Photo Stealers

Reed Snapshots

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.snapshots

It always gives me an extra icky feeling when a photographer not only steals photos but makes up stories to go along with them. I know that it really isn’t all that different than just stealing but it creeps me out all the same.

Some of these sources are hard to find since Reed Snapshots took the entire blog post but what I can find is posted. My guess is that Pinterest was the source for most if not all of these images for their gallery.

The Facebook profile:

Let’s hit the photos, shall we?

This is the first one that pops up, it wasn’t easy to find the source due to the format but I did. Lovely story to go along with the pics, right?

HEre is the original source, Images of Grace Photography (beautiful pics but my GOD does this blog take forever to load!).

The next image I’m able to somewhat source, we’ve seen this everywhere so it’s hard to find the original source.

The Google result page for this image.

The next image that is stolen:

The original images are from Caroline Tran.

This image is another series from Images of Grace Photography but their blog is not the easiest to navigate so I cannot find the original blog post.

The next set of images at Reed Snapshots, complete with story and comments expanding on the story to go along with the stolen images.

The original source is Marianne Wilson Photography.

I know this next image is from Caroline Joy but her blog doesn’t allow searching and for the life of me I can’t seem to find it on there but it’s credited to her on some reblogging sites.

UPDATE 3/15:

The Facebook page has been taken down and Reed Snapshots is claiming that someone hacked their Facebook and they uploaded the stolen images. It’s an interesting hack when someone hacks into your Facebook and you can’t access it to take down pictures yet you can still message from it. Hmmm…. the good news is that the images are down.

UPDATE 3/19:

They’re back!!! This story is so full of poo that I have to post the statuses so that you too, can read how filmsy her hacker excuse is.

Nothing since February 25th or so has been her on this Facebook page, right?

Note the finished uploading some of my sessions? Those “sessions” posted were the stolen images. Boy, that hacker was smart to tie in her special to the fake status update he made for her about those sessions she shot.

Not only were these “hackers” keen enough to update her status, they also make sure to keep the wording and pricing the same as her last “real” status on Facebook according to her.

I call a big pile of BS. Hey Reed? If you’re going to come up with a lie about how those stolen images landed on your so-called business page (friendly tip? Private business pages are a no-no with Facebook) make sure to cover your lie up. Own up, say you are sorry and try and find a career that doesn’t rely on stealing from other people. Working in Wal Mart’s Portrait Studio does NOT make one a creative professional photographer.

This my friends is how liars get caught.

For those of you reading, do you want to see this page taken down? Report the page to Facebook as a business. Use the wheel on the right hand side, click it and follow through.

M&M Photography

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MMphotoz

This is another user submitted thief, whom is based out of Florida.

They didn’t change the watermark on some of the stolen images but posting someone else’s photography work to your photography page is implying you took the image unless credit is given. On a couple images she does mention that the image isn’t hers but not on all. An average, everyday client is not going to look at the watermark, nor are they going to assume they aren’t yours, they’ll figure it was your previous business.

The Facebook page:

The first image (from oldest to newest) that I found that was not hers:

I couldn’t find the original source so here is a screen capture of the result page on google:

She has enough time to comment “love” but not the original source.

The original source of this image was Island Reflections Photography.

This image is from Now it’s Personal (can’t find the original image on her site) but is on M&M’s page.

The next image has a watermark but with no commentary that it is an idea or giving credit, a client that doesn’t know any better would assume it is their work.

The image is from Benfield Photography.

This image I couldn’t find via image search but it is watermarked to Damon Tucci Photography.

The next two images are from McClanahan Studio but I cannot find the images on their site (they are both on Pinterest though).

This is probably a way they thought to interact with their potential clients/fans but do it with your own work or again, credit the photographer or source.

The source is hard to find but here is a screen capture of the google page result.

UPDATE:

M&M Photography did remove the images that were outed here but not all of the images that she is using for inspiration. Shady but at least the ones left have some vague crediting.

Lidia Leann Photography aka Lidia Leann’s Photography

URL: http://lidialeannphotography.webstarts.com/

URL #2: http://lidialeann18.wix.com/lidia

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lidia-leann-photography/309940949054329

I’ve got a new look, a new logo and now need a header… but it’s looking a bit better here I think! Let me know what you think! Don’t forget to be a Fan on Facebook to keep up with what’s going on here at Photo Stealers.

Lidia is another photographer that uses others work. When confronted, she swore the work is hers and she has copies of it on her memory cards. Mmmm hmmm….

Her main webpage.

Contact page.

About page.

Pricing page.

Portfolio page from her wix page.

If you’ve noticed, all of the images of the senior on Lidia Leann’s page are actually from Kacy Kizer.

Lidia’s Facebook page where we see Kacy’s images again.

Lidia’s Senior gallery, where the same images are repeated that are Kacy’s.

Well, I guess there is some truth here since she edited this image to have a double exposure.

I love this so, so much. Because you totally can’t put images ON a memory card right? The ONLY way is to take the pictures! Oh and watermarking can ONLY be done once… ever. It also totally can’t be taken off or put on with photoshop magic ;)

This one may have made me laugh the most… yes. She totally took all of these, including the one from TWILIGHT! She’s THAT popular that she was on set while the moving was being filmed! It’s totally on her memory card!

All of these images are stolen from various sources (l to r, top to bottom)

1. Twilight/ Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.
2. One of the many, many places online this image is.
3. Another photo with a zillion sources.
4. Again, many sources.
5. One of many.
6. Again, too many to count.
7. You got it, there’s tons of this out there.
8. This is from a book cover.
9. One of many zillion.

In the past I haven’t been listing the images that I can’t find sources for but I’m sick of these thieves claiming they took all the stolen work down, when they only took the ones I outed down and keep the rest of the Pinterest/Tumblr’d sourced images up since I didn’t post those.

UPDATE:

The websites are down and the Facebook page has been cleared of all stolen works outed here.

Premier Moment

URL: http://premiermoment.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Premier-Moment/433038763410979

I don’t know why but it always baffles me how a photographer with a gallery of stolen images can have more Facebook fans than I do. Anyway, this is another submission and it’s a doozie. Lots of stolen goodies to be found here at Premier Moment.

PS: Apparently I now have a copycat whom is doing the same thing as I am, just remember, I’m the first AND the best. I’m not flattered since they are doing the same thing I am doing but have a Facebook page to go along with the site. I’d have been grateful for help or for joining forces for the power of evily good but outright copying my idea and making your own wall of shame with a similar format just pisses me off. Consider yourself on the naughty list.

PPS: While it is definitely a work-in-progress, I invite you to fan Photo Stealers Facebook here. I’ve actually had it for quite a while but haven’t done anything with it. The little copycat got me going in promoting it. I’m working on a logo as we speak.

Their website.

Their Facebook Fan Page.

Their profile picture for their Facebook Fan Page, which looked awfully suspicious to me.

The image is also used on their website on the Weddings page.

Here is the original image from the photographer El Marco Rojo from a gorgeous wedding in Ibiza.

Here is a snippet of the gallery on Facebook, which I started to peruse.

Another suspicious image, especially since I had already seen it.

Yet another image stolen, here is original image from the photographer El Marco Rojo (same wedding as above).

Another suspicious image.

The original source is Adrian Bonet from this wedding.

Another image on the Facebook.

Stolen again, this time from Nuar Fotografia.

There is also quite a few images taken from Pinterest (mainly of the baby and maternity photographs) that I can’t find a source for so I won’t list them.

UPDATE:

While Premire has removed the outed images here, they are still using the stolen baby and maternity photographs as their “panoramic” pictures.

The Facebook page has been removed.

My Life Photo aka Capture the Moment

URL: ~~http://mylifephoto.smugmug.com/~~

URL: http://www.mylifephoto.biz/

Facebook: ~~https://www.facebook.com/mylifephoto.biz~~

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photography.biz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mylifephotobiz

My Life Photo by Thomas C Miles is yet another photographer using stolen images to help pad his portfolio. Apparently he was recently at a bridal show and caught the eye of some local photographers as he had a ton of work yet no one knew of him prior to his arrival at the show. After the show, he bragged about booking 100+ engagement sessions (which apparently he was giving away for free) and people looked into his work further to discover that the images he showed at the bridal show were not his.

Also note that I have enabled comments on the posts now!

We’re going to start with the main webpage and continue on from there. I suggest that you find some popcorn. It appears that the opening gallery is either My Life Photo’s real work or due to the photoshopping I am unable to find a source.

I’m going to start with the gallery and this popup amuses the hell out of me. Funny that he goes to these efforts so people cannot steal when the work itself is stolen. Funny shit.

The above image is apparently a stock item as it’s pretty easily found on the internet on many wallpaper sites. This is just one of the many.

The next image is a stock and the following I didn’t find a source for so we’re going to the next image that there is a source for. Notice that it’s significantly smaller in size in the gallery compared to the other images, which is what tipped me off initially.

This image is from K Design Photography. I don’t know why, but it really creeps me out when people steal images of children.

This is the next image in the gallery. Remember, since this is all hosted on Smugmug, these image are available for sale.

This image is from Minuta Photography.

The next image in the gallery.

If you edit the image (to spot color even, shudder!) I can still find the original source, whom is Shawn Tomkinson Photography. Note that the watermark was also removed from the photo when edited.

The remainder of his gallery is either his work or manipulated to the point I cannot find the original source. However, we are back to stealing again on his packages page.

This is a stock image for an album from Mixbook and the others on the page are also stock images.

Onto the Facebook page where the first thing that catches my eye is that the profile image is a huge disconnect from the images shown on the page.

It appears to be a stock image that is heavily used for a background to music selections. This is just one page where it is used.

I decided to work my way up from the bottom as the more recent images seem to be from My Life Photos and low and behold we find the tiny pictures again.

This image is from CLC Portraits.

Another image in his gallery that caught my eye.

It belongs to A. Blake Photography.

Another image from the Facebook gallery.

This image is originally from Calfa Photography.

This may be my personal favorite, the photographer at the bridal show with large canvases of the images he’s stolen.

PS: This seems very, very suspect. While it may not have to deal with stealing photos, I thought I’d call attention to it while I was here.

Update 3/6:

Apparently he’s a quick little sucker and quickly deleted the first two sites we outed when he found out he got called out. The new URLs have been posted because of course, there’s more than one.

Update 3/7:

All of the sites are down. There is an apology of sorts in the comments but IMHO I’ve heard the sick kid/wife/aunt story before. True or not, it’s not a reason to steal.

Hot 89.9

Originally I made this blog to out sham photographers who are beefing up their portfolios with work that is not their own to draw in clients who are none the wiser until far after the money has exchanged hands and the wedding/event has taken place.

Today I’m making an exception to this rule (we shall see if it’s a forever exception or not) because frankly I’m pissed off by the amount of businesses that have been stealing photographs lately. First it was DKNY and now, the tipping point for me, Hot 89.9. Perhaps the tipping point for me is the final email that they sent to the photographer when confronted with the theft. I found out about this via Facebook today and I’m seething.

Barbara Ann Studios, based in Ottawa, Canada happened across a pamphlet by Hot 89.9 in which they were seeking partners for their “Get Me to the Altar” contest. She happened to see that one of her images was being used on the last page and was shocked as she had never been asked for permission, nor given the file over for use.

The page of the document in question by Hot 89.9.

The image from Barbara Ann Studios blog.

Barbara emailed the company and asked how this image came to be used and why it was being used without permission. They replied stating that they used Google Image Search for images at a venue that is a sponsor and it was only used for 10 or less clients and they were sorry. Barbara replied that it doesn’t matter how many people saw it, it is the fact that it was used without permission and gave them a rate in which she typically charges for commercial use of an image. Hot 89.9 replied and scoffed at her price stating that typically they pay $40-$100 for that type of image use. Barbara replied that fee may have been okay had it of been a negotiated rate with a different photographer prior to going live with the document but after the event it is a different matter, that was not her fee for commercial use and she was hoping to settle this without having to go further.

This is the final email from Scott Broderick, which sent me over the edge.

“Barb you were kind enough to provide us with a few definitions. Here is one I just looked up:

extortion

NOUN

The practice of obtaining something, esp. money through force or threats

SYNONYMS

Blackmail-exaction

You are obviously a very talented photographer, I would stick with that. Extortion is not your thing.

Cheers,

SB”

Dear corporations and businesses,

I can’t say it better than Harlan Ellison - Pay the Writer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

Everyone else may be an asshole but I’m not.

Thank you,

Photographers

PS: Google Image Search is a tool to find photographs, not a free image database for stock images.

UPDATE 3/3 Yesterday Hot 89.9 posted their entire email exchange on Facebook which resulted in over 1,000 comments, many attacking Barbara personally. Finally after a day they have removed the post and posted its staying private, which is ironic. People are still slinging mud and many questionable Facebook accounts are participating (sorry if it was created in the past day I’m going to question it’s validity).

Image Magic Photography & Videography

URL: http://www.imagemagicphotography.com/

I found this thief because they stole the same image as the last one. It’s funny how that works sometimes… it’s not the first time. What I really like is how they are all on a smugmug gallery, so they are potentially selling these stolen photos. Nice right? Not quite as ballsy as Paul Sajnani who is printing the stolen works and taking them to bridal shows but still pretty ballsy.

Here is the opening page for their site. Note that their Facebook page has been taken down, I gather because someone caught onto them but can’t be certain.

Also, I never knew one could be the champion at pole dancing. Who knew.

Most of the galleries seem legit, but some… not so much.

The Wilsons appear to have twin brides… and a whole story made up about their wedding that most definitely did NOT take place in the Poconos but rather in Colorado. I don’t know why but when entire stories are made up about a wedding (a la Meagan Kunert) it creeps me out.

Julie Harris is the original source for these images, the last being the same one stolen by Paul Sajnani Photogrpahy. http://www.vailweddingphotographers.net/

Another gallery that caught my eye since there were a few different looks to this wedding, including different brides.

Rodolfo Arpia Photography is the original source: http://www.projectwedding.com/vendor/show/rodolfo-arpia-photography

Julie Harris is the original source: http://www.julieharrisphotography.com/blog/2008/09/05/ashley-and-dub%E2%80%94at-stonebrook-manor/

Paul Sajnani Photography

URL: http://www.paulsphoto.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Sajnani-Photography/174574469263662

This is another “photographer” that was submitted to me via my inbox. He’s got an impressive portfolio, especially given the subpar website, don’t you think? That’s always a dead giveaway BTW, generally with work this stunning, there is a decent website to go along with it. So I wasn’t surprised to find that a vast majority of these images have been stolen. Apparently he was using these images at a Bridal Show and was caught out. He has been alerted but of course, hasn’t taken anything down.

The opening page on his website.

Segerius Bruce Photography is the original source: http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/portfolio/overseas-pre-wedding-engagement-shoot/attachment/prewednew_14/

Segerius Bruce Photography is the original source: http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/portfolio/wedding-at-the-andaz/

Jasmine Star is the original source: http://www.jasminestarblog.com/index.cfm?postID=914&ponte-winery-wedding-bree-zack

Mark Janzen is the original source (same wedding) for the above two images: http://www.markjanzenphotography.com/emilie-and-daniel-wolf-lakes-lakeside-wedding-sanger-ca/

The next page on Paul’s website, Your Wedding.

Thorley Photography is the original source: http://www.thorley.com.au/

Mark Janzen/Fearless is the original source: http://www.fearlessphotographers.com/photographers.cfm?photogID=41&mark-janzen

Segerius Bruce Photography is the original source: http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/portfolio/wedding-at-the-andaz/attachment/andaz_08/

Wedding Light is the original source: http://www.weddinglight.com/

Segerius Bruce Photography is the original source: http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/portfolio/wedding-at-the-andaz/attachment/andaz_11/

Thorley Photography is the original source: http://thorley.com.au/galleries.html

Jasmine Star is the original source: http://www.thephotographyparlour.com/2011/01/in-conversation-with-jasmine-star/3866

Save $100 with these images enticing you to trust Paul. I only found one source but I have a feeling there are more.

Julie Harris Photography is the original source: http://www.julieharrisphotography.com/weddings/wedding-mashup-1/

I can’t find the sources for any of these images on the Why Choose Paul page but I wouldn’t be shocked to find some.

The portraits page. Yeah. You knew this would be here right???

Daniela DeGrassi Photography is the original source: http://www.danieladegrassi.com/blog/category/boudoir/

Ed Verosky is the original source: http://stereofil3.blogspot.com/2010/12/5-ways-to-improve-your-boudoir.html

Here is his Facebook Gallery… made up of an awful lot of images that are not his. At this point in the night, I’m tired. I was on my way to bed actually when I got hit with half a dozen emails about this guy within 10 minutes so I stayed up because this stuff pisses me off, as you well know. So I hope you forgive me for just listing a bunch of sources for the Facebook images that are stolen rather than screen capping. If there is a demand for it, I shall put the captures up tomorrow.

Facebook Original Sources:

http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/wedding_photography/notley-abbey-wedding/

http://www.sydneyweddingphotos.com.au/profile.html

http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/wedding_photography/nonsuch-mansion/

http://luma-wedding-photography.com.au/featured/lizzie-karl-newman-chapel-trunk/

http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/wedding_photography/wedding-at-marlylebone-parish/

http://blog.myweddingphotographer.com.au/2011/11/09/sarah-jane-richards-beautiful-melbourne-wedding/sjrpreviews0077/

http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/wedding_photography/windsor-wedding-photographer/

http://www.segeriusbruceblog.com/portfolio/vintage-theme-wedding/attachment/05_g/

http://www.jasminestarblog.com/index.cfm?postID=1004&wedding-highlights-2010

http://www.markjanzenphotography.com/leah-and-blair-wedding-from-reedley-mb-and-the-family-orchard/

http://blog.mckayphotography.com.au/weddings/sarah-mark-st-stephens-church-newtown-gold-room-laqua-cockle-bay/

http://www.kimfoxphotographyblog.com/shuchi-and-ronak-wedding-photos-orange-county-ca-indian-wedding-photos-los-angeles-indian-wedding-photographer/

Joshua Bombard Photography

URL: http://www.joshuabombardphotography.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joshua-Bombard-Photography/101767316549419

This one was sent into me via the message feature. From how his site and Faceboook read, I am guessing that he is a hobbyist that is trying to break into different fields of photography by using other photographers works to represent his own and create ads. I know I’ve said this but I’ll say it again, DO NOT DO THIS.

*****UPDATE 3/26 Below*****

We will start with his webage.

The first image in the slideshow is an ad for his wedding photography.

This image is from esh photgraphy in Canberra.

The second image in the slideshow is an ad for boudoir.

The image on the far left belongs to SF Connected Photography. I cannot find the sources to the other two but I wouldn’t be surprised to find out they are stolen as well.

The third image in the slideshow is an ad for senior photography.

The third image appears to be from a stock site, it is seen on many foreign language websites, this one is just one of the many where this image appears.

The fourth image just made me laugh. I somehow highly doubt that Blake Lively went to some random photographer for her senior portraits in Illinois. This image is everywhere and impossible to find the original source to (well it could be possible but I don’t have that kind of time). This site is one of the many, many sites this image appears on.

The second page of galleries (I couldn’t find sources for the first page).

The entrance image to the boudoir section is an image from honeybourne intimates that seems to be everywhere without credit.

Now onto Facebook.

I’m quickly finding that the images that he has stolen are awfully pixelated.

This image is from Model Mayhem but I cannot find the original source.

This is the next image from Facebook.

This image is from Hollye Schumacher and appears to be from the Junebug Weddings site. This is a prime example of why photographers are hesitant anymore to allow bridal blogs to use their works without any kind of watermark, thieves like this one can just lift it easily. He’s also using this image on his Model Mayhem portfolio.

We get to skip down a few to this next image in his gallery that seems just a bit too good to be true.

This image is from Tim Hamilton.

The next sunset image on Joshua’s Facebook.

This image is from Joep R.

I’m sure that more on his Facebook and website is stolen but I’m not finding sources, partially I am sure due to his watermarking he has added onto the images.

UPDATE 3/26:

This guy is still heavily using images that are either stock (legally purchased or not, it is still against TOS to display as your own work) or taken from another photographer.

The new gallery page.

New wedding gallery.

The original image is from The Way We Click Photography, here seen on ISPWP (winning #13).

The next image in the slideshow.

It is a stock image of a wedding dress, found online in numerous places.

Another image in the slideshow.

Another stock-type image with numerous sources on the internet.

Surprise, another stock image that apparently other photographers are also using…

Notice his watermark in the corner? Nice touch!

He had to crop the image to get the original watermark out from Dani Dunca Photography.

The next in the gallery… in which we are yet to find a SINGLE image that is his.

Another stock image!

Another…

Stock!

Another…

Stock again!

Another…

Stock again!

Boudoir Gallery

Why did you make this Blog??

I would like to know the reasoning on why you post these photographers on this blog? I would also like to know if you have personally contacted both parties that are involved in these post?

As a fellow photographer I understand that it is important to protect ones work but is it necessary to call out those that have made mistakes? I have had many photographers steal my work and instead of blasting it for all to know I contact them personally and ask them their reasoning to why they stole my work in the first place. To come to find out many have stolen my work because they look up to myself as a photographer and my work for inspiration.

I guess my point to this message is to know why you should care enough to post about other photographers work being stolen and who stole it. Unless you are posting about your OWN work being stolen by others I think you should butt out of other photographers business and about their work being stolen.

When you post this stuff up for all to see you are not only hurting their reputation but you are also messing with their personal lives.

This is for the people that didn’t believe that people send me hate mail. :D