Let My Pictures Go

It’s a catchy little title, but if you’re patient with me you’ll come to know the reasoning behind it. My friend Diana was so good to take those lovely pictures of me a couple of weeks ago. She placed them on a disc for me to use as I needed. I’ve used them on my blogs and to make business cards.

Tom was away for the last few days teaching in San Diego. I wanted to surprise him by having his favorite picture of me printed. I thought while I was at it, I would also print some pictures to send to my mom. It’s so easy to get prints from your digital camera. All you have to do is take the disc to Wal-Mart or you could even do this online and they print them off. The gal behind the counter told me it would take about 15 minutes. I’m now excited. My plan was to get it framed and have it waiting for him when he got home.

When I came back the conversation went something like this:

Me: “Are my pictures ready.”
Gal: “Yes, but I’m sorry you can’t have them.”
Me: (With a puzzled look on my face) “Why, they are my pictures.”
Gal: “Well a professional photographer took them and the image belongs to her.”
Me: “But she’s my friend and gave me the disc so that I can get them developed.”
Gal: “I understand but she has to sign a release so we can give you your pictures.”
Me: (In my head I’m thinking, “Let my pictures go! It’s for a surprise. Hey they are of me.”) But instead said, “I see. Do you have a release I can bring her to sign?”
Gal: “Yes.” (She hands me a release.)
Me: “Is it all right if I see them.” (Before I pay the ransom I want to make sure they are okay.)
Gal: “Here you go.”

So I totally get it that the artist owns the image they capture. Like a painter would own the picture he paints and so forth. But this was pretty funny to me because I never had a professional photographer take pictures and so I wasn’t aware of the rules.

It got me to thinking about the Artist who created me. I am my own person but I belong to Him when I gave Him my life. He captured my heart 17 years ago. I don’t need Him to sign a release to free me. I am already free. I’ve experienced more freedom in Him than I did without Him. So Lord never let me go. Always keep me near to your heart. Thank You for all that You do in my life.

© Nadine Z. 2007