I guess I'm a bit surprised to see this sort of question from you . . . you strike me as so experienced, so professional, but a question is a question and deserves a reply (might even benefit from mine).
I doubt you need concern yourself with copyright issues. The original shooter might technically still own the copyright, but, since she gave everything to you, she'd have a difficult time sustaining a claim, and you seem not to seek usage beyond personal which, unless there are photos in the collection that will meet with world-wide interest and acclaim, means the material will never go far beyond your own coffee table.
That you are an established pro indicates to me that you will encounter little push back from anyone engaged to scan the negatives. That said, I'm not certain that you could not buy the currently fashionable flatbed scanner and scan the negs yourself for the same or less money than some lab could do . . . . consider the ultimate destination for these images and whether there is any value added by having them lab-scanned rather than doing it yourself . . . you and your DH seem as a team to be computer savvy.
. . . and, as a personal observation, I got a kick out of viewing your wedding/engagement photos. Having admired your image in your avatar (no offense or ulterior motive intended), it was quite interesting to see you in those additional images.
I remain a little uncertain why you ask this question here . . . you are more than enough qualified and experienced to answer it yourself, but, be that as it may, I think you are on quite solid legal ground to proceed with the project, and the ultimate answer to your question as to whether or not it is worth the effort, well, if the effort gives you pleasure, score one in the affirmative. If the result is one iota more than what you received from the original photographer, and if that result pleases you, score a thousand more in the affirmative.
Congrats on making it this far in your relationship with the DH. I wish you both ten times ten that number in the days to come.
Caruso
Quote:
Originally Posted by sonshine_rae
Okay so the title is my main question,
The details would be that my wedding was shot in film November 2003, and the photographer was new to the business (and I was to young to realize the value of a experienced photographer.. let my FIL pick the lady out) she 'sold us' the proof book and handed us the negatives (which we did NOT expect that's just what happened after things were over, no forewarning of how little she would do 'after' shooting). She did at least point us (at the time) to a decent lab that could do enlargements, so we had enlargements made for wall prints about a month after we got married.
However that's 'allllll' we have from our wedding is a proof book, and wall prints.
I see alllllll this wonderful work that people do now especially in making albums for their wedding clients and admittedly I'm jealous I'd love to have a fancy book that would last generations of our wedding LOL!
Soooo is it worth it to have the negs scanned (I'd send them to a pro lab), and attempt to photoshop the images to put together a 'real' album/quality photo book? I assume since there was no contract, and she sold us all the negatives that she gave up her rights to them?
I am consdiering doing the work myself, though I've not looked into how much it'd cost to have someone else edit and design/assemble a album for me. DH is willing to pay for it as a '6th' Anniversary gift to each other lol (6 yrs in November).
Okay and if it helps any here's a sample of the photos, granted these are kind of the 'cream of the crop' .. aka probably some of the best ones. And please ignore the first outdoor shot in the album.. its a engagement photo we made ourselves by camera timer LOL! Rae Gaeddert's Photos - The beginning | Facebook
P.S. If this is the wrong forum please have a mod bump me to the right one, since it would be a lot of editing this was my best guess for the 'right' forum choice. |