Amy Louise Taylor, lead singer of Amyl and the Sniffers, has filed a lawsuit against US photographer Jamie Nelson for allegedly selling photos of her without permission. The complaint, lodged in California's district court, claims Nelson exploited Taylor's image from a Vogue Portugal photoshoot by offering them as fine art prints and in a zine. Taylor asserts this violates her rights and harms her brand.
Amy Louise Taylor, the frontwoman of Amyl and the Sniffers, has taken legal action against photographer Jamie Nelson, accusing her of unauthorized commercial use of Taylor's likeness. The lawsuit was filed in the district court of California, detailing events that began in July 2024 when the band's manager, Simone Ubaldi, approached Nelson for a photoshoot tied to the band's upcoming album, 'Cartoon Darkness'. The initial shoot was canceled after the band explicitly stated they did not want their images used for personal promotion or merchandise sales, including fine art prints.
Later, Nelson proposed photographing Taylor specifically for the July 2025 issue of Vogue Portugal. Taylor agreed, but the agreement was limited to that exclusive magazine use. The photoshoot took place in May 2025. On September 4, Nelson emailed Taylor and Ubaldi with selected images, proposing to sell them as fine art prints on her website. Ubaldi immediately rejected this, clarifying that no license extended beyond the Vogue feature.
Despite repeated rejections, including a September 15 email from Ubaldi stating, 'We are not interested in a buyout of these images. If you had been transparent with her in advance of the shoot about your desire/intentions to sell the photos, she would have said no to the shoot,' Nelson proceeded. By September 20, Taylor discovered the images were being sold as prints and featured in a zine on Nelson's site, alongside promotions of her business. The complaint alleges this was done in retaliation and without permission, with Nelson's Instagram and Facebook still displaying the photos.
The filings emphasize Taylor's distinctive image—rooted in Australian pub rock with mullets, footy shorts, and 1970s punk influences—which has built her fanbase. It claims Nelson's actions could deceive fans into believing Taylor endorses the products, leading to lost profits and reputational damage. NME contacted Nelson for comment but received no response.
