I've just finished sending out a dozen more copyright warnings to photographers around the world. A five minute online search turned up a depressing result. My biography, slide show text, session information, philosophy, you name it, all copied verbatim on other photographers' websites, with no credit to me. Hilariously, I even found three photographers who have copied my tongue-in-cheek copyright notice (which reads, "Violators will be spanked and sent to bed without supper.")

I truly do not understand what it is that makes people think it's alright to steal another person's hard work and creativity. Photography is, or at least should be, a creative industry, and yet people can't be bothered to write their own words and thoughts. There really is no excuse.

A few points I'd like to make, addressing the usual excuses I hear from those whom I catch red-handed:

- "I didn't know you wrote that text or I wouldn't have used it."

Huh? My response to that is, "You know YOU didn't write it yourself. Whether I wrote it, or Johnny Walker in Greenland wrote it, it's plagiarism if you use text written by ANYBODY else without their permission. Period."

- "I figured it was OK to use it since the text isn't on your website anymore."

No. Seriously. Whether it is currently shown on my website or not, I am still the author, and it is still plagiarism.

- "I live halfway across the globe from you, so it's no big deal. It's not like we're in the same market."

First of all, I work worldwide, so no matter where you live, we ARE in the same market. Secondly, your physical location makes no difference. You have still stolen my work. Imagine someone 10,000 miles away from you hacking your bank account and taking your money. Is it not stealing just because they don't live near you?

- "I would've asked permission, but I didn't know who the author was."

Sorry, that's nonsense. Do a quick google search on the text in question. You'll find the author in no time flat. People, if I can find you, you can find me.

- "I've never seen your website in my life, so I couldn't have copied you. It's just coincidence. What are you so riled up about?"

Folks, I am fine with giving the benefit of the doubt. I do it very often. I don't complain about a similar sentence here and there, and I don't bother pursuing those whose text is clearly "very inspired" by mine without being a verbatim copy. But when I see, for instance, that someone has taken several paragraphs from me and used them word for word, I draw the line. That is NOT coincidence. (I will add here that it you may still be guilty of plagiarism even if you've changed the words. If you've used someone else's ideas without citing the source, it is plagiarism. Please see the link at the bottom of this entry for detailed information.)

Case in point: on a spa industry forum that shall go unnamed (for the moment) someone has taken a seventeen-paragraph article I wrote, kept the twelve points they could somehow adapt for their industry, left several paragraphs verbatim, and only slightly changed the rest. Not a single point was added that was not covered in my article. When confronted, the person claimed complete and total innocence. That fact is, the odds are astronomically against that. The truth is, this person may have actually plagiarized someone who plagiarized me, thus making it possible that she has never heard of me. However, she has still plagiarized SOMEBODY, and it's still illegal and unethical.

I will continue to fight the good (if futile) fight to protect my work. I just don't accept that kind of lack of creativity in a creative industry.

For some great information about plagiarism, including a thorough definition and legal implications, please see: http://www.plagiarism.org/learning_center/plagiarism_faq.html .

- CJ

If you're like me, you're really feeling the economic squeeze right now. Gas prices are through the roof, and everyone's having to tighten their belts a bit. Luxury items are getting harder and harder to justify.

Unfortunately, I hear from a lot of people who would love to have gorgeous, meaningful portraits of their children and families but just can't afford it right now. That's really hard to hear, because I feel it's so important to remember our kids at every age, and to have some beautiful memories to pass down to them. In portraiture, you definitely get what you pay for; those snapshots and cheap prints may fit the budget now, but they just can't stand the test of time like a carefully crafted traditional black and white print.

In an effort to make my work more affordable, I'm now offering a portrait layaway program. That means you can document your family now and pay gradually, without the guilt of running up a credit card or blowing your budget.

Drop me a line, and let's figure out a plan that will work for you. After all, beautiful memories should never be considered a luxury item.

- CJ

Folk, allow me a moment to make a statement on plagiarism.

I've recently realized just how rampant plagiarism is, especially in the Internet era. I've found literally a hundred incidents of people plagiarizing the article I published in November 2006 entitled "What Every Aspiring Photographer Should Know." It's also been published as "My Advice For Aspiring Photographers."

I am more than happy to share what I've learned with other photographers, new and old, but I don't appreciate others putting their names on it as the author. Just as bad is seeing it published as "anonymous" with the excuse that "I just saw this online somewhere and don't know who wrote it."

People, in this day and age, that just doesn't cut it. If you type a single phrase, any phrase, out of my article into google, I will come up in many places, including this blog, with the original article in its entirety. It doesn't take ten seconds. Any time I hear a quote that I like but don't know the author, I google it, and I ALWAYS find it.

So, please, if you like what I write, feel free to share it. AFTER ASKING PERMISSION AND WITH MY NAME ATTACHED. Sorry for yelling.

- CJ

Well, I did, sort of. But I've found my way home again. I'm a different me, a bit more grown up and reaching into other parts of myself for direction and inspiration. I've been confronting some demons and embracing aspects of life I previously hadn't recognized as important, or even as present.

If you look hard, you'll see those changes reflected in my recent work. Expect to see photographs that reflect more realism in all its raw beauty. Expect to see the unconventional. Expect to see an adventurous spirit. Or, just don't expect anything. That's probably more fun, anyway.

I'll try to be a little more faithful to this blog in the coming year. I hope you enjoy the journey with me.

- CJ

The winds have shifted, and taken me in a new direction.

For the past few years, I've spent a lot of time on the road teaching workshops. I've really enjoyed it, and have learned so much from teaching and getting to know other photographers. I haven't had much time to spend behind the camera, though, and I've missed it.

It's time to get back to what I do best: photograph. And not just children. I do love working with children, but I also love documenting adults of all shapes, ages, and sizes. I'm passionate about people regardless of their stage in life.

It'll take a little time to wrap up the loose workshop ends, and to clean up a few broken plates that at some point stopped spinning. But I'm excited about the new adventure ahead. I love it when the winds shift.

- CJ