Model Releases When you take pictures of people and you intend to market and sell these pictures to the public, you need a model release to ensure that you have the right to do so. The model release is a legal document that is intended to accomplish this purpose. While this is a legal issue, it is considered here as a technical part of the overall photographic process. Unless you intend to keep the pictures to yourself, you cannot publish nor sell these images without having a properly executed model release. While I am not a lawyer, these model releases have served me well; as they have worked for others as well--including the models. Don't be surprised if a model wants to change part of the writing. Be sure to have the model read your release before the shoot. Work out any differences at that time so you won't be unduly surprised or disappointed after you have gone to great lengths to arrange a shoot, only to find that the model disagrees with part of the release form. I think that there are essentially two types of release situations to consider and one distinguishing issue for each type. First are the releases for situations where you have a person clearly identified and want to be able to sell or publish their image. A fashion shoot, candid, or some such situation comes to mind. The second case pertains to glamour shoots, nudes, and fine art figure photos. Nudes and fine art figure place the model in a different perspective. While I do not see any artistic difference, I try to avoid any opportunity for distinction and difficulties associated with nude-form images. Lastly, the distinguishing issue for each release situation is whether the release includes compensation or not. Photo Model Release   I, _________________ give Shutter Speed, photographer, permission to use photographs which were taken of me on ____________, in ways to be determined by photographer, including displays, exhibitions, and publications or other use without further compensation to me or approval by me. __________________ _______________ Model's Signature Date Print Name ___________________ Address ______________________ ______________________ Phone _______________ Model Release Agreement Date _____________   To: ______________________________ Photographer ______________________________ Address ______________________________ For valuable consideration, I hereby irrevocably consent to and authorize the use and reproduction by you, or anyone authorized by you, of any and all photographs which you have this day taken of me, in negative or positive form, for any purpose whatsoever, without further compensation to me. All negatives and positives, together with the prints, shall constitute your property, solely and completely.   I am over 21 years of age. ____________ Yes or No.   _________________________ _________________________ Model's Name Model's Signature Address: ____________________ ____________________ Phone: _____________ Witnessed by: ___________________ ______________________ Name Signature   If the model is under the age of 21 years, the following section must be completed.   I hereby certify that I am the parent or guardian of __________________, the model named above, and for value received I do give my consent without reservations to the foregoing on behalf of him or her or them.   Dated: _______________ ________________________________ signature or parent or guardian   Witnessed by: _________________ _____________________ name signature Model Release   For valuable consideration as listed below, I hereby give the photographer: Gary Gaugler, D.B.A. Optical Reflections and PhotoWeb his legal representatives, and assigns, the right and permission to copyright and/or use, publish, and reuse and republish photographic pictures or portraits made of me in which I may be distorted in character or form, representing my own name or a fictitious name, through any media and for whatever purpose the photographer chooses. I hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless the photographer, his representatives, assigns, employees, or any person or persons, corporations, acting under the permission of the photographer, including any firm publishing or distributing the finished product, even though the finished product may be distorted, blurred, altered, or used in composite form, either intentionally or otherwise and subject me to scandal, ridicule, reproach, scorn, or indignity. I hereby waive any right to approve the finished photograph or any copy which might be used in conjunction with the finished photograph. I hereby warrant that I am over twenty-one years of age, and am competent to contract in my own name, insofar as the above is concerned. My compensation is to be as follows: $17.50 per hour, $50 minimum, for modeling on the following date(s):   ______________________ to _______________________ inclusive.   I have read the foregoing release, authorizations and agreement, before affixing my signature below, and warrant that I fully understand the contents thereof:   DATED: _____________________ SIGNED: ____________________________   ADDRESS:___________________ NAME: _____________________________   ___________________ PHONE: ____________________________   ___________________   Gary Gaugler: _________________ DATED: _____________________________ Model Release   For valuable consideration as listed below, I hereby give the photographer: Gary Gaugler, D.B.A. Optical Reflections and PhotoWeb his legal representatives, and assigns, the right and permission to copyright and/or use, publish, and reuse and republish photographic pictures or portraits made of me in which I may be distorted in character or form, representing my own name or a fictitious name, through any media and for whatever purpose the photographer chooses. I hereby release, discharge and agree to save harmless the photographer, his representatives, assigns, employees, or any person or persons, corporations, acting under the permission of the photographer, including any firm publishing or distributing the finished product, even though the finished product may be distorted, blurred, altered, or used in composite form, either intentionally or otherwise and subject me to scandal, ridicule, reproach, scorn, or indignity. I hereby waive any right to approve the finished photograph or any copy which might be used in conjunction with the finished photograph. I hereby warrant that I am over twenty-one years of age, and am competent to contract in my own name, insofar as the above is concerned. My compensation is to be as follows: $17.50 per hour, $50 minimum, plus Ten (10) percent of the gross proceeds of revenue derived from [sales of photographic prints of images of me which are sold via other advertising] and which were taken on the following date(s):   ______________________ to _______________________ inclusive.   I have read the foregoing release, authorizations and agreement, before affixing my signature below, and warrant that I fully understand the contents thereof:   DATED: _____________________ SIGNED: ____________________________   ADDRESS:___________________ NAME: _____________________________   ___________________ PHONE: ____________________________   ___________________   Gary Gaugler: _________________ DATED: _____________________________ You may want to modify that portion in itallic if you are doing something specific outside of the coverage of the agreement. All Photographs Copyright © by Gary Gaugler - All Rights Reserved - Use By Permission Only