What would happen if . . .?

Question

I recently went to a photo place in the mall to get bridal shots taken. They explain that the photos taken and bought from them may not be reproduced in any way for any reason - monetary or not. They said the photos will have a marking in them to guard against illegal copies being made. I'm ok with all that, but was curious . . .

If I took the picture to a self-copy machine, like the ones in wal-mart, how will they know? Does the machines have a way to tell the photos are not to be reproduced? Would a person who uses a machine like this get in trouble? Or do they just say that to get people to buy the copies from them and not to reproduce them?

If you have worked at a place like this and know the truth to this curiosity, please let me know. Thanks!

Wow, Barry. You were quite motivated to rip me to shreds FOR SOMETHING I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT!!! I wasn't saying that I wanted to do this, IT JUST MADE ME CURIOUS!

HEAVEN FORBID I HAVE AN INNOCENT CURIOSITY!!!! I ACTUALY ENDED UP SPENDING A LITTLE OVER 1K WITH THESE PEOPLE, AND I'M SURE THEY CAN MAKE A DECENT LIVING OFF OF IT!!!!

I was simply curious on how it all works, if they were able to actually track this kind of thing, or if it was just an empty threat. Thanks for your answer, I appreciate the part of your answer that gave me the answers I wanted. However, before you get on your soapbox and immediatly assume that the asker is a dirt bag, READ THE QUESTION SOME MORE! YOU MIGHT FIND THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTLY NO REASON TO JUMP TO YOUR OWN CONCLUSION AND TREAT THE ASKER LIKE A CRIMINAL.

Answer 1

Most studios have a chemical they cover the prints with that will distort the image if copied. I know some clear epoxies will do this.

Answer 2

You will be violating their copyright, among other contractual terms.

Sooner or later someone you give the picture to will say "great pictures! I should get some pictures taken there too"

Then they will go to the plapce and the place will ask them - how did you know about us and they wil say so and so gave us some wedding picture copies"

That is how they will find out.

They are trying to make a living - is it really so hard to buy extra copies? Is that the kind of curse you want to put on your new marriage - that you would rather steal from your photographer then allow him make a living y paying him for the enitre job you wnat him to do?

And yes, there are programs online that look for watermarked photos, run by legal firms that would like to do nothing mroe then sue you.

Increasingly similar software is embedded in copy machines and color printers that ties a printout to a serial number on the machine by embedding a series of barely visible yellow dots ina particular pattern in the image.