Although it was our original intent in providing on-line sports proofs to allow screen-resolution images to be downloaded with only minimal watermarking for free use in screensavers and wallpaper, it turns out that our trust was misplaced.
Misuse of this privilege by several individuals, including at least one soccer coach, means that we will no longer be able to offer this service. It's not about the money, although it would be nice to at least cover our costs; rather, it has a lot to do with reputation. We offer only the highest quality prints as a part of our service, and when individuals download screen-resolution images, trim off the watermark, and print them or have them printed, a high-quality print is not the result. It hurts us to have prints floating around, presented as our work, which is of such crappy quality. Frankly, I expected more from the parents, and especially, the coach(es).
Please don't rip us off. If you don't like our work, don't buy it! We have thousands of dollars invested in our equipment, and webhosting is not free. We have spent years fine-tuning our skills, and whether the image in question is a portrait, sports photo, or commercial image, we have put our best efforts into creating it. As for our sports images, we spend hours shooting the games, and even more time processing and posting the images, and none of that time is paid for unless you order prints. I've heard every excuse in the book, and however you might justify it, it still comes down to this: Every image we show, in print or on the web, is a copyrighted work. Unlicensed use, including printing images for your personal use, is STEALING. You'd never tolerate your child shoplifting; yet if you print one of our images, from the website, scanned, or in any other fashion without our permission, that is exactly what you have done. Not only are you making it harder for us to continue the service, you are setting a lousy example for your kid(s)! Images are offered here for sale; our websites are our shelves. Please feel free to refer friends and family to our sites; you may even send links--but, please, DO NOT RIP US OFF!
I know that the vast majority of people reading this are honest, straightforward individuals who would like for us to continue to provide the sports services; we look at it as a kind of sponsorship and love to support the kids. Because I chose to use small, unobtrusive watermarks on our soccer images last year, I hold some responsibility for the abuse-but please understand that I will not tolerate this behavior again.
I can point you to services who provide exactly the services we do, but at high rates for shooting the events in the first place, and their rates for prints start at $20.00 for one--one 5x7! We don't even want to go there. It may be cheap to rip us off this year, but if we don't come back, then what're you gonna do?!?