Her only hope at this point is to get married ( or divorced ) so that she can change her last name and start all over again. Oh, and move to a different state. What an IDIOT. 

She could have just kept trying. No matter how good or crappy we feel when we look at someone else’s work, we should always strive to make ourselves better. Every photographer specializes in a certain area, so find what your area is and excel at it. She’s ruined her rep for sure it make take years before people learn to trust her, or she may have ruined it for life.. And also looks like she had a family, I wonder what they think of her actions? It is hard, the hardest thing you can do, it’s as hard as raising kids..in fact I’d say Photography is just like raising kids. It takes work, consistently and challenging yourself. I hope she sees the damage she’s done to herself, her family and the photographers’ works she stole. 

Oh man Joe, I was appalled to see this.  I followed this issue the whole day yesterday and I am now reading comments, like your blog as well, of what people have to say about it.  My only issue was that I hoped this didn’t make her more famous and that her fan base would grow from this incident since in reading the comments after her apology, some people sympathized with her.  Even if she had good work herself, I didn’t expect it to be true because her credit was tarnish as a whole.  As of right now I am seeing that her pages are down. 

no sympathy for such brazen fraud, theft.  Apology is cute… put up some friggin $$$ make good on damages.  How about donate every cent of ill gotten revenue made to a charity…

When I was a teenager the movie ‘Gladiator’ hit the theatres. One of the most chilling scenes, for me, then and now was when Maximus dispatches another gladiator and then turns to the blood-lusting crowd and screams “Are you not entertained? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? is this not why you are here?”

I can’t help but hero echoes of this plea as I watch the events of this week unfold. As I look out upon the foam mouthed faces of the spectators it is rather shocking to see industry heavyweights (looking at you Gary Fong) screaming alongside no-name momtogs in their condemnation of Megean Kunert.

As I read comments on blogs, news sites, forums and facebook groups it is hard to shake the feeling that many would have happily attending executions ,during Roman Rule, and gleefully chanted ‘crucify’ with the throng. I just can’t understand the bloodlust.

I am many things but a professional photographer isn’t one of them. At one time, I made a feeble attempt to start up a ‘sidejob’ photography business but it quickly pettered out. At this time in my life, photography simply isn’t an industry that I am willing or capable to try and make a business out of.

I do not charge for any photography related services and now rarely shoot anything except for self portraits, my personal family and a few friends and acquaintances that I meet in online forums and facebook groups.

I am also a friend of Meagan Kunert.

We have known each other for a while now. My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting her and Lucas and had the distinct privilege to hold their beautiful baby girl. I have fought and argued with her on many different subjects. She isn’t perfect. Neither am I. Neither are you.

Her actions are as close as to ‘unforgiveable’ as you can possibly get in the photography world. In the space of a week, she has had all of her illegal actions brought into the light of day for the entire world to see.

Her name has crossed the lips of the entire photography community this week. From some of the biggest names to shooters all the way down on the totem pole such as myself.

The outrage has reached critical levels. The public execution of her character has been completed from Twitter to Facebook and everywhere in between. While I agree with the outrage in relation to photography that isn’t the only part of her character that has been assaulted.

She has had her religion questioned. She has had her motherhood and marriage put up for public inspection and ridicule. She has had her personal life ripped to shreds by people from all over the world. She has been hounded by the media. She has even been phyically threatened and intimidated.

Make no mistake, she deserves the ridicule she has recieved for her actions in regards to photography. Anything more is nothing more than cyberbullying and intimidation.

Megan does not deserve to be insulted, demeaned, intimidated or threatened. She is a human being and deserves compassion and forgiveness.

No, I am not advocating that her actions should be wiped clean or even that she should continue offering her services as a ‘professional’ photographer.

No, I am not saying that this should happen for any specific religious reason. In fact, I am an atheist. I think that one of the biggest problems with her apology was the fact that she tried to infuse ‘Christ’ into it. If you look at alot of the comments that strayed into the negative it was because of this specific topic of religion.

What I am saying is that she has paid the price. Her photography reputation is ,justifiably, in ruins. The local media has ensured that this isn’t something that you would only know about if you were a photographer it is now ‘main stream’ ,at least in Arkansas. As a photographer she is completely finished. She is closing up shop. What more is warranted?

Social media has accomplished it’s goal. She has been found out. She has been shamed in front of the entire world. Her business is over. She is now in fear of her physical safety. Why keep demanding more?

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?

I’m an Arkansas based photographer and was “friends” with Meagan on facebook. First off I am extremely shocked at what has gone down. I think that she should be charged with Copyright infringement. For all the people that are saying that the actual “work” she does isnt that bad. How do they know she didnt steal that either? Were they standing right next to her as she was taking the photos?  Oh, and just four more words. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MEAGAN.