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| *SoulEyes Photography>>>Wedding Photographer |
How long is a photographer required (by law) to keep wedding pictures? |
My photographer said I only have a month for friends to order pictures or he is getting rid of them. My wedding was less then 9 months ago. Since I cannot copy them isnt he required to keep them so can order more at a later date? In most states there is no statute (law) to regulate this. Regardless it should be spelled out in your contract. It's a shame that so many people get burned by photographers who want to leverage their position over you. I wish explicit contracts were required in every state. 17 days I would be surprised if there were many states with such a law. Since you have not said what state you're in, I can't tell. Why can't he give you the negatives and you can do what you like with them. You have paid for them, after all. I can see him wanting to maximize his profit by telling you he will get rid of them, but I'm not sure he owns them. NO U GOT MARIED NINE MONTHS AGO AND IM SURE HE SHOWED YOU THE PROFES SO U COULD PLACE YOUR ORDER THE PICS ARE NORMALLY READY FOR VIEWING WITHEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF THE WEEDING SO IF U LOOK AT IT U HAD ATLEAST 7 MONTHS TO GET THE ONES U WANTED AND HE GAVE U AN EXTRA 30 DAYS TO DECIDE AS WELL , YOU MAY WANT TO ASK THE PHOTOGRAHER IF U CAN PURCHASE THE NEGATIVES SOME PLACES WILL LET YOU DO THAT SOME WONT IF THEY KEPT THEM TILL PEPOLE DECIDED TO PICK THEM UP OR PURCHASE THEM THERE WILL BE NO ROOM LEFT TO HOLD THEM SO ASK IF U CAN PURCHASE THE NEGATIVES This is a key question to ask your photographer, as important as the warranty on your car. Most are only required to do what's in the contract. However, if they like money, which most do, they will sell you reprints later. However, it's harder for them to look old pictures up and reprint them, so expect it to cost more than your original package price. It's easier (and therefore, cheaper) to order prints all at once, soon after they are developed. If I wasn't keeping the pictures, I would give the negatives to you (and raise my prices a couple hundred bucks for that!). The law would vary from state to state and I am unaware of any specific law the governs your situation. The firs thing to do would be to look at the contract. It may cover this topic Why don't you offer to buy the negatives from him? They way, your friends can get the copies from you. Of course he's not required to keep them. He owns the picture content. Even for the ones he's sold you he hasn't sold you "the content" but rather a copy of his work. You have no right to reproduce it in ANY form without his consent and payment to him. As it gets older of course he's going to want to purge his files, that still will NOT give you the right to reproduce any photos he has sold you since again he hold the copyright to the content of the picture. |
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