I grew up taping songs off the radio. Sometimes I'd tape right over them the next night. Sometimes I'd like a song enough to keep it, play it, play it, play it some more, and eventually get curious enough to go and buy the artist's whole album. Sometimes I wouldn't. But I know for sure that my taping never took money out of anyone's pocket. The albums I didn't buy were albums I was never going to buy. Radio or not. I'm stingy like that.
So when it comes to the photos I post to my blog, I'm not about to give anyone crap about doing the equivalent of taping songs off the radio. Want to use one of my photos as your computer's wallpaper? Cool. I'm flattered. Want to repost it (with credit) to your own blog? Great. Want to take it down to Walgreens and make a little 4x6 print to tack up in your cubicle at work? Awesome. I love the thought of you looking at my photo, taking some deep breaths, and finding it in your heart not to curse out your boss.
That said, don’t swipe my photos for any of the uses that photographers are supposed to get paid for — advertising, etc. — or else the imaginary team of lawyers that lives inside my head will sue you so fast it will make your feet spin. Threatened lawsuits always spin the head. Figured I’d mix it up a little, make you think I’m just crazy enough to sue. Lawsuits can be averted and payments can be arranged via quiggblog@gmail.com.
Want one of my photos in a frame or printed on canvas or even on a greeting card? Splendid. Thank you. Please go here.
This policy of mine took full form -- such as it is -- after I read this post by Brooke Fitts, a fellow Seattle photographer and a friend of a friend. Her words ...
i've come full circle and really changed my views on where my work is going. instead of protecting it, i want to set it free. let it go. and ask for a link, but mainly push it out the window. my copyright at the bottom of this website used to ask people not to steal my stuff. i changed it to encourage reposting.
So repost anything. Just remember my name in the morning. In other words, please post a link back to www.davidquigg.com. Click here to return there.
