Your photo becomes a meme, wdyd?

[DDTJRAC]

None of this addresses the OP's question. What to do about the misappropriation of his work?

Memes have a life of their own. Almost impossible to know the maker of the meme or keep track of their use.
But if a meme generator is using your photo, maybe you can get it removed.

 

[KyleMika]

If you start to take legal action, it's very possible that the public might catch wind and get upset (even though you are in the right). I personally would weigh that a lot (bad PR), and if the meme seemed to help my other work or notoriety then I would strongly consider making the work public domain.

 

[DDTJRAC]

Meme makers don't care about the source of the photo or art. They are interested only in the message. They take whatever they find on the internet and reform it to fit what they want to say. Something akin to graffiti artists. Some of them are artists in their own right and make it from the start. But most take others work and reform it.

As what was said...if you are worried someone may appropriate your work and make a meme from it...don't put it on the internet.

 

[benveniste]

I created a meme with one of my shots, but that doesn't count.

I have had one of my shots from just about 20 years ago pirated pretty extensively. Since I shot it for a non-profit, and the non-profit didn't mind, I pretty much ignore it unless someone else claims credit.

 

[kl122002]

I don't think my pics would be a meme, since most of them are on films . But seriously, I don't know whether my son, friends or else would post them on internet later .
My very only hope is the subject on the picture doesn't being hurt in his/her life, if that includes a person.

 

[Don_ih]

What to do about the misappropriation of his work?

Nothing. There is nothing that can be done. It's even doubtful the creator of the work could cash in on the popularity of the meme - especially since memes are popular for about 4 seconds in real-world time. (That's about how long it takes to see, laugh, share, and then forget about it.)

Memes are a way our society publicly farts.

Not to tempt fate for being "argumentative," but that kind of blase attitude is what allows sophistry to work its magic. You may think those things are innocuous, but they provide a subtle yet compelling way to gain direct access to the belief system of unguarded people.

 

[Vaughn]

I do not assume that farts are innocuous...

 

[bjorke]

Raise my prices.

 

[Pieter12]

Don't get your panties in a wad. You shouldn't give a flying f.