Concerns about Picture.com

[Kokopeli]

I noticed a couple days ago that we were sponsoring Picture.com and I thought it a good idea to bring to everyone's attention some information regarding a scam being run through that site. Also, please keep in mind that I'm speaking from experience with this site as this is what happened to me.

Roughly 2 months ago I submitted an image (see below) to be entered in their photo contest. Approximately three weeks after that, I received a packet in the mail regarding my photo. A letter within the packet informed me that my submission had been selected for publication in a book put together by the the International Library of Photography. Also contained within the packet was information on ordering a copy of the book for myself with the cost of the volume around $89.95. I was also offered a discount of $30.00 since I was the photographer. At first, I was quite excited about being selected, but then a little voice inside my head told me to look into this "book" and see if it was legit.

To make a long story short, I jumped onto Google.com and did a search for the International Library of Photography. Most of what I found was complaints from people like me that had been suckered into purchasing a copy (and in some cases multiple copies) of this book and never receiving it.

There was also talk about an awards banquet where you have to provide transport to the event and pay a pretty healthy sum (something like $600.00) for the right to attend the function. For your $$ I think you were to receive some typy of trophy or cup in recognition of your accomplishment as a photographer and I think they fed you dinner as well..

Needless to say, I opted not to purchase a copy of the book.

I'm in no way saying "don't visit Picture.com", nor am I trying to discourage anyone from entering their contest(s). I just wanted to relay my tale to everyone here in hopes that no one falls victim to this scam.

Thanks for taking the time to read through this!
~Brian

[darkman]

Interesting story... You know, as far as web stuff goes, I tend to use the same outfits I used before they had web sites.

Hey, that's a great pic! Wasn't that from a trip somewhere in oregon (or washington)? I remember you posted a great series of that trip.

Hopefully I'm not mixing stories.

Mike

[Peter_AUS]

Brian,

I think it is important to share the experience with other people and that way these sorts of what looks like a scam might get to someone that can actually close them down or even put them in jail. That is a really wrong thing to do to people and I would think if it was legitimate they would provide a book free of charge to each contributor to the book and also the dinner should be free as well. I would have thought exactly the same thing you have. That is like giving your photo away to a conglomerate for free and having no rights over the photo at all.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Kokopeli]

This was taken around Christmas 2003. We were riding into Portland on their public transport system (The Max).

Thanks for the compliment on the pic and on the rest of the Oregon series as well!
~Brian

Interesting story... You know, as far as web stuff goes, I tend to use the same outfits I used before they had web sites.

Hey, that's a great pic! Wasn't that from a trip somewhere in oregon (or washington)? I remember you posted a great series of that trip.

Hopefully I'm not mixing stories.

Mike

[Photo-John]

Brian-
We aren't sponsoring them. The links at the bottom of the page are paid placements. They aren't actually sold by us, either. They are supplied and paid for by a third party. We don't have much control over what's in them. If there is something that really shouldn't be there, we can report it, though.

[Kokopeli]

Brian-
We aren't sponsoring them. The links at the bottom of the page are paid placements. They aren't actually sold by us, either. They are supplied and paid for by a third party. We don't have much control over what's in them. If there is something that really shouldn't be there, we can report it, though.

That makes me feel a lot better. Thanks for putting my mind to rest.
~Brian

[Old Timer]

Thanks for the heads up. These type scams are so common and we still get taken in way to often.

[Asylum Steve]

...was if they did in fact NOT ever send out the books.

Brian, what you describe is a fairly common and (usually) legal money making scheme for almost all of the creative arts, especially photography and writing. Unethical, maybe, but usually perfectly legal.

My brother writes poetry, and more than once he's received the same kind of offer, saying his work was chosen to be in a book along with an offer to purchase a copy for himself. He actually agreed to these deals a couple of times before he realized these "books" were just self-published pieces of junk. But at least he always got copies of the books...

Like I said, if they never actually send a publication, yes, of course it's a crime, but the concept itself is generally accepted, especially by folks with little or no experience in the publishing field.

Still, it's good you pointed this out to everyone. This seems like a group we should keep our eye on.

BTW, yeah, what a great shot. Sorry it didn't work out. That's one that should be published...

I noticed a couple days ago that we were sponsoring Picture.com and I thought it a good idea to bring to everyone's attention some information regarding a scam being run through that site. Also, please keep in mind that I'm speaking from experience with this site as this is what happened to me.

Roughly 2 months ago I submitted an image (see below) to be entered in their photo contest. Approximately three weeks after that, I received a packet in the mail regarding my photo. A letter within the packet informed me that my submission had been selected for publication in a book put together by the the International Library of Photography. Also contained within the packet was information on ordering a copy of the book for myself with the cost of the volume around $89.95. I was also offered a discount of $30.00 since I was the photographer. At first, I was quite excited about being selected, but then a little voice inside my head told me to look into this "book" and see if it was legit.

To make a long story short, I jumped onto Google.com and did a search for the International Library of Photography. Most of what I found was complaints from people like me that had been suckered into purchasing a copy (and in some cases multiple copies) of this book and never receiving it.

There was also talk about an awards banquet where you have to provide transport to the event and pay a pretty healthy sum (something like $600.00) for the right to attend the function. For your $$ I think you were to receive some typy of trophy or cup in recognition of your accomplishment as a photographer and I think they fed you dinner as well..

Needless to say, I opted not to purchase a copy of the book.

I'm in no way saying "don't visit Picture.com", nor am I trying to discourage anyone from entering their contest(s). I just wanted to relay my tale to everyone here in hopes that no one falls victim to this scam.

Thanks for taking the time to read through this!
~Brian

[Kokopeli]

...was if they did in fact NOT ever send out the books.

Brian, what you describe is a fairly common and (usually) legal money making scheme for almost all of the creative arts, especially photography and writing. Unethical, maybe, but usually perfectly legal.

My brother writes poetry, and more than once he's received the same kind of offer, saying his work was chosen to be in a book along with an offer to purchase a copy for himself. He actually agreed to these deals a couple of times before he realized these "books" were just self-published pieces of junk. But at least he always got copies of the books...

Like I said, if they never actually send a publication, yes, of course it's a crime, but the concept itself is generally accepted, especially by folks with little or no experience in the publishing field.

Still, it's good you pointed this out to everyone. This seems like a group we should keep our eye on.

BTW, yeah, what a great shot. Sorry it didn't work out. That's one that should be published...

The majority of the complaints I found stated that after paying for the books, no one ever got their copy. I couldn't find a single post where someone actually said that they got one.

Thanks for the compliment on my photo. It's one of the few that I'm actually proud of.
~Brian

[Gabe]

I went through this years ago .. I did actually get a copy after paying a criminal amount for it, lol. I think I had only been published once back then, was about 20 years old, and got suckered into the whole "getting published" thing.

Of course, after receiving the book and reviewing it, I realized I had gotten taken. The book is crap, and anyone with a disposable Funsaver and NO experience can get a shot in there. I saw many photos with the date stamp on them, fer chrissakes. When they asked me, the following year, to submit a new photo I never bothered replying.

I put it in my resume as "published in a volume of photography", LOL. Hopefully everyone will concentrate on the other publishing credits, and never ask me about it.