Jaclynn at Huashan Culture Park Taipei. Model releases are essential for commercial usage of your images.

Model releases are legally binding, written agreements between you, the photographer, and any person that you are photographing. They serve to protect you from any possible future lawsuits that might arise should your subject later change their mind and claim invasion of privacy or defamation.

The basic adult model release is the most common type of release and applies to anyone over the age of eighteen (18). A person (model) by signing the release gives consent to be photographed and grants you permission to use those images. It applies to anyone in a photo, not just a professional model. Where possible, seek to obtain releases from everybody who appears in the photograph.

Having a signed, unrestricted model release allows you to use those images commercially in any way you see fit. Without a signed model release, your photographs are limited to being used for editorial purposes only; that is they cannot be used for advertising and/or other commercial endeavours.

A release basically says that a) the subject has granted permission to have their photo taken and b) they’ve received something of value in return. Both a) and b) are necessary to make the contract legal. That something of value in b) need not be monetary – it could be your efforts to get them published and the subsequent publicity, it could be vouchers for a movie or coffee, it could be prints or digital files for their portfolio. As long as it has value in the models eye, it meets the requirement.

Where possible, get your releases signed before the shoot takes place. With a professional model this is standard practice. If you’re shooting on the street, have a friend or assistant approach people before you photograph them and ask permission.

For people under eighteen, a minor model release needs to be signed by parents or guardians. I haven’t included an example of one here because child protection laws differ widely from place to place.

Here’s an example of a basic adult model release that you can view and download. If you use it, don’t forget to change my details to yours.

Additional Resources

Yuri Arcurs : What Is A Model Release

ASMP Professional Business Practices in Photography, 7th Edition

John Harrington : Best Business Practices for Photographers, Second Edition

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