21/10/2026
🗣Let's talk about photo copyright & usage rights!
This one comes up a lot in the equestrian world, so I thought it was worth a little chat because there is a difference between buying a photo and having permission to use it however you like.
When you purchase a digital photo (or video) from a photographer, you're buying the image under the usage terms that come with it. You're not automatically buying the copyright or commercial usage rights.
So, what does that actually look like in practice?
📸 Sharing your own photos
You've purchased your photos and want to share them on your personal Facebook or Instagram? Absolutely! That's what they're there for, within the terms of your licence. Show them off, print them, enjoy them and make those memories last!
🤝 Your sponsor wants to share your achievement
If your sponsor shares your original post using Facebook or Instagram's built-in share function, that's different from downloading the photo and uploading it separately. The platform's sharing features have their own rules, so this is generally the better option although it doesn't override every copyright or licence issue!
📲 A sponsor downloads the photo and posts it directly.
This is where things change. If a sponsor or business downloads a photo you've purchased and uploads it to their own account, they're making a separate use of that image. Even if they're just congratulating you, celebrating your result or showing off their sponsored rider, that doesn't automatically give them permission to use it. The same applies to someone who may have their own business as well as competes personally - how you intend to use the photo matters!
A quick tag or photo credit is always appreciated, but it isn't the same as having permission.
📷 Why does it matter?
Because there's a whole lot more to photography than turning up with a camera! There's the gear, the hours spent shooting, sorting through thousands of images, editing, backing everything up and running a business behind the scenes.
Licensing is part of how photographers earn a living and keep doing what we love.
The good news is that it's an easy one to sort out! Riders, owners, breeders, competitors - check your usage rights before passing images on to sponsors, and sponsors, if you'd like to post a photographer's image directly on your own page, reach out and ask about a commercial-use licence. Most of us are happy to have a conversation about it.
It's not about making things difficult. It's about respecting the work behind the image and supporting the people who capture these moments for you. We are the first ones to advertise our sport and giveaway thousands of dollars worth of photos & our time for organisers to run events ❤️
A little reminder, a little understanding, and a whole lot of respect for everyone involved.
Usage rights depend on the photographer's licence and the circumstances. When in doubt, just ask! We don't bite ;) But we also don't want to be that message in your inbox saying "Hey, that photo you posted..."
