Model releases

We've briefly covered an aspect of directing, which leads me onto this next topic - the model release.

I'll speak from the UK perspective, as respective laws in different countries vary. On my travels I adopt the "I'll get a model release form signed if in doubt" approach.

In the UK it's not a legal requirement to have signed release forms. For example if you are hired to take images for a wedding, modelling portfolio or for a portraiture session, it's advisable to have the terms agreed to prior to payment. The photographs belong to the photographer with the UK law, who has the right to do anything, from publishing them without recompense for the model.

Street photography and candids are again images that belong to the photographer. However it is courteous behaviour to either seek permission to take an image, or to take the image then let the subject know what you've taken, and if they object. Private property is treated the same as a person, and consent ought to be sought prior to photography.

For photojournalism, this same approach applies - if you're capturing people at an event, let's say something sporting, or a speech, there will be prior agreement for your presence to photograph from the publication you're working for or if freelancing, by calling up the organisers in advance. But those photos from the event are yours unless the organisers impose restrictive conditions for photography, such as all images are restricted to being published only in the publication you work under, or have agreed to work for and cannot be sold for profit.

Therefore the model release form might appear to be rather limited in scope (and photographers are less likely to be sued and are sadly now more likely to be stopped by police in public - a topic that will deserve a post of its own). However I should cite areas where its use could be useful.

If you're taking images of children, seek prior permission with the parent(s) or guardian and have a model release formed signed. And if images are going to be submitted for stock photography, many sites now require written release documentation for their own protection.

As mentioned, laws are different from country to country, and so I use release forms whenever in doubt. The one I now use is from Getty Images. You can find a brief overview on how the release form works as well as collection of release forms in different languages from the link below.

http://contributors.gettyimages.com/article.asp?article_id=991