Honouring the Maker: Why Proper Tagging and Credit Matter
In the world of handmade craft, every object carries more than its physical form. Behind each piece lies the maker’s creative vision, time, labour, research, and emotional investment. For small studios like ours, product photography and written descriptions are just as handcrafted as the ceramics themselves. They are an extension of the creative process — a way to communicate mood, philosophy, and story.
Recently, a situation with a wholesale retailer (we’ll keep them anonymous) reminded us of the importance of clear communication and respectful representation. This retailer presented our imagery and product descriptions as part of their own brand identity, without permission, credit, or proper pricing. While we approached the issue gently, it highlighted a need to share a broader reminder with our community — one that protects the integrity of handmade work.
Why Photography and Descriptions Are Part of the Craft
In any creative studio, photography isn’t just documentation — it’s storytelling.
Every lighting choice, composition, glaze detail, and piece of writing is crafted to express the soul of the work. When these elements are used without credit, it doesn’t simply break a guideline: it erases the maker’s voice.
For small artisanal brands, this voice is a vital part of our survival. We don’t have large marketing budgets or teams. Our photos are our marketing, created with the same care as our pottery.
The Importance of Tagging and Transparency
We love when our wholesale partners share our products, style shoots, and displays. Your enthusiasm is what helps our work reach new homes.
However, there is a clear and simple guideline:
If you use our images or descriptions, credit and tag “Laima Ceramics”
This ensures:
Visibility for the creator
Transparency for customers
Protection of artistic authorship
Honesty in branding and storytelling
If you take your own photographs, tagging is warmly appreciated, but not required. We love seeing your interpretation of our work in your space.
Why This Matters for All Handmade Businesses
The handmade community thrives on authenticity — not the replication of someone else’s work or branding voice. Transparent crediting:
builds trust
honours labour
preserves the maker–retailer relationship
helps customers connect the story to the object they are buying
Most importantly, it ensures that the narrative surrounding each piece remains true to its origin.
Learning From Missteps
The recent misunderstanding with a retailer was resolved kindly, but it reminded us that not everyone entering the handmade world fully understands these values. So let this serve as a gentle reminder:
Handmade work carries a story, and that story belongs to the maker.
When you choose to represent it, you become part of that story — so let’s honour it together. Thank you to all our thoughtful, respectful partners who represent our work with transparency, care, and pride. Your support allows small studios to keep creating slowly, honestly, and with heart.
Here is a screenshot how the retailer had cropped out our images and used without credit. After communicating with them they immediately removed them from their site and apologised.
Following this event we have updated our terms&conditions and now send this exact info pack to all our new retailers:
At Laima Ceramics, every piece is created with care, patience, and pride in our craft. Our photography and written descriptions are an extension of that creative work — each image and word is part of the story we build around our ceramics.
To preserve the authenticity and integrity of that story, please note:
Our product photos, descriptions, and designs may only be used with full credit clearly attributed to the author:
“Design and photography © Laima Ceramics.”These materials must not be edited, altered, or used under alternative branding.
Using our photography or text implies agreement to maintain the recommended retail price (RRP) or higher, unless otherwise discussed in writing.
When sharing Laima Ceramics images on social media, please credit and tag @laimaceramics.
If you’re sharing your own photos of our work, tagging is appreciated but not required.
If you’d like to be included in our official list of Laima Ceramics retailers, please send us your store information — whether you have an online shop or a physical space. We’re always happy to spotlight and share the wonderful partners who represent our work with care to our international audience @laimaceramics.
We are immensely proud of our origin and craftsmanship, and we believe that the maker’s name and story should always remain visible. Keeping the identity of the maker transparent honours both the work and the people behind it — something we value deeply.
-Laima
This article was written by Laima with editorial support from ChatGPT.
