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Using photos you find on Instagram for your art

11/24/2018

6 Comments

 

Instagram is full of beautiful photos. And for those of us who love drawing animals it is especially amazing. We are spoilt for choice! But did you know that you can’t just draw any photo that you happen to like?
I really wanted to talk about this, because photography is an art. It requires tremendous skill and dedication to take great photos. And when a photographer takes a photograph it belongs to them, even when they have shared it on Instagram. It is still their picture and they own the right to it.
So if you see a gorgeous photo that you would love to draw, you must ask the photographer for permission to use it. And this needs to be the original photographer, not just someone who has shared it.
It isn’t always easy to find the original photographer, especially as there are a lot of accounts that share other people’s photos without giving any credit.
​
Are you wondering why l am reminding people of this? Well, just recently l asked one photographer for permission to use their photo and they immediately blocked me! Rather an over reaction l think, a simple ,’no’ would have been just fine!
The point is there are some people who don’t want their photos drawn and just imagine how nasty this person might have been had l drawn one of their photos without permission.
Picture if two maroon bellied parakeets drawn using colored pencils. Colored pencil bird art.
Having said the above l have only ever had that one bad experience. The photographers on Instagram are incredibly generous, which brings me to the other thing l feel really strongly about.
lf someone is generous enough to allow us to use their photos, l think the least we can do is credit them prominently, say thank you. I always think a little ‘photo by ...’ tacked on at the very end of a post seems quite mean. These wonderful people could be uploading their photos to stock photo sites where we would have to pay (and sometimes a lot!) to use them. Be generous to them in return.
l hope these wonderful photographers will allow me to keep using their photos. I really want them to know just how much l appreciate them and their talent and generosity and kindness. So thank you to all the amazing photographers on Instagram l am so grateful to you all.
My first attempts at videos!
6 Comments
Jennifer Rose link
11/27/2018 04:28:23 pm

I wish more people would ask before they use photos or art from other people but so many people think that if its online that it is free :/

Reply
Sallyann
11/28/2018 11:07:21 am

That is so true, which is really why l wanted to write this blog! ??

Reply
Dee Trueman
1/29/2019 01:21:58 am

Hi Sally Ann,

I always speak with the photographer before I use their work. I spent many years before my illness trying to perfect my photography. It was a hobby for me as I couldn't afford all the gear needed to become a professional, not even the DSLR, I have a bridge camwca which does take lovely photography though. I have to say that having done photography even as a hobby, if someone wanted to use my shots I would want them to ask my permission first. Knowing how I'd feel, I always try to find the photographer first. It can be hard but I always find its worth it. I think its the same with art too. Say you drew so.ething and I thought wow I love to try and copy that to see if I could get the same results, I'd still come ask youvfirst, as you say, I think its the least we can do before using any picture, photo or piece of artwork. So great little post on your blog there 👍

Reply
Sallyann
1/29/2019 05:39:34 am

You are so right in all that you say. I am just very grateful for so many generous photographers!

Reply
Liz link
2/16/2019 11:48:37 am

I am shocked to hear that anyone would have blocked you for such a request! An overreaction indeed, and I would think any photographer who's taken a look at your work would be honored to have you draw their photos. Anyway I've noticed how you always give prominent credit to the photographers in your work and thought it was a nice (and uncommon) gesture, but everything you've written is spot on and hopefully encourages more people to give credit where credit is due!

Reply
Sallyann
2/17/2019 02:01:31 pm

Thank you for your lovely words. I think it just proves that you can never know how people will react and that is certainly the oddest reaction l have had!
But when it comes to crediting photographers l really can’t say how much l appreciate their generosity, they are an amazing bunch!

Reply



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  • Home
  • Shop
  • Original Artwork page 1
    • Original artwork page 2
    • Original artwork page 3
    • Original Artwork page 4
    • Original artwork page 5
    • Original artwork page 6
    • Original artwork page 7
    • None animal art >
      • Broken Gem heart
  • Videos
  • Tutorials
    • Layering Tutorial
    • How to draw a Monarch Butterfly Wing
    • How to draw cat's eyes
    • How to draw owl eyes
    • How to draw feathers 1 (hummingbird/Jacamar type feathers)
    • How to draw feathers 2 (irregular feathers)
    • How to draw feathers 4 - parrot feathers
    • How to draw feathers 3 chest/breast feathers
    • How to draw feathers 5 - Wing feathers
    • Hummingbird Head Feathers
    • How to draw cat fur
    • How to draw chimpanzee fur
    • How to draw a grasshopper’s wing
    • How to draw fish scales
    • How to draw snake scales
    • How to draw lizard skin
    • How to draw fish fins
    • How to draw a gemstone
    • How to draw tree bark
    • How to draw rose gold
  • Tips and Techniques
    • How to get white
    • What pencils should I use?
    • All about sharpeners?
    • How to blend with colored pencil
    • How to burnish
    • Erasing colored pencil
    • How to mix colors
    • Keeping your work clean
    • Reference photos and copyright
    • What to draw
    • How to make your work look real
    • I can't draw
    • What paper should l use?
  • Blog
  • Contact