Photo Stealers Weekly No. 70
A random mishmash
If you’ve learned nothing as a photographer this week hopefully you’ve learned to diversify where you’re focusing your efforts in marketing.
TikTok may have got a temporary reprieve but it’s not a given that it will last. Even if it does, people are fleeing it and Meta for apps like Red Note (the irony, it burns) and others or fleeing social media all togteher.
Don’t be like Mikayla with the bad accent and cry for days because you’re going to lose everything because all of your eggs are in one billionaire’s basket! Make sure to keep your presence spread across multiple platforms and above all else SEO the website (AND HAVE ONE OF THOSE).
Alright, time to hope off the soapbox.
The Blog
No posts this week, I had a few submissions but nothing I made a post about.
Updates
Sweet Magnolia Studios renamed themselves as Sweetwater Sessions. Her daughter came into the comments of her post on Facebook and got a bit spicy but I think she deleted her comments? She seems to have deleted the stolen photos and hopefully doesn’t continue to use them again going forward.
SJC Photography however gives absolutely ZERO fucks. Just FOUR days after the post she goes ahead and posts more stolen photos.
Then there’s a wayback update to a photographer I posted in 2021, Justin Griffith Photography in Tipp City, Ohio.
Allegedly he is now not delivering images according to some messages I’ve got to Photo Stealers after a post or two blew up about him. From my understanding they keep getting removed from the Tipp City Facebook Groups but it is just a never ending cycle.
Onto updates regarding White Oak Images… allegedly Tori has been sending out refund agreements and may have started payments back to a few couples but I believe it’s for those booked for 2025.
Allegedly there will be a story on the news soon about this saga.
Finally, the man, the myth, the legend (in his own mind), Larry. Larry has been silent which could be of the fart variety - SBD and going to pop up
The Buzz
The wedding industry buzz I’ve heard about a few times is Grace & Lace Bridal Boutique / Love Story Bridal that’s run by Kacey Schultz has closed more than once leaving brides waiting for their gowns in the lurch in Texas and Michigan. She’s now opening in Illinois so if you’re in the area make sure to keep your ear out.
Copyright Corner
This isn’t really copyright related but KIND OF is soooo here it goes!
Have you heard the storm brewing that the Target Exclusive Edition of Onyx Storm used edited Shutterstock artwork of dragons instead of the promised “original” artwork? I’m an ebook person (although I did order a hard copy through my local indie bookstore) so I didn’t try for the Target version but people are pissed. I can’t help but wonder if they secured the proper licensing to edit the art used. It’ll be interesting to see how this unfolds in the coming days and if the artists come forward.
What is shitty is that the original artists aren’t credited in the book but they are mentioned on the author’s Instagram.
As you can imagine this has been a hot topic across many booktok/bookstagram pages and it will be interesting to see how this unfolds.