I'm so fed up cos this is really getting out of hand. I've pleaded with many folks especially many Nigerian businesses to quit using or if maybe even stealing my pictures . I'm a chef, a food photographer and I live off my work. I'm not making a living off your businesses or getting any kind of compensation for all the stolen and bastardized pictures. This is theft and dishonest business practice. Restaurants and other food businesses hire me to design menus and recipes for them and I don't know why it's too hard for these businesses to do same and pay a fee to promote their businesses instead of stealing and making a buck off other people's hard work.
For what it's worth, I spend countless hours and sometimes even days working on a single dish from coming up with ideas to doing groceries, designing the dish, cooking, plating and styling, taking pictures, editing and typing up recipes.
I do daylight photography so my pictures are natural and all the elements are out there in the open with no studio tricks and umbrella comforts and this is what many of my clients like about my work. I even deal with and keep up with the weather daily like the weatherman. I do enjoy what I do, but It is hard work just like the average joe's.
The link below is a good example. All the pictures are not only mine, they manipulated my name off the pictures. This is just too crooked and dishonest.
http://www.prepqueen.com/
http://nigeriancuisine.us/menu.html
13 comments:
WOW. I agree. I am a writer, and I came to your blog today to use some of your pictures for a blog post I am working on. I had every intention of crediting you, because I credit every picture I use. I am actually nervous about using it now 'cus I am not sure you want anyone using your pictures even if they credit you. I understand.
One more thing...your pictures are on the web so it is hard to stop people from using them especially crooks. It might be a good idea to figure out a way to prevent people from saving your photos. I am sure there is a way to accomplish that.
I wish you all the best and your food blog has been one of my fav. since I encounter it few years ago.
well said Chef Ola, I saw the prep queen photos and I had thought you were affiliated with them.
Hi Ola, I am terribly sorry to hear that folks are shaemelessly stealing your pictures and recipes. I mean, that's just so low and ludicrous. I suppose they don't see that this is your work, your art, and your profession. Folks want shortcuts, but it will never be a shortcut.
I like that you have started putting your signature/watermark in the middle of the pictures. That's a great step. Also useful to consider is a "no right-click" HTML script.
In any case, I came to your site to post your scrumptious and highly vivid pictures on Pinterest, not with the intention of stealing, but advertising your talent. Is that alright? If not, I understand! I will just come back to your site when I need a pickmeup!
- Dela.
It's very difficult to deny people from using posted images on online even with a "no-right-click HTML code". Your work is superb and that's why it's going be hard to prevent people from using your pics...what I will suggest you demand from anyone that uses any of your images is credit and probably a linkback to your blog. It's a win-win situation and I think more people will get to know more about your work through that! Just a suggestion!
TO Rabia Designs i have done the same thing in my blog; I made a post about you chef cause you are too good; I never intend to use them comercially;I put a link so people can go to your blog; Sorry if i offend you; God Bless;
I totally understand where you are coming from. I had the same thing happen to me last year and it turned messy trying to get them to understand that you cannot just use someones images in that light.
Hopefully everything works out well for you. Thanks for constantly being an inspiration.
i think you should watermark your all photos with not just alaji's groove but with your website address too
I love ur blog...sorry to hear about this....good thing to name and shame them.....maybe next time they will do the right thing.
Hey oga alhaji, i am sorry that i copied your pictures from your website, i was trying to promote your blog on a forum discussing the best Naija food blogs out there and i refered to your blog as the best that i've seen. Even though i didn't use it for commercial reasons, i still apologize for any inconvinience sir.
Many thanks to you guys for your concern and suggestions . Obviously, promoting and protecting your work is not an easy mix, I just have to strike meaningful balance. I'll keep posting my work for friends and beyond to see, share and enjoy. This is what I do and what I'll keep doing regardless. Protection is of course a must and I'll definitely come up with a good balance.
This is really not about objecting to folks sharing pictures on blogs and non profits websites, it's just inappropriate to use unauthorized and distorted images commercially or use other people's work to promote your own business. People do pay me to design food and produce images for their businesses and you'll never see those on my blog simply because they are not mine, people pay for them and it's theirs. I just hope this is not just my personal professional ethics.
Hi Chef Ola, I completely understand how you feel. I write a food blog as well and I will be very irritated if I find my pictures used without my permission. As a matter of fact, I used to write the food column for Genevieve magazine, I would cook, photograph and write an interesting article.Sometime in 2007 Punch Newspapers copied my article and pictures without any credit to me whatsoever. I wrote them demanding credit and they responded saying they were investigating. I sued them!!!! Trust our slow judicial system, the matter is still in court but it will end pretty soon. I am a lawyer so I know the system and have patience for it as well. You can take legal action againt these copyrighters! Good luck. Weldone!!! Your blog is very impressive. feel free to check out my ramblings on www.tiyancooks.com
Hi Chef Ola, I completely understand how you feel. I write a food blog as well and I will be very irritated if I find my pictures used without my permission. As a matter of fact, I used to write the food column for Genevieve magazine, I would cook, photograph and write an interesting article.Sometime in 2007 Punch Newspapers copied my article and pictures without any credit to me whatsoever. I wrote them demanding credit and they responded saying they were investigating. I sued them!!!! Trust our slow judicial system, the matter is still in court but it will end pretty soon. I am a lawyer so I know the system and have patience for it as well. You can take legal action againt these copyrighters! Good luck. Weldone!!! Your blog is very impressive. feel free to check out my ramblings on www.tiyancooks.com
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