When to use a model release form

Don't be scared or put off by the release form rule. We ask for releases to protect you and ourselves, and it makes your pictures available to a wider and more commercial market if they are released. You still keep the copyright of your picture. The release form belongs to you. You keep it. We just need a copy.

If you take a picture of a person in a public place then you are legally entitled to sell that picture.

The picture can be used for editorial purposes, i.e. newspapers, education, etc. without a model release being needed.

If the image is to be used for commercial purposes, i.e. to sell a service or a product, then a Model Release form does need to be signed and 'consideration' given to the model, i.e. money ( can be 50P if agreeable ), or copies of the photograph for example, in exchange for the model's rights to the photograph being waived. If you take the photo the copyright belongs to you anyway. It is up to the buyer of the picture to know whether they will need a Model Release Form for it depending on how they want to use the picture.

If you want to reach a wider market then you should try and get Model Release forms filled in for all your people pictures, with the exception of crowd shots. If you think you have a cracking photo but can't get a Model release for it, send it to us anyway and we may upload it for just non-commercial use.

picturenation asks you to submit a Release Form for any and all uploaded images that feature -

1. PEOPLE:

   Clearly indentifiable people (with the exception of crowd shots). Even if the subject of your picture is your partner or best mate, we still want a signed release. If you take several images of a person on the same day then you can submit one form from them as long as all the image IDs are written on the form.

   Pictures featuring minors (under age 18) must always have a signed Model release Form, signed by the parent/legal guardian of that minor. It is up to you the photographer to make sure the person who signs the form is who they say they are and is the legal representative of that minor.
   
   If you don't have a Model Release - and we do appreciate it's not always possible to get one - send your picture in anyway and we'll have a look at it. We have take images without MRs but it depends on the picture, the location, and us doing a bit of homework.

2. PROPERTY:

   Property ( houses / buildings ) which is the main subject of the picture and privately owned - i.e a fisherman's croft in an isolated and private area.
   
   You don't need a Property Release for all photos you take that feature buildings. The general rule is that if you are on private property and wish to take a photo of a building that would be the main subject of your photo then you will need to obtain a Property Release from the owner of that property. It is up to you to make sure the person signing the form is the owner of the property and not a tenant or other representative. If you are not sure whether you need a Property Release then send us your picture and we'll have a look.
   
   We need a release form for any and all interior building shots or we can't accept them as you are clearly on private property when you take the picture.

3. ART:

   Designs/sculptures/paintings/logos/works of art. These forms must be signed by the artist of the artwork even if the artist is the photographer submitting the picture. A child's drawing or painting can be submitted by the parent or legal guardian.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR SIGNED RELEASE FORM:

DON'T SEND US YOUR RELEASE FORMS UNTIL WE'VE CLEARED YOUR IMAGE FOR USE. As soon as we tell you your image is OK'd and waiting to be published then send us your forms with the picturenation ID given to that image.

When you've downloaded and filled in your release form - you can either post us a copy or scan it and e-mail us a copy. Make sure you put the image ID of each picture on the forms - the ID is the number the image has when it has been uploaded onto picturenation and is awaiting clearance. Your picture may not be uploaded onto the live site until we have a copy of the release form.

PAYING A MODEL

Sometimes you may not be able to get a picture unless you part with some cash to the model. It's a perfectly reasonable request on their part. Whatever agreement you make is up to you and does not concern picturenation. We would suggest, however, that on your Release Form you add a note about the payment that has been made and obtain the model's signature by way of receipt.

 

ALREADY HAVE SIGNED RELEASE FORMS OF YOUR OWN?

That's great. If you have your own, or you're a professional or serious amateur photographer who has their own stash of Release Forms already signed then let us have a copy for any relevant pictures you wish to submit. Please just make sure that they have all the information our own forms ask for or they could be useless.

Download your release forms here:

Release Type	doc Format	pdf Format
Model Release	Download	Download
Property Release	Download	Download
Art Release	Download	Download
Graphics Release	Download	Download

Then either scan them and e-mail then to us at

E-mail: release@picturenation.co.uk

Or post to

Address:

picturenation Ltd
Staffordshire University Business Village
72 Leek Road
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 2AR

Or fax to

Fax: 01782 442945