I've been a professional model for nearly half my life. At this advanced point of my career I regret working with Laretta houston Photography as a very poor choice in hindsight. In May, I hired her for a shoot that was approximately $650. This shoot included makeup, hair, apparel and 4 looks. The shoot was in May and now with August around the corner Laretta Houston Photography refuses to turn over the work she was hired to do. She disseminated my photos for commercial purposes; which are being used to sell the apparel I'm wearing in the shoot I hired her for. After I paid her and requested my photos she demanded I sign a model release. Remember, I hired her. Of course I politely declined to sign, however; she refused to give me the images until I sign a release that would give her legal cover for actions already done without my permission. It would also give her the right to sell the images indefinitely without my consultation or compensation! This release would give me little or no room to use these images for my own benefit; which is the reason I hired www.larettahouston.com. I've tried to resolve this, but Laretta has been unrelenting in her demands for rights which I will not relinquish at this point. Since trying to resolve this privately and professionally, I have had to deal with name calling and unrealistic slander on public forums like facebook. To all models and future clients, I would seriously suggest you reconsider working with a photographer that is known to be bullish with talent and factually known not turn over the artistic images they are hired to create. I would hate to have what has happen to me to happen to you or anyone else. I have since sent a complaint to the Better Business Bureau (which was accepted), and had a cease & desist letter sent by certified mail Laretta from my attorney. I plan to send a cease and desist letter to the boutique selling their product with my images I paid for and never received. Below I have attached a few documents:
1. Breach of contract
2. Screenshot of the images being used commercially without authorization in Atlanta.
3. Model release form that Laretta asked me to sign after the shoot was over and wrapped. This should have been mentioned in negotiations with her. If it had she would not have been hired and she would not have been paid $650.00.
Example 1:
Cease & desist letter sent to Laretta Houston Photgraphy by my legal counsel.
Example 2:
Images I hired Laretta Houston Photography to shoot are being used for commercial purposes without authorization online and offline in an Atlanta boutique!
07-25-2009, 11:50 AM
LinkBacks (?)
07-25-2009, 11:50 AM
Linear Mode
