Most photographers get copyright wrong—and it's costing them more than they realize. In this episode of Beyond the Image, I break down the critical difference between copyright and usage rights, explain why payment or delivering RAW files does not transfer ownership, and show how photographers can protect their work while confidently licensing images to clients.

We'll cover why the photographer automatically owns copyright in almost every independent contractor situation, how clients are only buying permission to use your work, and what a proper work-for-hire or copyright assignment agreement actually looks like. I also unpack common misconceptions around RAW files, digital negatives, and the old-school negatives from film photography.

If you're a professional photographer, understanding these distinctions is essential for building a sustainable business, negotiating contracts, and ensuring you're properly compensated for your intellectual property. By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what you own, what you license, and how to avoid giving away rights you don't need to.

Whether you shoot commercial campaigns, editorial spreads, or personal projects, this episode will help you protect your images, your brand, and your business.

https://jamespatrick.com/

In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick calls out one of the most damaging behaviors in the photography industry right now. Photographers mocking others for asking questions, shaming so-called "basic" knowledge, and treating curiosity as proof someone doesn't belong.

James breaks down how gatekeeping disguised as expertise harms education, kills curiosity, and drives people out of the industry. He explains why assuming everyone has the same access to information is a form of privilege, not professionalism, and why the loudest gatekeepers are often the ones who could benefit most from continued learning.

This episode is a reminder that real confidence doesn't fear questions, real educators don't shame curiosity, and there are no dumb questions. Only people too insecure to ask them.

If you care about growth, education, and building a better photography community, this conversation matters.

Upcoming Workshops: https://www.hivestudiosaz.com/workshops

James Patrick's Work: https://jamespatrick.com/

Two photographs. Seconds apart.
And a much bigger story about photography, accountability, and the right to document power.

In this episode of Beyond the Image, James Patrick examines the events surrounding photographers John Abernathy and Pierre Lavie, whose images captured the moment documentation itself became a threat. As Abernathy was taken down by ICE agents while photographing in public, he instinctively threw his camera to Lavie, preserving evidence that could have been confiscated or destroyed.

The conversation expands to the killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, an incident captured on video by multiple bystanders who had every legal right to observe and record. Those videos now sit at the center of public scrutiny and legal debate.

This episode is not about politics.
It is about the First Amendment, press freedom, and why the right to document public officials in public spaces matters more than ever.

Because once the cameras go dark, so does the truth.

https://jamespatrick.com/