Indigenstion via Mexican food late at night brings a moment to catch up on posts and stats and nerdy number reading I do when it comes to mind and time allows. I checked my website stats, something I haven't gotten to check over in a while... and found that I was getting traffic from a venue I shot last April.

I went to their "Weddings" page and aside from an awkward slideshow at the bottom and a photo taken while the photographer was shooting portraits, the only other photo of people and not table decorations was... mine! A link below it reading "Click Here to View an Orchard Hills Wedding" revealed it's driving traffic straight to my page / collage I made for the couple.

I was pleasantly surprised... and instinctively bothered. The photo was copied right off my site, not renamed, but is hosted on their server now. (My page with the original image is HERE.)

While I'm not impressed with the design of the site or the use of my photo, it has brought traffic to our site. The country club itself is a small club and I never heard from them regarding the photo use. Arial photography of the golf course has a photographer's name and copyright in the image files, so they probably know the idea of copyright giving credit and having permission.

My conundrum is such... I want to find out which uncreative genius did this and tell them what I think of their lazy way of adding samples. I also want to let them know I'm thankful for the traffic but would prefer some sort of notification my images will be used to promote their venue. (I almost changed my hosted image to a "get your own ideas" graphic but they didn't hotlink, phooey.)

Secondly, I'd love to actually be of service to them by providing CONSISTENT photos and a cleaner web design. I had a cooler homepage in the late 90s using a program that came with my windows PC! My images were optimized and the pages were predictably consistent anyhow. Grrr. My site is not BluDomain or all flash (mostly ShowIt when it is flash), but mostly CSS that I can easily update as I like. (I'm not debating CSS / Flash or DIY / BluDomain here.) I've redesigned sites for a fellow photographer and a local Substance Abuse Recovery Center. Using that "PreDesign" approach has worked for both as I designed a working site in a few hours when they had waited months for an update to a jagged, inconsistent design from a "designer friend" who made the page in Word (I kid you not, this happened here recently!)

I made the venue's link go to a redirect to my main weddings page. For now it hints little of copyright infringement problems and I doubt anyone managing the CC's site will notice a problem. I'm looking for ideas and ways to let them know that...

1. I am flattered they enjoy our photography, and would love to provide even better samples from this wedding.

2. I want my image removed from their server immediately in a way that makes it clear it's not nice to take others' work. (The person who registered the URL is probably a member or realtive of a member, and his email is to a local university. Maybe he wasn't told when turning in reports you have to THINK for YOURSELF!?)

3. I have a web (pre)design that will not only help them look more professional but also increase traffic to THEIR site (via coding making it easier to find in a search - all my traffic is SEO friendly and no paid ads! It can be done!) I'm not pushing for a web design job but I want them to see I enjoyed shooting there and can help them get more leads / income too. ;o)

4. Setting up / presenting shots of their venue that flatter the place to get leads for a photography assignment. I have commercial / architectural work from the largest mall in the area that had me shoot their best stores to show prospective clients.

5. I'd really love to get some samples they can show off at the venue... idea brewing anyhow... a book or a slideshow or... collage prints even. The venue holds 150 people tops so it would mean those fun smaller weddings where you get to talk to people throughout the night while you work and make new friends, new leads...

Anyhow... I could use a nap soon. I think the burrito & salsa have given up the acidy assault. This place is brimming with ideas and some past run-ins with the same stuff. Thanks for the help.

eB

I say call 'em up, find out who is in charge of the venue, not the web page. Tell them you were just at their web page and you're flattered they want to use your images. Offer them web optimized images and give them more than what they have currently and put your logo or a copyright on it. Its free advertising for you - so take advantage. (make sure they know you're providing these for credit of course - just like the other guys pictures on the site) I wouldn't scold or scoff that they stole it. Because they had the ability and enough know how, to steal it. They probably already know they are naughty (as you pointed out). This way your gracious and they will bend over backwards.

About the Web page, tell this person in charge that you can also help them with the page (in a - "oh, by the way sort of manner"). You noticed there were some things that you would change in the code for the searching, in fact you have a great template you'd be willing to share. Oh, and while you're talking win-win, mention you'd be happy to come by and take some pictures to update or make a slide-show for their website too. Then surprise them with a small album or a brochure to show off (If your so inclined).

Good Luck, I know its shocking to see someone has stolen your images, but hey...Someone Stole YOUR images!! You're just that good.

LL

Awesome Avatar... i wish I could hotlink THAT onto their page!
There's a little "I'm onto you..." reminder they won't ignore!
eB

LOL! You are on to them..

I have to thank Jennifer Grigg aka Jumanjijuice for my pic! She's awsome.

EDIT / UPDATE / WHAT THE...?

10:45am - same day... and the image and link no longer appear! I went to sleep... got up to show my wife and a friend that's over and... NEW LAYOUT? Maybe my redirect was too much a tip-off, maybe the designer understood what he did was wrong, maybe me directing traffic to my "weddings" page and not to 4 little 180px square images wasn't what they wanted. Hmm.

I'm interested in this one now!

BEFORE and AFTER

eB

I think if they're driving traffic to your site, go the pleasant route. Someone may have done it, and whoever is in charge doesn't know they don't have permission; honestly, you never know. But I think you can TOTALLY use this to your advantage. Particularly since they seem to like your work, and it's driving traffic to your site.