Amy Taylor sues photographer over alleged misuse of Vogue Portugal images

Amy Taylor, the Australian singer and frontwoman of the punk band Amyl and the Sniffers, has filed a federal lawsuit in California accusing a Los Angeles–based photographer of improperly selling and promoting images from a magazine shoot that Taylor says were licensed for single editorial use only.

The complaint, filed December 22 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, names photographer Jamie Nelson and her studio as defendants. Taylor alleged violations of the federal Lanham Act, California’s statutory right-of-publicity law, and common-law misappropriation of name or likeness.

Taylor alleged in court documents that she agreed to a photo shoot in May 2025, understanding the images would be used exclusively in the July issue of Vogue Portugal.

The dispute began in July 2024 when the band’s manager, Simone Ubaldi, contacted Nelson to shoot the band and its members for an upcoming album, future documentaries and the band’s “special edition artwork.”

The band and Nelson allegedly went back and forth for months but never conducted that shoot. Taylor alleged that the band told Nelson it did not want her to use the pictures she took in gallery shows, sell prints of them or use them to promote her photography business.

Such practices are routine in editorial photography, where photographers typically retain the right to sell prints, exhibit work and promote their portfolios unless restrictions are agreed to in advance.

But in March 2025, Nelson allegedly reached out to Taylor to ask whether the singer would be interested in posing for Vogue Portugal’s July issue in a May photo shoot. Taylor agreed to the shoot.

Taylor was not paid by the photographer or Vogue Portugal for the photo shoot, she said. It is not standard in editorial work for the subject to be paid. The lawsuit also said Taylor did not sign a written agreement governing the use of the images.

However, Taylor alleged that a limited, implied license for that publication was granted based on previous discussions with Nelson and did not authorize any additional commercial use of her name, image or likeness.

Taylor alleged that after the magazine was published, Nelson sent some photos to Ubaldi, indicating she intended to sell them as prints. Ubaldi allegedly told Nelson that Taylor objected to selling prints and a self-published zine of the photographs.

“It was our understanding that the images were commissioned by and for Vogue Portugal, and [Ms. Taylor] agreed to do the shoot on that basis only,” Ubaldi allegedly said in an email to Nelson.

“We are not interested in a buyout of these images... I cannot be clearer about this – [Ms. Taylor] does not want you to sell images of her face, or her body as fine art prints.”

Taylor alleged that despite those objections, Nelson continued to sell prints, market the zine and display the photos on her websites and social media.

The lawsuit alleged that Nelson “sought to sell images” of Taylor to fans of her work, and “not merely decorative photographs of an unnamed model.”

A cease-and-desist letter was sent to Nelson in November, according to the lawsuit. Nelson allegedly first indicated the images would be removed, then later declined to take them down.

Taylor seeks damages, disgorgement of profits, attorney’s fees, and injunctive relief, and has demanded a jury trial. Nelson has not filed a response as of the most recent docket entry. No hearing date has been scheduled.

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