Copyright Policy
All photographs are protected by copyright. Under state and federal laws, copyright protection is extended to the creators of "original works of authorship," including photographs. Photo Pro cannot reproduce images that are copyright protected without permission to do so from the photographer. If the photographer is an amateur, gaining permission is a matter of courtesy. However, if the photographer is a professional, it is illegal to copy their work without specific written permission. This also extends to digital enhancement/alteration of another person's work.
Gaining Permission
If you have an image that you would like Photo Pro to copy, you can do one of two things:
- Contact the photographer yourself and get written permission to make a copy for your project. Make sure the photographer understands what you intend to do with the copy.
- Bring/send the image to Photo Pro, and we will find the photographer. If other avenues fail, we may use the Photo Marketing Association to ask permission. PMA has contact information for photographers worldwide, so it is almost always possible to track them down. This is especially helpful if the image is very old.
Regardless of how permission is gained, it is necessary to have it before Photo Pro can alter or copy the image. If permission cannot be gained, Photo Pro must refuse the project. There may be exceptions for special circumstances, but they are very rare. Please contact us with any questions and ask for the lab manager.
