I've been getting the stink eye lately. But, I don't care.
If I am vigilant, I can stop people from photographing my work. At any given show, it is hundreds of times a day.
"Please Don't take Photos"
I step in front of them, I wave my hand in front of them, I yell. I can put up a sign, but that's futile.
These are not people who are going to buy my work. They just think it's cool. Great - but after you take the pic and leave the show - you don't know who the artist is. Also, it's stealing. I'm there to sell my work, if you take a photo, you are taking my image, and not paying for it. It's copyright infringement.
If I am vigilant, I can try to stop people from touching my original work - it's PAPER after all. Again, hundreds of times a day. Yes, some are framed behind glass, but most are not.
"Please Don't Touch"
They say "I have to" I say - no you don't. They say "I didn't" I say "yes you did." Stink Eye.
Why do people feel entitled to handle stuff they don't own?
I'm thinking of putting up stanchions - a nice velvet rope to stand behind.
Comments
I agree Carol--but the point is that one NEVER knows why people are taking the pictures if they don't talk to you, and it really bothers some artists. And sometimes it is for nefarious reasons. Personally, I always let people photograph my stuff, but I also make sure I thank them for asking.
I have done a show (Art In the High Desert) that makes a point of requesting that patrons to ask the artist before photographing. It is a show that tries hard to foster awareness and respect for hand-crafted art, and it makes a difference.
Re Lucia's shopping mall experience: More likely security was worried about you casing the place for robbery purposes, rather than theft of fashion ideas.
I always get in their way...in a MOST polite way... so I am in the shot with the art.
I am glad to allow people who are considering purchasing my work to take photos - as Barrie does, if they engage me in a conversation and explain - they have a friend who might like it, or if they need to show their spouse, or even if they want to post on FB or Vine or social media, including my name or even my picture! What I DON'T enjoy is people who don't even acknowledge me, and walk in, get close, take photos and leave. Those people never come back to make a purchase. I do ask people to take my card so they'll remember whose work they admired.
My work was recently at Art Week Miami - I watched hundreds of people photograph my work and I had no control over where those pics went... I was very flattered to be told by another artist that one piece was the most photographed artwork in the whole show. Great...but all those pics? No one will ever know who created it or how to find me later.
I don't need shows to police and inform patrons that photography isn't acceptable at shows. I've had patrons appropriately ask me if they can take a photo of something to consider over lunch, and then come back and buy the item after lunch. If those folks get turned off in the beginning before ever coming to the show, it puts a negative spin on the show experience.
I've never hung one of those NO PHOTO signs in my booth. 2014 Winter Park Sidewalk volunteers came by handing them out to artists citing the ever growing need for us to protect our work in this way. I hope WP isn't disappointed that I didn't hang it in my booth, and I hope that the show doesn't insist that artists must hang the signs in their booth in the future. I'd like to go back there and exhibit, certainly.
No, I don't want someone selling giclees of my work. But I'm not so concerned about it that I have to warn people of my feelings about cameras at shows.
Many, many years ago I used to be a costume designer and was working on a Shakespeare play that we were doing in punk and street urban costumes. The nobility in the play was supposed to be in chic street wear of the day so I went to the Beverly Center which is a very upscale shopping mall in Beverly Hills to get ideas. I took about 3 snapshots of store window displays for ideas and reference before being approached by 2 security guards telling me to desist or I'd be escorted out. I had no idea that what I was doing was illegal, but I've never taken a picture again of goods in a public place. This was a SHOPPING MALL protecting the rights of its sellers...so I guess your average art fair goer, who has most likely been shopping somewhere before should not just assume they can take pictures of everything. And I certainly think the shows could try harder to make sure this is known and enforced.
Am I touchy? You bet. I was at an art show in San Diego and found a booth selling giclees of my work...they photographed it at a show in Arizona...I guess they thought they were far enough away to get away with it.
I have had people touch and buy, and I have gotten the "stink eye" from one woman when I reacted to her photography. My jewelry is pretty impervious to finger dirt, other than the knitted ones. The phone camera woman was taking at such a short distance, in my gut I felt she was going to have a friend "make her one just like it." I reacted before I remembered that if that was possible, more power to her. My stuff is pretty high quality and not that easy to copy.
"Are you photographing my work?" I exclaimed, shocked. She moved on to the next booth, talking on her phone about how irrational I am.
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