A LETTER TO THE NYPOST & PINTEREST

Today's post is a little different folks - I'm writing a letter to the NYPost and putting it up here as well.

Dear Ms. Amaroso,

I have been digesting the article you wrote on Pinterest for the past few days trying to come up with a response. The article is a great synopsis of a lot of what makes Pinterest so popular, which I appreciate your take on. The reason I'm writing however is to let you know you've used my photograph to illustrate your story without proper photo crediting. That's my image up there, of Samantha Hutchinson of the very popular lifestyle blog, Could I Have That?. The picture was created for Tory Burch's blog, which was pinned as such by over 500 people, without crediting.

It is this notion of losing photo credit that makes Pinterest so incredibly frustrating and heart-breaking to us photographers and makers of original content. People pin images I've taken all the time without proper crediting. It's not a new issue, but it is a new medium that has busted the digital media world wide open. Not being able to imbed an original name/credit/link to an image is a problem I hope Pinterest rectifies in the near future, I know there's been a buzz about this in the design blogosphere with many opinions on a solution. You've inappropriately credited my work with 'COURTESY TORY BURCH VIA PINTEREST.' The New York Post is a print/online outlet that is making money. So is Pinterest. If the NY Post or Pinterest were a non-profit, I would feel differently about the situation. But you are stealing from me by using my image without my name.

I do not take pictures for fun. I create photographs for a living. I work hard as a photographer as I'm sure you do as a writer -- How would you like it if someone reposted your story exactly and credited as simply "NYPost.com"

Think about it.

Leela

Read Christina Amaroso's article for the NYPost here

PHOTO COURSE VERDICT: SUCCESS & SUPER DUPER FUN!

Parvaneh took this beautiful photo and added the cute title!

We talked about a mix of textures when styling and adding a live human for great food photos

We talked about how to photograph a thing consistently, such as a pair of earrings.  Alissa, a participant made these herself! She's an amazing glass artist.

Is this not a renaissance painterly image or what?  Great job Parvaneh!

We added background sweeps and took them away.

Alissa, the glass artist, kindly modeled for a little while.

I stepped in as model so the gals could snap away.

Love the ladies getting in there!  I'm so proud!

mmm... lunch!

When life hands you lemons, take pictures of them!

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of leading a photography class full of very talented ladies.  We adjusted settings, learned our way around our cameras, talked about composition and framing (keepin things out of the center, mm hm!), the wilds of the Oregon weather patterns and its effects on photos and how to change up on the fly, lighting techniques, prop ideas and post production using photoshop . . . . Then, we feasted and made merry with a delightful picnic in the backyard.

Kirsten, my darling pal with the most gorgeous home (she and her husband renovated themselves!), generously allowed me to host the course in said fabulous abode.  It was a great location, as every where we turned to photograph, there was something of beauty and the light just poured in throughout all the windows.  Kirsten was also the one to suggest I teach the class in the first place, so I want to give a big thanks to her - go hop on her blog, it's so much fun over there!

For me, this opportunity was extra special and wonderful because I felt like I was able to encourage, teach and empower a handful of exceptional students to go out there and create.  I love gathering together to all photograph similar things/locations, because we all have such a unique way of seeing the world.  I was inspired and delighted with the results of class, because honestly, the photos were just lovely.  Magazine cover worthy!  And so different than how I might approach the subject.  I love that.

This is a huge post but I wanted to share some images of the ladies in action as well as a couple of the finished photos.  I'm currently pondering the next class!  Let me know if you'd like to take a Basics Course or for the ladies who attended Sunday, if you'd like a more Photoshop-specific part 2 Course where we dive into editing even more as well as collage-making and retouching our lovely mugs!

Note: One of the students, Parvaneh, kindly shared her images from the course with me - her's are mixed into this post with a few of mine to round it out.  I haven't received images from the other gals yet, but will keep you posted!

2 LADIES OF NOTE

This week I had the absolute pleasure of shooting two amazing entrepreneurs, Avery of JuJu Papers and Robin of Holiday Hair.  I am so inspired by both of their visions -- one for a sweet hair salon in a pink vintage trailer, the other for sustainably made, small batch, botique wall paper.  Both of their spaces were layered, lovely, and after spending time there,  I felt so 'them.'  Nice to be reminded that Portland is a city full of creativity and inventiveness.  I now long for wild wall paper and feathers in my hair!  You can view more of the images on my site.  

Juju Papers
Holiday Hair