Sticking Together

June 11, 2009 By 60 Comments

So, I am learning.

Each day is giving me a new opportunity for amazing life experiences. Today has been no exception.  From the minute I woke up this morning until these last few moments I type, this crazy, small world story about our family picture ending up in another country has been *almost* the top of my mind.

*Almost* because nothing can ever truly edge my family out of  their ’first place’ slot. And today’s chaos certainly lobbied to be the winner.

But  all I have to do it look around.  My husband spent his entire day at my side – helping to navigate our way through the inquiries and requests.

And…..right now….

Snuggled together just to my left are the two small people who bring me the most joy and make my life an adventure.  Delaney has her four year old arm tucked protectively around Coop because we are in a new and strange place. 

We are in New York City to visit CBS’s The Early Show first thing in the morning.

I know this will all die down, and when it does, we will still be the same family we were 2 weeks ago: We will still play baseball in the house, read to the kids every day, laugh through bath time, enjoy Friday night Family dinner dates and sit together for bed time prayers.

We will still stick together.  We will still be us.

I hope, if you see us – or if you have seen any of the media on this story – you can recognize that my family means the world to me.

They show me every day what it means to love, they remind me how good it feels to belly laugh and how grateful I am we wake up in the same home together every day.

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  • Taralyn

    Danielle and family,
    Good luck tomorrow! I hope your interview goes well. I’m following this story and staying tuned…
    XOXO,
    Taralyn

  • http://www.charityjoybell.com Charity

    I just read your story on yahoo…omg…see that’s why I watermark everything on my blog…I’m so sorry this had to happen to you guys… :(

  • Deb

    I live in Prague and came across your story via the local media. I am not Czech, but the people here are very good natured and I am sure this was not an intentional misuse of your photo. However, it makes me cautious about the blog we have for our young son, and I will look into the electronic watermark for the pictures we post.

    So some good lessons have come out of your experience. Thanks, and all the best for your media journey!

  • http://www,dianeovermyer.com Diane Overmyer

    Hi Danielle,
    A friend just sent me your story. I am an artist, so I can relate to things that happen over the internet. I wouldn’t be surprised, if the store manager, got the image from a site that has stock photography available for various publications and advertisements. How amazing is it that your friends happened to drive by that particular store front?!!

    I am hoping that rather than this turning into a battle, that it might end up being a bridge for you and the store owner, at the very least.

    Your blog is terrific! Maybe this was God’s way of allowing many more moms to get encouragement from you….wish something like this had been avaliable when I was a stay at home!!! Best wishes to you and lovely family.

  • http://www,dianeovermyer.com Diane Overmyer

    Hi Danielle,
    A friend just sent me your story. I am an artist, so I can relate to things that happen over the internet. I wouldn’t be surprised, if the store manager, got the image from a site that has stock photography available for various publications and advertisements. How amazing is it that your friends happened to drive by that particular store front?!!

    I am hoping that rather than this turning into a battle, that it might end up being a bridge for you and the store owner, at the very least.

    Your blog is terrific! Maybe this was God’s way of allowing many more moms to get encouragement from you….wish something like this had been avaliable when I was a stay at home mom!!! Best wishes to you and lovely family.

  • http://thehowesfamilyadventures.blogspot.com Tara H

    Wow, I am glad to have been led to your blog. Love it! I also love the fact someone recognized you overseas. I will keep an eye for you here in Japan. (-:
    Good luck with the interview, I am sure you’ll do great.

  • Mike

    Good luck at CBS. I hope the family enjoys the experience.

    In case you thought the story was fading, you just made the front page of the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk) website in the UK.

    Best wishes from England.

    M.

  • http://willandseamans.weddings.com barbara

    hi
    danielle, i am a Nigerian and I live in Nigeria saw you story on the net and i was amazed.
    but what struck me the most was the smiling faces.
    which i am so sure was the same thing that attracted the store owner, real happiness sprining from within no faking.
    for get the haters shut your eyes to them, God has blessed you with a good life enjoy it you owe no one any apologies.
    I am getting married soon and quite frankly i have had mixed emotions, but seing your family and your sons smile it just breaks my heart and makes me long deeply for what you have.
    all this would soon and quickly to fade away and your family would find its peace and pace again.
    however some good might and would come out of this open your eyes for it will and when it does maximize it cause you have earned it.
    i do not know if i should say i love you.
    but i feel strongly for you and your family those smiling faces, that what the world needs.

  • http://willandseamans.weddings.com barbara

    am a nigerian and i leave in nigeria.
    i poured out my heart to you in the first mail i sent but i guess it got wiped, hence i would just say,
    Gods blessing is on you and your family.
    let no one and nothing steal your Joy.

    am soon to be married i pray to God to bless me with the kind of family you have.

  • Keith

    I just found out of your plight because its national news. I’ve had several of my photos used without my permission, and what a stickler it is to get people to stop using my photo! The get angry like how dare you say I can’t use your picture! Yea, I know the rules – a good water mark would have avoided this situation but do I? No. And then to fight the whole issue..I’d have to PROVE that I took the picture. Easier done with a 35mm and film than with digital. As of now, one picture is gone but the other is still being used as a background for a website. I’ve asked several times to stop but they ignore my emails. Its kind of ironic..I like to do photography on a small scale and its a dream to have it published (and its happened a couple of times though I didn’t make any money) I’d just prefer to have it done LEGALLY!

  • Mike

    Just wanted to comment on your nice blog. I don’t see what all the fuss about your picture is. So your picture is on a storefront in Prague; who cares? It’s not like your family is being exploited or you are suffering because of the storefront that you briefly graced; it’s the publicity that it generated that’s causing any of the headaches. If it were my family on a random window ad, I’d be flattered and would insist on getting a copy!

  • http://www.lifeprobabilities.blogspot.com Elly

    Look at the bright site… at least you are getting a big traffic to your blog!

    Very nice pic anyway. I love the happy looks and cute children

  • http://itsthecatshouse.blogspot.com The Calico Quilter

    My solution to the photo issue is that I never, never use a photo in my blog that shows recognizable people, and I don’t put them on Flickr either. If it’s an identifiable image, it stays in my external drive on my desk. With the capabilities available for digital photo restoration, I don’t think watermarking or lowered resolution is enough – I have seen my husband’s old family photo restoration efforts, and even as an amateur it’s amazing what he can do. Good luck to anyone if they want to use a photo from my blog – all they’ll find are boring snaps of my garden and my hobbies. I also never use any identifying information on my blog, names nor locations.

    Moral of the story? If you want privacy, it’s your responsibility to see that it happens. Don’t put anything out there that you don’t want grabbed up out of your control. If you want family to have pictures, mail them a copy. It’s unlikely if you send a paper copy to Aunt Maude, it will be hijacked for commercial use.

    Am a a grouch? Maybe. Paranoid? Possibly some would think so. But I know that privacy is a slippery slope. I especially wouldn’t spread pictures of my kids around on the internet. I’m glad this turned out well for you, but there are dangers here.

  • Melissa

    hey there, I just saw your story on yahoo news. read it, saw your website listed, went there, LOVE IT!! I really liked the story about “Bookieboo” and will be looking at her website too! Thanks so much for opening up your life for all to share in, enjoy and cry with you!! I hope your family has a wonderful and blessed day.

  • http://www.worthywomen-conference07.org/ Casandra Lott

    Such a way cool story! It really shows how small of a world we live in. I am so sorry that you family Christmas photo showed up in a storefront window, way across the world! BUT I must say it is a very nice picture.

    Ok, now let me ask is there some legal issues with this? Please know that I felt this post was one of the sweetest things that I have read in a long time. The language that you used to describe your family was very heart warming. When everything around your family seemed to be circling at an unfamiliar rate; you found your stability in LOVE. Showing to the world that your love for your family will not be shaken or disturbed during a time of turmoil. I would love to have you come speak at our Worthy Women’s Conference here in Dallas, Texas in September if you are available.

    Please check out my website at: http://www.worthywomen-conference07.org/.

    Thank you for sharing your life with us!

    Blessings
    Minister Casandra Lott

  • http://620to907.blogspot.com Rocksee

    I just saw this on Yahoo.. Wow.. It’s amazing how far this picture went and the fact that a simple christmas card turned international..

    AND to discover that you are a SITS girl.

    Big support and hugs to you!

  • Stuart

    Well if this had happened to me I would’ve been flattered that someone thought our family looked good enough to use for their advertising. At the same time I understand how this can be unsettling. I read the owner of the store would have given you a bottle of wine if you lived in his country. I say if you want a decent bottle of wine – get him to mail it to you! LOL Good luck with everything and maybe you should look into getting an agent.

  • http://none Jeena

    I think you have a lovely family and lovely website! You do have a “model”, perfect-looking family in my eyes. I would have to say that is why you ended up on a storefront advertisement. I feel bad for you that people have the audacity to criticize you, especially in this moment of quite confusion and craziness. I too have family pix on facebook and would never have dreamed in a million years that someone could gain access to those photos without being my facebook friend. Bless you and your family and continue to play baseall in your house, etc, etc.

  • Mandy in AR

    Oh no, the story’s not fading… front page of Yahoo!news this morning! I saw in the sidebar “what I’m doing” that the segment was playing at 7:40, but I didn’t see that ’til 7:52 and I ran to the TV and got a commercial break! Too late.

    I was just thinking last night what a small world this really is, and this story is a great example of that. I’m focusing on the wonder of that rather than the almost frightening implications of this story…. very best of luck to your beautiful family! Enjoy the coming weeks, it’s your 15 minutes… it’ll be a crazy ride. :D Life is amazing!

  • http://sixgoldencoins.blogspot.com/ Elizabeth

    I am just amazed and thrilled to be watching you as all of this unfolds, D. Truly. In. Awe.
    I am proud to be your friend. Can you tell?
    Going to check my Tivo now, and feed the kids breakfast. Praying for you and the family too!

  • Erica

    Hey Danniele and family,
    I just read the story and I am here in Belize! I love the picture and your blog is a ray of sunshine for moms around the world!Now you will have more mom’s and dad’s following you!
    The negative comments I could read were hurtful to you, but as most of us know those comments have nothing to do about you, but about the mindset of the people who wrote them.

    Many blessings to you and your loved ones!And keep this whole adventure on the positve upswing!

    Peace and Love,
    Erica

  • anonymous

    Do you need to figure out how the photo ended up in Prague? it is easy, it is from the internet. as the shop owner said according to news reports. and as everything you put on the net, some people can snatch it and in countries where they are poor copyright laws and privacy enforcement, they simply don’t stay up to the rules.

    anyway, good luck with whatever you are doing, just thought to stop by

  • Michelle

    Wow.
    I found this story so interesting.
    It’s great that they didn’t use your photo in a bad way, not saying that they would.
    Good Luck today to you and your family!!!

    p.s. i have family in O’Fallon too!
    It’s a nice place.
    =]]

  • http://www.bettesbags.com Bettes Bags

    Enjoy the experience and then run very quickly back home and shut the door behind you.

  • Alisha

    You have a beautiful family! No wonder someone wanted to use your picture for their store! :) My mom always used to tell me “Your sins will find you out.” If not right away, it will happen in time. I’m glad this was caught! Good luck with everything!

  • http://www.MidwesternMommy.com MotherOfBun

    Your story is on Crazy Days and Nights Celeb gossip blog too. http://www.crazydaysandnights.net/2009/06/random-photos-part-one-with-reader_11.html

    Just thought you’d want to know!

  • http://thereisastampforthat.blogspot.com/ Rebecca J.

    Wow! What a crazy time you must be going through. And if you are tired of random comments, I apologize in advance. But I have to say, that it seems you are a very loving, giving mom and I think people who’ve left you negative comments just don’t have a clue. I’m amazed at the negativity some people feel is okay to express to total strangers. That makes me wonder what they treat their family and friends like. But, on a positive note, I found the “fitness hangouts for moms” because of reading down some of your old posts. So thanks! Enjoy your day.

  • Hea

    R you sure you did not post your family photo for publicity? I don’t care if you are offended or if you post this on your site, just think about it. its not that terrible

  • http://www.amiraclecreation.com Tara

    This is such an awesome story… I can only imagine how it is putting your life in an uproar.. Good luck with your future events :)

  • http://pbase.com/locozodiac Luis

    Dear Danielle

    Just read your unauthorized storefront photo story on Yahoo news, let me tell you that as a photographer never post pictures on web larger than 800 x 600 pixels, this is a unprintable proper size for obscure unauthorized printed uses.

    The risk of placing huge pics sizes taken at huge resolutions on modern digital cameras is what probably happened to you photo. So shoot small for web uses if don’t want your photo to become international. Watermarks can be removed by skilled photoshopers.

    Best regards from Lima-Peru

  • Jeri

    What an extraordinary experience for all.

    So sorry your family was un-voluntarily elected ‘Poster Child’ [no pun intended] for an important Lesson Learned!

    What a beautiful family you have and I can see why the store owner elected yours as a Marketing aid. No actor can capture what was shown in that photo!

    The smiles you all display epitomizes Joy, Peace, Happiness and a bond that is only evident from genuine Love.

    You are a blessed family!

    Good Luck to you all and thanks for sharing the real story.

  • http://www.joebloe1116.blogspot.com JoeyfromSC

    WOW, I saw your story on yahoo news page!

    Crazy!! I can’t imagine how it’s turning your life upside down especially the way the media is!

    hope you don’t mind that I’m posting haha

    I’ll check out your blog in a bit!

    Good luck with everything and I wish your family the best!

  • http://www.virtualgalfriday.com Nancy Brown

    Danielle,

    Just like many others who have left comments here, I just saw your story (on yahoo.com) and felt compelled to visit your blog and leave a comment.

    I would assume that when they were look for photos for their ad, they just did a ‘google’ search on ‘families’ or something similar, and looked thru the images that were found, and selected yours. That would be the most logical explanation. Google does have a ‘warning’ that these images ‘might’ be copyrighted.

    There are many sites out there like ‘clipart.com’ where anyone can purchase royalty-free images – of models and not ‘real’ people to use for their ads or websites, etc.

    I am glad that it really to be a sincerely innocent mistake. It might now be a blessing in disguise for you, I bet your twitter following has increased! And your blog hits…wow!

    I say take this wave and ride it, you never know where it might take you !

    Sending nothing but positive thoughts your way….

    Best Regards,

    Nancy

  • http://emphasisonmoms.blogspot.com Dionna

    Can I view your interview online? I’m not suprised – I could see how “National” would want to pick up this story.

  • Bob Martin

    Hi Danielle, I just read your story on Yahoo news and found it quite interesting. At the end of the article you said “This story doesn’t frighten me, but the potential frightens me.” That said, I’m confused as to why you would allow your family photo to be shown on Yahoo.com and CBS.

    If having your family picture on a store front in Prague frightens you, then doing an interview on CBS and allowing your family picture be shown on Yahoo news should have you shaking in your boots! Believe me, a good nights sleep and your family’s safety is much more valuable than anything Yahoo and CBS can offer. Personally, I would have taken the bottle of wine the owner of the store in Prague offered.

  • http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com Adventures In Babywearing

    Chills. I know just what you mean. We see your heart.

    Steph

  • Danny

    It amazes me that after having posted pictures of your children, family and you on this public site, that you are surprised that someone got your picture and then used it in Prague. I hope that you understand, as you should, that the internet is public domain no matter what security measures you take. You have made yourself and your family available to every kook, pedophile and voyeuristic idiot out there. Nothing should shock you. You should be less public. But then maybe the publicity is good. Heck, it got me to this site…for today!

  • Johnny

    Just saw photo on yahoo. That is wild..

    Johnny Moore,
    Cleveland, Mississippi

  • Ryan

    I’m not sure why you are so concerned about your family photo ending up in a storefront, if you were willing to post it on the GLOBAL INTERNET for all to see…? What’s the harm?

  • Kevin Hill

    Danielle,

    I live in Chicago and opened up the redeye paper today to see my high school baseball coach smiling at me. Jeff was my JV baseball coach and a key piece in us winning the district championship the next year. Go D-7.

    That is an amazing story tell Jeff hello.

    Kevin Hill

  • Danielle

    Hey Bob~

    I wanted to clarify something…you asked why I would allow the pictures to be posted on Yahoo and used on CBS if ‘the potential’ created by the photo story ‘frightens me’. What frightens me, Bob, is the knowledge that IF I don’t monitor the resolution of pictures I post and/or watermark them, they could be used for more nefarious purposes than this grocery store in the CR. Knowing that this ad is benign, I do find the whole thing somewhat flattering. Having my family picture ‘out there’ isn’t my concern – unwittingly making it readily available for people who need hig-res pics for unauthorized advertising – that is a concern of mine.

    And according to the Associated Press (I have not spoken to the store owner) he said IF we lived in Europe, he would be happy to send us a bottle of wine. I don’t live in Europe and he hasn’t offered anything to me directly. For the record, I would accept a bottle of wine.
    Thank you for commenting!

    Danielle

  • http://barefoot-memories.com/news Carey

    WOW!!
    I’ve been praying for you guys a lot these past few days!
    (gee, can’t imagine why! … ha!)

    I saw the story break on your twitter … and then it just (as Rory would say) “‘SPLODED!”

    I know you guys will ride this crazy wave clinging lovingly to each other, screaming through the dips & thrills, and laughing with exhilaration.
    (then come back to San Diego for a visit, will ya!!???)

    keeping this short cuz I know you’re swamped, but I wanted to let you know you’re in my heart these days…
    Carey

  • Tara

    Hey Danielle & Jeff and kids,
    I’m over here LMAO! Haven’t heard anything about you since Springpatch days, and then I hear Danielle’s oh-so-familiar voice on NPR on my drive home. I guess this plus the content of your story just proves how small the world has gotten these days when technology outpaces the limits of our imagination. Congrats on your super-cute family, hope all is well.
    -Former KSPR-er

  • http://www.toomanymornings.com MikeWJ

    What an incredible story about how the Internet can steal a family’s personal life and make it global. Thankfully, it seems to me that no real harm was done, and that your family’s life has suddenly become a little more interesting than it used to be. Enjoy it while you can, because it probably won’t last long.

  • http://www.kenstraiton.com/ ken straiton

    This is an interesting, seemingly 21st century sort of story. Of course, it arouses curiosity about what sequence of connections led up to the discovery in Prague. I was especially interested though in the reactions in the comments – at once predictable but also depressing.
    In the case of the ad in Prague, the store is almost certainly unwitting. They may have hired a designer or an ad agency, who may have hired a designer in turn. Someone got on the internet and entered a few key words and up popped that photo, quite probably on a stock photo site in the USA. That site may have appropriated it themselves, or it was supplied to the site by someone falsely claiming authorship. If anyone got paid for the photo, in this digital age they probably received depressingly little – maybe not even the value of that bottle of wine.
    I am a photographer and the thought that someone would ‘steal’ my work and use it is, of course, disturbing for the potential loss of income. In your case it is not clear where the ‘theft’ occurred, and if it had not been for the chance discovery by your friend, your life would have been unaffected by it. Which makes me wonder at the very large number of people who responded with the words, “scary”, “crazy”, “weird”, etc. I would go for “unexpected”, or “surprising”, but the photo is a nice, buoyant image, and used in a way that depends on that positive reading, so scary seems like an overreaction.
    What I find depressing is the level of paranoia, litigiousness and avarice that surfaced in the replies posted. (I must say I did find the Facebook terms of use a bit scary.) I guess that deep down there is still a lot of superstition about photographs. The use of the image had nothing to do with you personally. It was simply used as a representation of a good-looking happy family. Except for your friend in Prague, you would be carrying on with your life and people in Prague would glance at a photo of your family in a window and there would be no affect and no story.
    Danielle, you yourself seem to be weathering this with aplomb. Best wishes.
    ken

  • http://www.fleegerfamily.blogspot.com christine fleeger

    I hope, if you can, post your interview on Mom tv since I missed it. But I have to say your post today says it all, after all family is the MOST important thing of all.

  • Terasena

    well, they say that any publicity is good publicity! no doubt that this will certainly be bringing more traffic to your site (myself included).
    Hope it all works out for you, and good luck in the future!

  • Andrea

    I happened upon your story on my yahoo email website. I really like your message about gratitude and giving back. I have 3 children, ages 11, 8 and 2.5. Both my husband and I feel that it is very important to teach the children to appreciate their world, their good fortune and that a good life needs to include giving back. Giving back can be about reaching out to a friend to make them feel good, getting involved in our immediate community, and getting involved in truly helping others in need. Thank you for your positive website, I will be sure to keep on using it.

    Thanks. P.S. Your family is beautiful!

  • http://www.momfuse.com Jessica/MomFuse.com

    Hi Danielle,

    Saw you on CBS yesterday, you guys did a great job!

  • http://www.skibumpoet.com Gary M

    Guys I thought this was a really interesting story. I am still confused where the high resolution photo lived, that could be used for a life sized poster. It seems it’s created a lot of panic with some people wanting to “privatize” their blogs, etc. I say Bah to all that! Those people need to stop living in fear.

    BTW I think you should tell the shop owner in Prague that they can keep the photo in place, but it’s going to cost X amount for the model releases ;)

    Keep bloggin! GM

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