dianne, for always championing what's right and teaching us all along the way.
Thanks for owning it, Sandie! I don't just want people to agree with what I wrote. What's valuable is when a reader determines that they need to figure out a new way. That's gold.
Any content creator who does interesting work likely has had work stolen, maybe many times. Here are a couple thoughts on what to do about it. Over a long cookbook and article writing career, I had individual recipes, articles, whole books, and photos "borrowed," and published by others. I used to say I knew I had arrived when a higher class of thieves began taking my work! In one case, a reader of my All-American Cookie Book said she had found the same recipe in my book as in a Martha Stewart cookie book, and asked whose recipe it was. I told her my book had been published several years earlier, that the recipe had not only been taken without permission, but that I happened to see Martha demoing it on her show and she had even used my headnote as an intro to the segment. Yes, I alerted my publisher (a writer always should) who said there was no money to bring a lawsuit.) Recently, I discovered that my Kneadlessly Simple bread book had been copied in full and was offered for free download on a little foreign site that contained about 100 books, all likely pirated, some from well-known authors. (I found out about the illegal use because I have the alerts feature on my g-mail account set to tell me when my various titles are mentioned.) I filled out the internet form to claim copyright infringement, and since I was the author named on the material, my book was removed very quickly. Another cookbook author friend's book was also on the site, and I alerted her. But she seemed fearful of complaining and never filed an infringement claim. I urge you to do so if you ever discover your work has been stolen. You are in the right and the claim is easy to file; stand up for your work! Re theft of photos, which I also create, I ALWAYS put my copyright on the pics so a borrower can't claim they didn't know who to ask for use. Yes, pics can be cropped to remove watermarks, but would-be thieves are often lazy and also may assume you REALLY don't want your work stolen. Yes, some photographers feel that copyright watermarks visually detract from their work, but by choosing the placement and color of the mark carefully, I find the distraction modest. To check for unauthorized use of images, you can scan them into Google Lens and it will quickly show you where your pic appears. This can be not only useful, but fun. Has your work also been stolen by a higher caliber thief?
This is all fantastic, Nancy. What a story about Martha Stewart reading your own recipe headnote aloud on the air! Thanks for the education. I'm sure my readers will find this info very valuable.
Thank you Dianne interesting newsletter as always. I rarely check if other bloggers steal photos. For my blog I personally take my own photos and sometimes buy some from IStock. Since you told us about Sunsplash I go there before buying elsewhere. For the photos taken from my cookbooks for recipes published on my blog I have permission from my publisher and always mention the photographer. Since you mention it is better to mention our name for our own photos I now do so but haven't got the time to add my name to many of them. In Canada, I do not know if it is still the case but about 20 years ago when I needed archive historical photos regarding the history part of some of my Quebec cookbooks such as A Taste of Maple, I had to pay archive Canada for the photos needed and was permitted to use only for the purpose needed. Looking forward to read these interesting links included in this newsletter. Micheline
I’ve had my pictures taken on Instagram without first asking for permission. It’s very annoying. I am trying to remember to write captions here to make sure it’s clear that they are all mine. I was even thinking of writing a little something in my About section to say all images here are mine — so everybody knows I haven’t taken them from someone else, but also so they avoid saving them and using them. Part of me just knows it’ll happen and in most cases I’ll never find out
Thank you for this article with good tips. I always use my own photography. And if I use a photo from someone else, I get their permission and I credit them. After reading this and the comments, I am going to start adding my own name to my images. Thank you
Thank you for addressing this issue, as a photographer I find many of my images used not only on websites and newsletters but sometimes in ads for companies overseas I never worked for or given permission. There are image trackers available to see where your images show up, I follow up with a “takedown “ notice or give them the opportunity to pay. Time consuming and with most resulting in taking down the images. So thank you again for addressing this issue and a lot of people may simple choose to not be aware.
Yes, it seems most of the comments are from people who have had their images taken, versus people who might be using them incorrectly. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a real solution to this?
I primarily use Unsplash or Pexels. Sometimes I build my own graphic in Canva. I avoid using AI because it feels really inauthentic to me, and I think people can tell.
As a food photographer, I’ve had my images lifted and dropped onto websites selling ceramics (yes, really). It’s exhausting to fight it every time. This piece by @tenderlens Kate Van G is exactly about this how cringey it is to see people slap “Pinterest” under an image on Substack, and call it a day. I’m genuinely fed up with the endless parade of borrowed photos on Substack. It screams lazy and careless.
This doesn't stop at images. I worked in radio for over a decade, and you'd be amazed how many people think it's OK to just use a piece of music. And now, with podcasting, music theft is rampant.
If you don't pay for a license, and you didnt write and record the music yourself, using the music is theft. (Public-domain recordings of public-domain compositions excepted.)
As for writing, a guy I know on FB who used to work for a publishing company lifted a post of mine and used it in his own feed without attribution. There is no hope. The emporer is nude. Dogs and cats living together. End rant. Thank you for the soap box.
Oh man, what a cruel world! I guess the main point is that any kind of creative work can be ripped off. It's really something when you know the person who's stealing your work.
I used to be an illustrator, and have seen some of my work re-published without my consent. I did a poster for a major department store... then, a year later, purely by accident, I saw it used in an ad in the New York Times. I sent a new bill, explaining that "one-time-use" had been clearly marked on the original invoice.
They had no choice but to pay me.
Another time, one of my illustrations was reused by an environmental newsletter. I would have let them use it, free, had they asked. However, the newsletter was meant to be spread for free, and it stated that everything it was copyright free (which mine was not). Once something is free of copyright, it stays that way—so, in effect, they had given everyone in the world permission to use my work without consulting me.
How ridiculous to create a situation where someone else's work is free of copyright! I would have been furious. And I love that you billed the NYT. That's chutzpah, Gary!
I enjoy the illustrations that arrive within your Substack newsletter. They are gorgeous.
I billed Bloomingdales (the store that reused my illustration without permission)... not The Times (who only sold them the ad space). Besides, The Times was another of my clients, back then... would never alienate THEM!
The copyright issue was with a small environmental newsletter. I didn't bill them... just explained the situation and asked for a retraction in their next issue. These were good people, working for a good cause, who just didn't know any better.
Thank you Dianne--I've worked as a commercial food stylist for over 30 years & have access to food photos that I've been a part of. But it's important to understand who owns what--and as a stylist I don't own a photo that I've styled. The photographer (or client) owns them, so I'm careful to get permissions or credit appropriately. I often use shots I've styled at some point to illustrate recipes I share on my Substack, but I always caption with photo credits/links if I haven't shot them (I'm doing more of my own photography these days, but I'll never be as good as some of the food shooters I've been lucky to collaborate with.) In these days of AI, which has basically stolen bits and pieces of all our work, I think it's important to maintain as much integrity as we can.
Hi, Unless that is your arrangement with the photographer - I do pay more so I have rights when I use a photographer for a shoot.
I totally agree--we just need to be professional about everything, which seems to be sorely lacking these days. Or people don't know the rules (maybe?)...
A bit of both...?
Yes, that is the question. Do they know the rules and do it anyway? Or are they truly in the dark.
Indeed. It sounds like you are taking a responsible approach, Lisa. And you care about who owns what.
Not to sound like a goody-two-shoes, but this issue has been a thorn in the side of photography professionals since the advent of social media/blogging. So it's a trigger!
Dianne, thank you for bringing this important issue to light -- it's something I've been thinking about a lot. While I take great pains to do all the photography myself for my own posts, I'm constantly seeing others use "borrowed" images without permission -- which is copyright infringement, as you point out. It is not just wrong; it is a crime. Lately I've started adding a photo credit (with my name) on my own photos, so readers understand I'm playing by the rules.
That's actually a very good idea & I've been lax about that. I tend to not add my copyright to images I take, assuming readers will know that if I don't credit someone else.
I'm not sure anyone assumes that anymore! What a world! :-)
I use to do the same but since Dianne wrote us it is better to add copyright to our own images I do add my name. Others will know there is an author on the photos thus maybe preventing them from stealing and what about AI....
I read that you don't technically have to copyright anything, that you automatically own your own work and it is copyrighted, but maybe it is best to use the copyright sign under your photos just to make it clear?
Ooh I love the idea that all these people are criminals. I'm not sure if I want to see them arrested or fined, though. I just want the to play by the rules, as you do!
Yes it is rampant and while AI has taken over many social platforms like Pinterest where the images are just computer generated, there still remains a rampant amount of theft. Smaller sites and bloggers may think it's ok to "just use 1 photo" of mine in a roundup without asking. No, actually I don't want the images of my most popular recipes providing content to that site since I will never get back in clicks to my site what I feel that content is worth. There are also people who copy/paste recipes from blogs like mine and then SELL them on Etsy or Ebay, and of course use my imagery to sell them. The platforms do nothing. There are other small to medium restauranteurs who will use an image of mine in their email blasts to their customers or on their business Facebook pages and astute readers will tell me, hey there's a restaurant called XYZ in Wyoming who's using your images on his Facebook page. I've actually called restaurant owners to tell them no, not ok. Use your own images for your own business, not mine. One guy, after I called him out, used an image who of my friend (she was #2 on Google search, I was #1) and I texted her right away, with his phone number. It's a never.ending.thing. It goes on on every level, in so many ways you don't even think about, there's zero integrity and the general public seems to think that "getting something off the internet" and using it is fine. Sigh.
It is sad to notice that nowadays people think they can take whatever the want just because it is on the internet.
Well not everyone, but it does seem to be a general theme. And its so easy to do.
This sounds exhausting, Averie. And theft is happening at so many levels, as you point out. It's got to be about money (people don't want to pay), and about the ease of taking images off the net. Right now it's very easy.
The most aggravating theft is by Google AI. I can't tell you how many of my photos illustrate their AI.....and there is nothing I or anyone can do about it. I have had other photos used by others when I had the bakery. Each time I was successful in getting those taken down. But I think we will see less and less control over either written content or photos. It's just plain theft anyway you look at it.
Yes it is. I don't know much about AI theft. I suppose it comes down to the same thing: now the software can be trained to steal your images also? Or does a human do it? Bottom line is the same.
I see a lot of people using images that are clearly not freely available. Like you I use Unsplash. When I use an image that's not mine, even if it comes from Unsplash, I give photo credit. The creator was kind enough to make their image freely available, that doesn't mean they don't deserve credit.
Yes. It doesn't cost anything to give them credit. It does point out that I haven't paid to use an image, so I guess people can think that I'm cheap. LOL.
Hopefully not, instead I'd like to believe they see you as kind and supportive. It doesn't take a lot to acknowledge the hard work and creativity of others. And let's face it, none of us does everything completely by ourselves.
As a creative, I appreciate you writing about this. It seems the days of respecting copyright is leaving us, but it is good to know that some people remember and try to do the right thing.
My pleasure. Theft has always been a problem, but because it's so easy to take images from the net, the problem has exploded.
I read this at 7 am this morning and it was an AHA moment. Sourcing is NOT the same as permission. Although it was like the uncomfortable feeling of someone turning on the light after being in the dark for a long time, I certainly appreciate now being able to see. Thanks Dianne, for always championing what's right and teaching us all along the way.
Thanks for owning it, Sandie! I don't just want people to agree with what I wrote. What's valuable is when a reader determines that they need to figure out a new way. That's gold.
Any content creator who does interesting work likely has had work stolen, maybe many times. Here are a couple thoughts on what to do about it. Over a long cookbook and article writing career, I had individual recipes, articles, whole books, and photos "borrowed," and published by others. I used to say I knew I had arrived when a higher class of thieves began taking my work! In one case, a reader of my All-American Cookie Book said she had found the same recipe in my book as in a Martha Stewart cookie book, and asked whose recipe it was. I told her my book had been published several years earlier, that the recipe had not only been taken without permission, but that I happened to see Martha demoing it on her show and she had even used my headnote as an intro to the segment. Yes, I alerted my publisher (a writer always should) who said there was no money to bring a lawsuit.) Recently, I discovered that my Kneadlessly Simple bread book had been copied in full and was offered for free download on a little foreign site that contained about 100 books, all likely pirated, some from well-known authors. (I found out about the illegal use because I have the alerts feature on my g-mail account set to tell me when my various titles are mentioned.) I filled out the internet form to claim copyright infringement, and since I was the author named on the material, my book was removed very quickly. Another cookbook author friend's book was also on the site, and I alerted her. But she seemed fearful of complaining and never filed an infringement claim. I urge you to do so if you ever discover your work has been stolen. You are in the right and the claim is easy to file; stand up for your work! Re theft of photos, which I also create, I ALWAYS put my copyright on the pics so a borrower can't claim they didn't know who to ask for use. Yes, pics can be cropped to remove watermarks, but would-be thieves are often lazy and also may assume you REALLY don't want your work stolen. Yes, some photographers feel that copyright watermarks visually detract from their work, but by choosing the placement and color of the mark carefully, I find the distraction modest. To check for unauthorized use of images, you can scan them into Google Lens and it will quickly show you where your pic appears. This can be not only useful, but fun. Has your work also been stolen by a higher caliber thief?
Interesting do you have a link so my gmail will send me alert about my cookbooks and blog
You have to set up Google alerts using keywords, Micheline.
This is all fantastic, Nancy. What a story about Martha Stewart reading your own recipe headnote aloud on the air! Thanks for the education. I'm sure my readers will find this info very valuable.
Thank you Dianne interesting newsletter as always. I rarely check if other bloggers steal photos. For my blog I personally take my own photos and sometimes buy some from IStock. Since you told us about Sunsplash I go there before buying elsewhere. For the photos taken from my cookbooks for recipes published on my blog I have permission from my publisher and always mention the photographer. Since you mention it is better to mention our name for our own photos I now do so but haven't got the time to add my name to many of them. In Canada, I do not know if it is still the case but about 20 years ago when I needed archive historical photos regarding the history part of some of my Quebec cookbooks such as A Taste of Maple, I had to pay archive Canada for the photos needed and was permitted to use only for the purpose needed. Looking forward to read these interesting links included in this newsletter. Micheline
Sounds like you are taking all the steps possible to protect your work and to ethically source new material when needed. All good, Micheline.
The AI generated image made me laugh out loud.
I’ve had my pictures taken on Instagram without first asking for permission. It’s very annoying. I am trying to remember to write captions here to make sure it’s clear that they are all mine. I was even thinking of writing a little something in my About section to say all images here are mine — so everybody knows I haven’t taken them from someone else, but also so they avoid saving them and using them. Part of me just knows it’ll happen and in most cases I’ll never find out
Oh good, you followed that link. Yeah, it was kind of pathetic, I agree.
Yes it doesn't hurt to say that in your About page. I think it's assumed, in a blog or newsletter, that all photos are yours unless otherwise noted.
And yes, you may never find out! Frustrating.
Thank you for this article with good tips. I always use my own photography. And if I use a photo from someone else, I get their permission and I credit them. After reading this and the comments, I am going to start adding my own name to my images. Thank you
Hey, if it helps, great. Just remember that you don’t need to take any action —your photos are automatically copyrighted.
Thanks Dianne!
Thank you for addressing this issue, as a photographer I find many of my images used not only on websites and newsletters but sometimes in ads for companies overseas I never worked for or given permission. There are image trackers available to see where your images show up, I follow up with a “takedown “ notice or give them the opportunity to pay. Time consuming and with most resulting in taking down the images. So thank you again for addressing this issue and a lot of people may simple choose to not be aware.
Great newsletter as always. Cheers Nelly
Yes, it seems most of the comments are from people who have had their images taken, versus people who might be using them incorrectly. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a real solution to this?
I primarily use Unsplash or Pexels. Sometimes I build my own graphic in Canva. I avoid using AI because it feels really inauthentic to me, and I think people can tell.
Yes it’s easy to do a bad job with AI, but I’m sure that will change soon.
I think the deeper we get into AI, the more need there’s going to be for authentic human creativity.
As a food photographer, I’ve had my images lifted and dropped onto websites selling ceramics (yes, really). It’s exhausting to fight it every time. This piece by @tenderlens Kate Van G is exactly about this how cringey it is to see people slap “Pinterest” under an image on Substack, and call it a day. I’m genuinely fed up with the endless parade of borrowed photos on Substack. It screams lazy and careless.
https://open.substack.com/pub/tenderlens/p/whered-you-get-that
Oh wow, this is a great post! Thanks for sharing it, and I’m sorry for all that you and other photographers have had to go through.
This doesn't stop at images. I worked in radio for over a decade, and you'd be amazed how many people think it's OK to just use a piece of music. And now, with podcasting, music theft is rampant.
If you don't pay for a license, and you didnt write and record the music yourself, using the music is theft. (Public-domain recordings of public-domain compositions excepted.)
As for writing, a guy I know on FB who used to work for a publishing company lifted a post of mine and used it in his own feed without attribution. There is no hope. The emporer is nude. Dogs and cats living together. End rant. Thank you for the soap box.
Oh man, what a cruel world! I guess the main point is that any kind of creative work can be ripped off. It's really something when you know the person who's stealing your work.
I used to be an illustrator, and have seen some of my work re-published without my consent. I did a poster for a major department store... then, a year later, purely by accident, I saw it used in an ad in the New York Times. I sent a new bill, explaining that "one-time-use" had been clearly marked on the original invoice.
They had no choice but to pay me.
Another time, one of my illustrations was reused by an environmental newsletter. I would have let them use it, free, had they asked. However, the newsletter was meant to be spread for free, and it stated that everything it was copyright free (which mine was not). Once something is free of copyright, it stays that way—so, in effect, they had given everyone in the world permission to use my work without consulting me.
That hurt.
How ridiculous to create a situation where someone else's work is free of copyright! I would have been furious. And I love that you billed the NYT. That's chutzpah, Gary!
I enjoy the illustrations that arrive within your Substack newsletter. They are gorgeous.
I billed Bloomingdales (the store that reused my illustration without permission)... not The Times (who only sold them the ad space). Besides, The Times was another of my clients, back then... would never alienate THEM!
The copyright issue was with a small environmental newsletter. I didn't bill them... just explained the situation and asked for a retraction in their next issue. These were good people, working for a good cause, who just didn't know any better.