If you’re planning on using photographic images of people for commercial reasons then you will need to have a signed model release. This simple contract covers typically one side of A4 paper and includes information such as the Photographer and Model contact details, a statement of how the images shall be used, and finally signatures of the parties involved sealing the contract. Model releases are easy contracts to draw up and this article sheds some more light on writing your own model release.
First: The Contact Details
First on a model release are the contact details of the photographer and model involved in the photographs. If you’re an aspiring professional photographer you could actually use your contact details as a header and below then add space for the model to write their own contact details in.
The Contract
The contractual part of the release can be very detailed and specific and cover a few paragraphs, or more generalised and simplified, simply summed up in a paragraph. This all depends on how the commercial use of the images intend to be used, and more on this aspect will be discussed in a later article. What matters most is that you clearly state your intentions over the images to cover any liability and also that it’s written out well for the model to understand.
Many model release start with a statement such as this: “In consideration of my engagement as a model, and valuable consideration herein acknowledged and hereby signing this release, I____(name of model)___ acknowledge _______(name of photographer)_______ as the photographer, give the photographer and assigns permission to…”
Further Reading
Why You Need a Model Release
A Model release is a contract that protect you and your model and are essential if any photograph is commercially used. Find out more about model releases here, this first article is a brief introduction to the model release
