As we cruise the events, festivals, shops, and private studios of Ekaweeka users we're always taking pictures and working to show everyone what those folks are doing. We are also hoping to get them some exposure. Naturally many of these businesses/artists/people are doing something original, something they don't want to be copied for fear that their ideas will be taken leaving their potential businesses in the dust.
Copyright can sometimes be the only way to protect an original idea and if you haven't filed a copyright for some of your original work now would be a good time to start thinking about it. Copyright is often overused though, we've seen artists and craft makers claim that their work is copyrighted and they told us they didn't want pictures taken of those creations. This is a perfect example of how your protection can be your enemy, if you have thought about this or even have the same feelings on protecting your work, don't take our word for it but do give it consideration.
Some things to think about:
How easy is it to copy your ideas? If it is that easy, you may not have something so original...
Even if a picture is used to keep a visual of your creation... is that likely to steal all possibility of selling your own?
On the contrary, it could perhaps get you more business as other people discover what you are doing.
We would suggest not preventing pictures to be taken as chances are - they will only increase knowledge about your work but they could produce more buyers. This is just the tip of the iceberg but think long and hard about it before saying "No!" to anyone out there that wants to remember your work. After all if you do tell them it isn't ok, you can count on one thing from those people; they will probably bother speaking to you or about you again except possibly in negative retrospect.
As a final thought think about how much other art influences your art. If someone does try to use your ideas, they are not going to make exactly what you make (not without becoming you at any rate), instead your influence will live on in other work. Isn't that what it is all about?