by
Usksider
@ Monday, May. 05, 2008 - 07:47:03
I joked with Batsman yesterday over the issue of model release forms and thought it may be useful to post something serious on that topic here.
What is a Model Release?
A model release is a legally binding agreement between the model and the photographer that assigns certain rights to both parties.
The photographer will always retain the copyright in the photos. Copyright is the exclusive right to make or permit reproductions. This includes the use of photographs on the Internet.
In its most basic form, a model release will state the photographer has permission to photograph the model and to use the photographs. It will also indicate the model has been paid and how much.
Here is an example Model Release Form.
Going Commercial?
If you want to ensure you can do as you like with your own images, model release forms are essential.
There are occasions when you can get away with not providing a form and use your images elsewhere, for example, when you have been commissioned to shoot for a particular publication. But beware you do have a somewhat implied contract with the model, so using the images elsewhere could upset both model and commissioning publication.
As a reportage photographer, you are pretty much freed from the restraints of release forms. Shooting images for news stories gives you a free rein, though only if it can be deemed to be in the public’s interest for the image to be seen.
In general though, always get a model release. A good example is in the case of stock image libraries: no library will accept a non-released image. This has become more important with time as online libraries mean images can be used abroad, and foreign privacy laws may be very different to those in the UK.
Photographer's Rights
I thought it useful to include here the Photographer's Rights in the UK guide by Linda Macpherson.
