Hello Salomé, can you introduce yourself and tell us about your activity?
I’m a freelance photographer operating under the auto-entrepreneur status. I’ve been practicing photography for a long time, but I officially launched my business a year and a half ago.
I mainly specialize in portrait photography, a passion that drives most of my projects. You can check out my work on my website (salomebilheran.fr), where I showcase my creations and collaborations.
Where do you primarily share your photos?
I mainly use my website, which I launched last December, as a showcase for my work. However, I’m also very active on social media, particularly Instagram and Facebook, which are important channels for my audience. Word of mouth is also an excellent way for me to get known.
Do you have an estimate of how many photos you post each month?
It varies depending on the time of year. During the summer and winter holidays, I have peaks of activity where I might post every three days. My posting frequency also depends on my schedule, as I’m also a student. When I’m in Paris for my studies, I don’t always take orders, which affects how often I post.
What type of photos do you offer your clients?
I specialize in portraits, which is my true passion. I like to consider myself a portrait photographer, even though I don’t officially have that title yet. My work mainly focuses on capturing faces and people, which often raises the issue of image rights. To protect myself, I have my models sign release forms allowing me to publish their photos.
Have you implemented any protections against intellectual property theft?
Honestly, not really. I use Photoshop to edit my photos and sometimes Firefly (generative AI), and when I do, I make sure to mention it. I try to add my logo, but I sometimes forget. That said, I find that logos can sometimes detract from the image. I also specify in the descriptions that my photos are not free to use, but that doesn’t always stop people from using them without permission.
Have you ever been a victim of intellectual property theft?
Not actual theft, but there have been times when people reposted my photos without crediting me. It can be frustrating, but I’ve never encountered a case where someone directly claimed my work as their own. This is a common issue among professionals: our photos often get reposted without any identification, as if they don’t belong to anyone.
Why haven’t you implemented protection against these thefts?
To be honest, I’ve never really looked into it. I think I neglected that aspect, thinking it wouldn’t happen to me. But once, one of my photos was published in a newspaper, and another photographer was mistakenly credited. I don’t know if it was theft or a simple mix-up, but I wasn’t mentioned.
Have you heard of intellectual property theft in the photography industry?
Yes, recently I heard about a plagiarism case between two photographers. The photos were very similar, and the court had to determine whether it was plagiarism. There are also cases of photographers using other artists’ work in their portfolios to attract models, which poses other problems.
Do you feel a threat from artificial intelligence in your work?
Yes and no. I mainly work with individuals for portraits, so I don’t think AI is a direct threat to my activity. People still come to the studio for the human experience I offer. However, AI helps me a lot by speeding up some editing tasks. That said, I’m aware that AI could pose a problem for photographers working with brands.
Do you trust technological solutions to protect your work?
Yes, overall. I haven’t taken the time to explore the issue yet, but I think it’s important to protect one’s creations, especially with the increasing number of thefts. A solution like the one you’re offering, Certiphy.io could be interesting for me.
Do you think experience or age plays a role in realizing the risks related to intellectual property?
Yes, absolutely. When starting out, we often post our photos without thinking about the risks. But as a professional, it’s essential to take a more thoughtful approach and seriously consider protecting one’s work. Certiphy.io could be a valuable tool to support my professionalization journey.
Do you think creators become more cautious after experiencing theft?
Yes, of course. As long as it doesn’t happen to us, we think it only happens to others. But once it hits close to home, we realize we are just as vulnerable. It’s important to protect our work.
