What to do with photo-takers / idea-stealers???

[crafty gurll]

You can never be 100 percent sure why they are taking photos, it could be innocent or they could be stealing ideas, who knows.  In our pottery studio, we always say, "They aren't copying us, they are complimenting our work."   

[KLKing]

  I haven't done a craft show yet, but I'm working on things, perhaps will
be ready in the spring. I have pictures on-line already. Though I haven't copyrighted anything, one thing for certain is, everything I make is signed. Even the swap items are signed, if at all possible.  Someday, I believe that will count for something. I'm not so worried about pictures, since I have them published via Myspace. Though, I do not put things on Craftster that I make to sell. Everything I post here is made for fun, or swaps. If people want to see what I sell, they can ask, or click the link.
But, I have dealt with the public for 30 years, in the Bridal Business. I find most of the time speculative selling is a waste of time, when you do commissioned work. You usually end up being lucky just to get your materials cost out of your stuff, 'cause people don't want to pay. (I have done some other venues than full-blown craft -fairs)
I really like the craft kit idea. I also have been thinking of a sit -down and make it here- approach, that may work at a craft fair. Mostly, people taking pictures are doing it for fun. The ones who are trying to copy usually give themselves away, so you be firm with them. But, in public sales, never be rude at any cost. It will cause more bad press by thier gossip than you ever know. It is said that a happy customer will tell 2 people, an unhappy customer will tell 30 people.

[tennisgal86]

AS my husband is a sculptor who often works at shows or on the street in manhattan we have seen a lot of picture takers over the years.  Most of the time people take photos because they think something is cool, but he has had multiple people threaten to or attempt to coppy his work (you can always tell the fakes as he has been perfecting his art for 10 years now).  It frustrates him, I have seen him get very angry, he's yelled and in many ways he has a right to.  When you spend 10 years creating something and it is the sole way you provide for your family you become very protective of your work.  He does often pursue people who attempt to copy his work when he finds it online (I alwyas tease him about googling himself and his work) 

I guess where I'm going with this is that you can't really stop people from taking photos, usually DH will tell them he doens't allow photos when he catches them (much to my chagrin he has chased off a couple of ligitmate reporters who don't ask first) but his usualy position is those who ask may take photos.  A lot of it is a respect thing for him, if someone is polite enough to ask then chances are they just admire the work and want to show it off to people, the ones who are rude are the jerks who want to copy your stuff. 

[TkRainy]

We all get inspirations and ideas from OTHER things and OTHER people.


The most sound advice here is to put up a no photos sign, and making d.i.y. kits. Plenty of other people do this, just put the sign somewhere really noticeable, in fact put at least 2 out. When people take photos, ask them if they can read and point the sign out. Personally, if I am actually selling anything, I wouldn't give a shit. But also personally, I ALWAYS ask before I take pictures, and when I take pictures it's usually because I want to send it to someone to see if they like it, so I can BUY IT FOR THEM. Please feel free to smack around people who don't ask. Because there's plenty of other people doing worse things than smacking.