Model release

Last night i met my model for magazine Charlotte. This is the model release form for my photo shoot. I had to make sure that Charlotte was going be confident and unique in my photo shoot; also feel comfortable with being in front of the camera. This release form also states that, if necessary, a re-shoot is needed then the model is happy to take part in it. This illustrates that Charlotte, my model is pleased to take part in my photo shoot and is happy with me using images of her in my magazine. I decided to take three photos one of Charlotte holding the release form, Charlotte about to sign it; then a image of the released form signed.

A model release, known in similar contexts as a liability waiver, is a legal release typically signed by the subject of a photograph granting permission to publish the photograph in one form or another. The legal rights of the signatories in reference to the material is thereafter subject to the allowances and restrictions stated in the release, and also possibly in exchange for compensation paid to the photographed.

Publishing an identifiable photo of a person without a model release signed by that person can result in civil liability for whoever publishes the photograph.

In short, photo journalists almost never need to obtain model releases for images they shoot for (or sell to) news or qualified editorial publications. Photographers who also publish images need releases to protect themselves, but there is a distinction between making an imageavailable for sale (even via a website), which is not considered publication in a form that would require a release, and the use of the same image to promote a product or service in a way that would require a release.