Can I get photos taken by a professional photographer scanned?

This is a very tricky one to answer because it depends on a great many things.

In general the answer is no - unless you have permission from the photographer.

Anyone who takes a photo owns the copyright on that photo (unless taken as an employee - where copyright belongs to the business the photographer works for).

In the U.K. this copyright lasts for 70 years after the death of the photographer.

However some photographers don't mind you scanning photos for your own use (e.g. not to sell) as long as you have already paid them for the photographs (e.g. your own wedding photos).

If you are in doubt then you should consult the photographer who took them.

If you ask us to scan photos taken by a professional photographer then we will seek reasurance from you that what we are doing is legal.