Stolen Picture
So, this is the price we pay for indulging in social media, I guess.
I am thrilled to have reconnected with so many friends on Facebook. One of them sent me this message yesterday:
Alright, so how’s this for random: I’m in the car, taking my wife for a check up, pass by a new grocery store and notice that they have a picture of you, your husband and two kids on the store front window. Life size. I kid you not. Will take a photo of it later today and send….
What you don’t know from this message: this college friend lives in the CZECH REPUBLIC.
Clearly, my family did NOT take a picture for any advertisements - either here or abroad. And, clearly, whoever hijacked the picture assumed no one would recognize us so far away. Hmmmm…wrong. 
I’ll admit, there is an element of flattery (I think) to the whole thing. But still, there is something creepy about knowing our family picture was stolen from one of my sites. This picture has been on my blog, used as a Christmas card and put on a few Ning Networking sites. It is also on my Facebook page (which is one of the reasons Justin recognized us) but my FB page is open only to friends.
Perplexing.
Here is the real picture:
And here is our modeling debut in Prague.
According to my friend, Justin, the translation reads: “We will prepare and deliver your requests in two business days.”
Thanks, Justin for letting me know!
Interesting. Bizarre. Flattering, I suppose. But quite creepy.
This picture was taken by a friend of mine, Gina Kelly. She does give me the rights to the pictures she has taken - and has authorized me to use them on my site, etc.
Your thoughts?
Updated, Saturday, June 6th. Based on the comments I’m seeing, I feel compelled to clarify a few things. 1) I am the author of this site - Danielle. Not my husband. Quite a few comments have been directed to him. 2) I take FULL responsibillity for posting this picture with the incorrect resolution (read: too high). Clearly, I am not a professional photographer and should have made the resolution smaller and/or watermarked the picture. 3) I used the incorrect term in one of my comments - the photographer did sign a release for me to use the pictures, and certainly, this does not mean I ‘own’ them. 4) While the photographer certainly may sell some of her pictures as stock, she ALWAYS has the subjects sign a model release. I didn’t sign one for this picture, but would have if she had asked. 5) I posted this story because I think it is INTERESTING - what are the chances a friend who see this ad thousands of miles away? AND because I was SURPRISED it happend. Like many of you commenting, I wasn’t aware pictures could be taken. If this makes me naive, so be it. Now I know. And, for the record, I will not stop using pictures of my family on my site - I will however, change the format. 6) I am grateful to the greatest percentage of people who have commented with very interesting thoughts. However, if you are part of the smaller percentage who are commenting only to say that a member of my family (or all of us) are ugly, I won’t be approving the comment. I won’t allow it on my site. I imagine you understand. Thanks for stopping by!
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Holy Schnike!
Amazing! Scary!
All I can think of is Holy Cow! (actually thinking of different words but I’ll keep it clean) I have to say- you’re very calm about it all - at least you appear to be- I think that is crazy, crazy, crazy. (though I do see why they picked your picture- your family could sell anything!)
That is the craziest thing! Sure makes me think twice about what photos I post and where. But, really… is anything or anyone safe?!
Wow! That is totally unreal! I guess they thought your family was perfect for their business. Crazy…totally crazy.
Crazy!!! It’s a SUPER cute picture though!!!
Wow. I mean, WOW!! Like you said, I’d feel both flattered (my modeling debut!) and creeped out. Any plans of action?
By the way, cute pic - it’s no wonder! LOL
I agree that it might be a little flattering but it is WAY creepy. I wouldn’t like it if it were my family. If someone is going to use my family’s pic I want to know who they are, what it is used for and I probably want to be paid for it.
That is so BIZARRE! What kinda requests are they preparing and delivering?!
I can’t believe that! Sometimes my blog photos show up in Google Image Searches and it is kind of creepy. People either don’t know or don’t care that they can’t just swipe those images. I bet they searched google images.
Is there anything you can do!
Wow.
I think I would contact the company and demand payment to the photographer and yourself or tell them to remove it immediately! Crazy!!!
That’s scary!
I’d contact the store and ask them where they got the picture. I’d then let them know who you are and that you’re seeking legal action as your permission was not granted for use in their advertising. I’d also quote a ridiculous amount of money to use the picture but that’s just me.
See where it goes from there. I’ve had my blog scraped for content before and this method usually works.
Good luck!
P/S The creepiness outweighs the flattery for me any day.
Wow! It is kinda creepy!!! But, you do have a beautiful family so I can totally see why they’d want that pic
frightening. and freaky!
That is really wacky. What is amazing is that you found out about it. It really blows the mind. The world is so big, but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way!
That is crazy! I think they need to compensate you for your advertisement. LOL
Sue ‘em.
They are profiting from your image and have used a picture of you without your permission or a licensing fee.
You have grounds for legal action and you really should follow this up. Even if you dont get a cent, its not the point.
I’d be furious.
That is the craziest thing I have ever seen/heard. My first thought would be to contact a lawyer. If you want it pulled down you have that right, and if you want to be compensated for it you should be.
Where social media bit you in the behind it also alerted you to the situation. It’s just crazy.
I have such a variety of feelings and it’s not even my picture. Wow.
I’m glad that I haven’t posted any pictures of my children’s faces online.
I’d ask for money! And need it in 2 business days.
Oh my word.. I can’t believe that. I have had that happen to me…not to that extent my word..but I started putting a “watermark” across all my pictures because I am so worried about people using pics.
Are you going to try and do something about it? It is a great picture.
Definitely bitter sweet. Not sure if it’s something to be creeped out about or flattered. I don’t know how I’d feel too. What an odd coincidence though. This could only happen to you, my friend. Congrats on ‘fame’…I guess?
Woah. Unbelievable. I’m curious to see what, if anything, develops from this.
WOW! While I’m sure it’s very flattering, it leans more towards the creepy and invasive side to me.
Well, first of all it makes me want to go make sure that I have clear notices on my blog, FB, etc that say don’t steal my stuff- which you would think would go without saying!
The difficult thing is this is another country- I mean, how do you deal with that? I would contact your attorney general’s office for your state to ask what type (if any) legal action can be initiated on your behalf. I wouldn’t want my family being used as an advertisement for something I never endorsed.
And, thank goodness (and God- cause what are the odds?) that you have a friend in that country that noticed…
You are a beautiful family but that is totally creepy! At least it is for a family friendly organization…but that doesn’t make it right.
I posted about this on my blog…hope you don’t mind.
Um, hello small world. And hello, creepy.
Is there something you can do considering it’s in EUROPE for crying out loud? I bet someone at the State Dept can help with that. Why don’t you contact Hillary directly!
Kidding. I have no idea what to do. Find a lawyer who specializes in international law and ask questions.
Keep us posted.
Contact an attorney ASAP. They have violated the copyright laws. You can’t take just any photo (even if it’s on the internet) and use it for business. I can’t even post a photo on my blog that I don’t have permission to use. People have been fined big bucks for using other people’s photos. This is clearly a photo of you and your family. A lawyer can help.
HOLY BA-GEEZEES!!! UMMMMM that’s totally crazy!!!
my mouth is wide open. as my children are adopted or at least some of them- don’t remember which ones- but this is scary.
definitely watermark your photos - it will make it harder for those out there who have no respect for your property… and we wonder why artists (musicians and movie studios) are so intent on protecting their product! This is not a new crime… sorry you had to be victimized by it!!
Wow! That’s just crazy. It is a great picture, but still… like you said flattering, but a little creepy. It makes me want to place huge watermarks on all photos I put online now.
Dude. That’s crazy. And weird. And creepy. And such an amazing coincidence. My brain is shorting out over this. Wow.
Oh that is weird is so many ways. Just weird.
It was T-Bone
SHUT. UP.
You know what I wonder? I wonder if the person who kyped the photo from your blog is a follower and has READ THIS POST?!
And now they’re all freaking out because everyone is recommending international legal action!
I totally have to link to you. You understand, right?
THIS is why I don’t post photos on my public site…. I mean, not because I don’t want it plastered all over Europe, but because you NEVER KNOW who is going to uncover your secret identity!
I’m just amazed that someone actually found it in Prague! That is an amazing stroke of luck to uncover it. I would totally contact the company - it’s creepy to do that with people’s pictures!
WOW! That is so weird! I hope you find out who the creeper is!
It’s a great picture!!! But I feel Europe or not Europe, they should not take your picture for their purpose.
They should have asked for your permission!
I lived in Europe, and I can’t believe that this could happen. It really concerns me, and makes me more aware of what kind of pictures I post now.
I wish you all the best in this matter.
Sending Happy Greetings from Colorado
Caroline
That is CRAZY and you never would have known if not for your friend. My guess would be your picture was copied/stolen and sold through a stock photo site.
Does your friend there speak czec? Does he know any lawyers there, or talent agents? I guess that is where I would start. And is the photo you have on your blog this one? I am stunned they could get high quality poster from this photo, I can’t even click on it…
I post a ton of pix and I always watermark them on my site (though they could have cropped it out if this had happened), and on my blog I make them 15 or 20 percent, thinking they would not translate to the required high quality images they need.
I hope you find the funny part in this, because it is, but you also deserve to be paid….in America it would be a lot, but European usage you always get a lot less……good luck. Can’t wait to hear how it turns out.
very very creep! You should get paid! and there should be consequences! Are you taking action? i wouldnt even know where to begin?
Just to let you and other readers know…you can do image searches on google using keywords like ‘family’ and such, and images all across the web on blogs, facebook and other places will pop up. I used to work in marketing and stock photos, or professional photos that are purposely staged for advertising use are expensive, so it’s not uncommon for people/agencies with less that reputable practices to pilfer images off the web. To prevent having your pics stolen, you can of course use flash to post stuff, but for the less-tech inclined user, make sure to only post low res images. They are absolutely fine for viewing on blogs, facebook, etc., but useless for marketing material. Also, when posting albums to facebook, make sure you select the ‘viewable by friends only’ otherwise, like I said before, they can show up on google searches and be accessed by anyone.
I am speechleess. OMG! They had a lot of nerve didn’t they and to think you all would never know. You showed them
THAT is unbelievable. I have fears of my photos being taken and used for p0rn or something nasty like that, but this does beat all! At least it’s not harmful in any way, but YIKES. Wakeup call.
I mean this story, you can’t make it up. It is so bizarre. The stolen pic used in Prague is seen by a friend of yours that lives there. What are odds?
What did the picture hijackers look through hunderds, thousands of pics and say - this one, ya this family is perfect for our ad, they look so happy we deliver in two business days.
LOL. Wow.
Soliloquy sent me over and I am still speechless. And now, having read the translation, I’m absolutely gobsmacked as well!
Wow. Seriously WOW. I don’t even know what I would do in that situation, other than try to focus on being flattered. That’s just shocking.
That’s not good at all! There’s definitely laws against this - you and the photographer can sue for copyright infringement. - get em for all they’ve got!
Way too much!! You are really beautiful and I can see why they used it, but those are your kids. I’d be so pissed! I agree with Angie. Sue!
Wow. I don’t even know what to say. Great picture though! It just shows how small this world is and how social media (like Facebook) makes it so much smaller!