A) As designers we need images but It is also important to cite where you got the image from. Now that many of us are graduating it’s important to always credit the artist because you don’t want to cause problems for yourself. After reading the AGIA Business Ethics, Use of Photography, it’s very important to make sure that the client is in contact with the photographer and pay them to use their image. Also, I agree with the chapter on the designer paying for the photography themselves, “Certainly the designer should not take the risk of paying for photography if there is any risk the client won’t reimburse the designer.” Like what it says you don’t know if the client will reimburse you for it or not. Also at the beginning of the chapter, they talked about the use of stock images or royalty free images. Which some students use in their assignments, that yes the image is free to use but there is an artist behind it. At least he/she deserve a commission for their photograph or work in general. Even give them a follow on their social media if they have one to support them since they are giving you the photograph for free.
B) Before using an image for your design always check for the copyright license and look for the artist who created this first. You can’t use something in your work that you have no permission for and call it your own. That’s what happened in the Fairey Copyright case. Fairey wanted to create a poster for Obama’s campaign and he waited to get the green light on it. So my question is why didn’t he ask the artist behind the photograph of Obama? And wait for the green light for it as well. Converting the colors or making an image your own doesn’t make it yours. I think he should have contacted the artist to avoid any copyright issues for himself. If you have a strong piece don’t mess it up with bringing licensing problems to yourself, either take the photograph yourself or contact the artist and cite their name somewhere to indicate that this is their image, work or based on their work. Always check the license of the image.
