Stock Photos

philgoddard wrote:

There was someone going by the name of Edward Mahana who got booted off ProZ for stealing other people's sample translations (including mine). He or she used a stock photograph of a very distinguished-looking silverhaired man in front of a bookcase that turned out to be all over the internet.

Why do people do this? Most of us have at least one vaguely flattering photo we can use, rather than hiding behind someone else's.

philgoddard wrote:
Why do people do this? Most of us have at least one vaguely flattering photo we can use, (....).

DLyons wrote:

Over on LinkedIn there is a plague of scammers using "bimbobots" (attractive, usually female, photos ripped off from stock images, web sites, real people) and given random new names.

Fortunately, ProZ doesn't suffer as much. But I have come across Featured Translators (both male and female) whom I suspect might be doing something similar with their 'photos. For example, there's someone who is variously Daria, Catarina and Stephanie on xing, Sibylla on a German site and yet another name on ProZ.

Caveat Emptor

Susana Cid Díaz wrote:

I used a picture of a bimbo, myself. Actually, I took the picture of a super model.... can't you tell?? (hi hi hi!)

Jenny Forbes wrote:

Does having a photograph with one's profile (whether flattering or otherwise) actually make any difference to views/responses/job offers, does anyone know?
My photo is me, a nice one, natch, and hence rather dimly lit, but someone here once suggested it looked like a "stock" photo. Should I be flattered - or annoyed?
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