How to draw up a model release?

jaieger · 07-12-2011, 10:49 AM

So, my friend and I did it. Put an ad up on Craigslist, and we got hired as photographers to take actor headshots for someone and to cover an event for someone else. Just one thing, though - what do we have to do to protect us and our images, from a legal point of view? Is a model release form necessary in either case, and if so how would we get one?

Thanks!

krypticide · 07-12-2011, 10:58 AM

Your images are already copyrighted, unless you explicitly sign away the copyright. However, you need a model release in order to sell the photos, assuming they are used in a way to advertise or endorse a product.

There are some good boilerplate model releases on the internet. Just Google it.

builttospill · 07-12-2011, 11:20 AM

If you're interested, send me a PM with your e-mail and I'll send you the model release I've used for years.

jaieger · 07-12-2011, 11:48 AM

Originally posted by krypticide

Your images are already copyrighted, unless you explicitly sign away the copyright. However, you need a model release in order to sell the photos, assuming they are used in a way to advertise or endorse a product.

There are some good boilerplate model releases on the internet. Just Google it.

Well we're going to photograph the event or the model and then sell the images to the event organizer/the model. Would we need a release form in either of those situations?

builttospill · 07-12-2011, 01:17 PM

You probably wouldn't need a release to sell a model photographs of themself. That wouldn't be any different than a person paying you to photograph them in your studio. However, if you plan on any financial gain through commercial purposes, or if you plan on posting photographs of the model anywhere online (here, your website, etc.), why not cover yourself and obtain a release? I get a release from all models I shoot even if I don't plan on selling the photos to other buyers, just to be safe.

CWyatt · 07-12-2011, 01:57 PM

Here are some ones from a New Zealand pro photographers' body:

Standard: http://www.nzipp.org.nz/NzippWeb/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=4sKVLACpqzU%3d&tabid=153

Quick: http://www.nzipp.org.nz/NzippWeb/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=oDHRsvEx6LY%3d&tabid=153

cwood · 07-13-2011, 08:03 PM

This is fairly industry standard and does not require modification

http://www.istockphoto.com/docs/languages/english/modelrelease.pdf

07-12-2011, 10:49 AM	#1
jaieger Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 586	How to draw up a model release? So, my friend and I did it. Put an ad up on Craigslist, and we got hired as photographers to take actor headshots for someone and to cover an event for someone else. Just one thing, though - what do we have to do to protect us and our images, from a legal point of view? Is a model release form necessary in either case, and if so how would we get one? Thanks!

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07-12-2011, 10:58 AM	#2
krypticide Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,079	Your images are already copyrighted, unless you explicitly sign away the copyright. However, you need a model release in order to sell the photos, assuming they are used in a way to advertise or endorse a product. There are some good boilerplate model releases on the internet. Just Google it.

07-12-2011, 11:20 AM	#3
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	If you're interested, send me a PM with your e-mail and I'll send you the model release I've used for years.

07-12-2011, 11:48 AM	#4
jaieger Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 586 Original Poster	Originally posted by krypticide Your images are already copyrighted, unless you explicitly sign away the copyright. However, you need a model release in order to sell the photos, assuming they are used in a way to advertise or endorse a product. There are some good boilerplate model releases on the internet. Just Google it. Well we're going to photograph the event or the model and then sell the images to the event organizer/the model. Would we need a release form in either of those situations?

07-12-2011, 01:17 PM	#5
builttospill Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Utah, Idaho Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,398	You probably wouldn't need a release to sell a model photographs of themself. That wouldn't be any different than a person paying you to photograph them in your studio. However, if you plan on any financial gain through commercial purposes, or if you plan on posting photographs of the model anywhere online (here, your website, etc.), why not cover yourself and obtain a release? I get a release from all models I shoot even if I don't plan on selling the photos to other buyers, just to be safe.

07-12-2011, 01:57 PM	#6
CWyatt Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,291	Here are some ones from a New Zealand pro photographers' body: Standard: http://www.nzipp.org.nz/NzippWeb/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=4sKVLACpqzU%3d&tabid=153 Quick: http://www.nzipp.org.nz/NzippWeb/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=oDHRsvEx6LY%3d&tabid=153

07-13-2011, 08:03 PM	#7
cwood Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: California Posts: 851	This is fairly industry standard and does not require modification http://www.istockphoto.com/docs/languages/english/modelrelease.pdf