Creator Spotlight with Photographer & Gallery Owner Ted Davis
This week, we’re excited to introduce photographer, actor, author, and gallery owner Ted Davis. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions across New York, Los Angeles, Mexico City, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Ted spent two decades in Hollywood as both a photographer and an actor, and most recently became a best-selling author with his book Eternal San Miguel de Allende.
What was the inspiration behind becoming a creator?
I have always been involved in artistic creation, from my years as a working actor in Hollywood, to my present job as photographer, book author, and gallery owner, here in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It all comes from the same place: creating a compelling story within a frame.
What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
Owning an art gallery is like owning and running a movie theatre (www.teddavisgaleria.com). You must constantly produce new things for sale, otherwise people won’t come back! The enjoyment is in the new idea, and in the execution of the artwork, like planning and creating a film. It’s a great feeling of satisfaction when a viewer responds positively to the artwork, and even more so when they buy it. That’s the ultimate validation!
What do you think is the biggest misconception about your line of work?
That I spend my day “taking pretty pictures, then putting them in a frame, for sale.” There’s much more to running a business like this. There’s advertising, employees, not to mention interfacing with potential clients all day.
When did you first become aware of copyright, and why?
As well as being an actor, I’ve been a pro photographer since I was sixteen years old and one of my mentors gave me the best advice: Never release your negatives/original digital files! The images belong to the creator, the client then licenses the artwork, for a specific amount of time. I have stuck with this rule ever since, with all kinds of clients, corporate to individual. I retain ownership of all my images. Working on my book a few years ago (www.tdgpress.com) was how I was introduced to the Copyright Alliance newsletter and site. It has been a very useful and inspirational tool.
Have you experienced copyright infringement and, if so, how has it affected you personally and financially?
Yes. San Miguel de Allende is one of the most beautiful and photogenic towns in the world, and one of my photos became the most famous photo ever taken of this town. One day I saw my photo being used in a social media ad for a tequila company without my permission. They must have taken it off my website. I contacted them, with no reply. After threatening legal action, they finally relented and gave me photo credit, but no financial compensation. I let it go. Another time I saw that same photo on a restaurant menu, and as a painting in an art show. It’s basically stealing, and is an awful feeling.
What do you do when you encounter someone stealing something you’ve invested your intellect, time, and money into?
I try to make contact and see if we can work something out because lawyers cost money, but if they’re not willing to talk then next is legal action. Another issue that I deal with on a daily basis is the person with a cellphone who walks into my gallery, and starts taking pictures of my photos, full close up, without asking any permission, and ignoring the many ‘No Photos’ signs. Just a few days ago I had to yell at a guy doing just that, and he left red-faced. Such a negative experience for both parties. I want people to enjoy the gallery visit, but there are rules. It’s exhausting!
What is the best piece of advice that you would give other creators in your field about copyright and how to protect themselves?
Have a contract for every job, and every type of photo/image/illustration usage. AI is really great at generating specific contracts, that’s a great tool. Just make sure you proof-read the AI output several times and make revisions. AI is just a robot, and robots aren’t really good (yet!) when it comes to subtle human nuance.
What is your biggest copyright-related challenge?
I suppose the phone-pic issue I mentioned above. It’s every day! The phone camera has become such an extension of ourselves. Instead of just viewing and soaking it in, we are all guilty of wanting to capture a record of the feeling that this object/place/plate of food is giving us. I get it. But when the phone snapper is getting really close, cropping out the frame and the mat, that person has other not-so-good plans for my photo.
How has AI technology impacted your works and career?
I use AI everyday. Photographs that are slightly blurry can now be sharpened and enlarged with AI programs. I’ve even created some painterly pictures of animals in silly costumes with AI, and they sell! AI is a powerful tool, and I encourage creators to find a way to use it to your advantage, to enhance, not replace, your creativity!
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