You bought an event image from Blowfly Hill Photography?
What can you actually do with it?
Personal use, commercial use, copyright, and editing.
Here is what every rider, sponsor and business should know.
What are you actually buying when purchasing an image from Blowfly Hill Photography?
When you purchase a photograph from Blowfly Hill Photography, you are purchasing a personal-use licence to that image.
That means you can enjoy it, post it to your personal social media, print it for yourself and keep it as part of your own collection.
You are not purchasing unrestricted ownership of the photograph or the right to decide how it is used commercially.
Think about it this way…
Imagine buying a book, rewriting Chapter 6, and deciding your business can now use it however it likes.
Or buying a painting, painting your logo over part of it, and hanging the altered version in your shop window.
Photography is creative work too, and the same respect for ownership and usage applies. Because you have purchased the right to use the work within the terms of its licence, not the intellectual property itself.
Riders: What can you do with your purchased show photos?
✔️ Post them on your personal social media
✔️ Share them with friends and family
✔️ Print them for your own personal use
✔️ Use them as profile or cover photos
✔️ Enjoy and keep them for years to come
Riders: What can't you do with your purchased show photos?
✖️ Allow a business to use it in an advert
✖️ Supply it for commercial campaigns or promotions
✖️ Apply filters or substantially re-edit the finished photograph
✖️ Use Al to add, remove, replace or alter elements
✖️ Change logos, branding, products, tack or clothing within the photograph
Sponsors & Businesses
Being in the photo does not automatically give you permission to use it.
If your logo appears on the rider, horse, saddlecloth, clothing, jump, arena, or anywhere else in the image, that does not automatically give your business commercial usage rights to the photograph.
If a rider sends you an image they purchased for personal use, that does not automatically extend their licence to your business.
Before using the photograph, contact the photographer and obtain the appropriate commercial usage rights.
"But the rider sent it to us...”
Permission from the person pictured, and permission to use the photograph are not the same thing.
Blowfly Hill Photography's photographs, with the rider's personal-use licence, does not give them the right to grant commercial usage to a sponsor, brand or other business.
If you are a business wanting to use one of my photographs, contact me directly before posting, publishing or advertising with it.
You also cannot alter the photograph to suit your brand.
Removing or replacing a logo, changing branding, adding a product, removing an object, or otherwise manipulating the photograph, creates an altered version of the original work and is not included in the licence supplied with BFHP images.
This includes AI editing, which is strictly prohibited unless it has been expressly authorised it in writing.
“ But we tagged the photographer ”
Credit is appreciated.
Credit is not permission.
Tagging the photographer does not create a commercial licence, and it does not give permission to edit, reproduce, or use an image outside the terms under which it was supplied.
If you want to use someones work, ask first.
For brands, sponsors and businesses the process is easy;
- Find an image you would like to use.
- Contact the photographer before using it.
- Explain where and how you would like to use it.
- Obtain the appropriate commercial usage rights.
- Use the supplied image within those agreed terms.
Professional photography has commercial value. Commercial usage should be licenced accordingly.
The easiest rule to remember:
If you didn't create the photograph, don’t assume you have the right to use or change it.
Ask the photographer first.
Riders, sponsors, brands, and photographers can all benefit from great imagery. Respecting the work and obtaining the correct permission ensures it can be used properly.
1. Copyright Ownership
All photographs and images displayed are the exclusive intellectual property of Blowfly Hill Photography and are protected under applicable copyright laws.
2. Permitted Use
Viewing access is granted for personal viewing purposes only. No other rights are granted.
3. Prohibited Actions
You agree not to:
- Download, copy, screenshot, reproduce, or save any images unless permitted
- Share images on social media or websites unless permitted
- Modify, crop, edit, or alter the photographs
- Remove or obscure watermarks or copyright notices
- Use images for commercial, personal, or promotional purposes unless permitted
4. No Redistribution
Images from this gallery may not be distributed, sold, licensed, or transferred to any third party without prior written consent from Blowfly Hill Photography.
5. Monitoring & Enforcement
Unauthorized copying, downloading, or distribution of images may be monitored and constitutes a violation of copyright law.
6. Legal Action
Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of these images may result in legal action, financial damages, and statutory penalties under applicable copyright law.
