??? about Release Forms.

[Pixel Popper]

Hi. I'm hoping some of you pros out there can help me with a situation I am suddenly facing. I have been a very serious amateur for years, but am now transitioning into turning my photography into a business. I still have lots to learn about the business aspects of the industry.

Quite recently, I have stumbled onto the opportunity to shoot a number of high profile events in the Washington, D.C. area. Chances are great that I will be getting candid shots of many dignitaries and VIPs in the coming weeks as they attend various fundraisers, corporate events, concerts, and such.

I have also made contact recently with some magazine editors who could potentially be interested in the images I make at these events. I understand that for these shots to be published, I need some kind of release from the person in the photograph, as well as their name, etc.

The question is this:

As I work alone without an assistant, what would you think is the most effective and time efficient method of gathering this required information? When I am in the heat of the moment shooting, I don't necessarily have the time or inclination to stop what I am doing to fill out paper work, especially if it means I am going to miss the next great shot.

In other instances, the person who is in the shot might well have wandered away and blended into the crowd, never to be seen again, before I can even ask for the required information.

How do you all who do this on a regular basis handle this portion of the work flow? Do you have forms, contracts, clipboards, pens and pencils strapped to yourself during the entire event? How do you make it as inobtrusive as possible?

I would love to hear any and all comments about this aspect of the business. Also, is there a standard release that one could download from somewhere to use as a starting point?

Thanks so much for your help.

-Howard

[dogwood]

Sounds like your end use of these images might be editorial and not commericial? In that case, you don't need a release (at least in the USA). These are public events right?

You can generally sell event photos like this too (prints and such) and make a profit. Keep in mind, what may seem like a 'profit' might only be covering your expenses too. What you can't do is use the images in say advertisements to sell cars or perfume or coffee-- but if they're just images saying, "Such and such attended this event" you're okay.

Take a look at ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers) for a good sample release.

Another great resource for day to day learning about this is www.photoattorney.com. It's a pretty broad subject that will take a bit to fully understand, and that site has all kinds of day to day examples about this kind of thing.

[wxwax]

Sounds like your end use of these images might be editorial and not commericial? In that case, you don't need a release (at least in the USA). These are public events right?

This is correct.

[Pixel Popper]

Thanks Sid and Pete. Public events? Well, I'm not technically sure what would qualify them as public. Some of them have a definite guest lists, which is to say, the average Joe cannot just walk in off the street. Others are ticketed events to which members of the general public could buy their way in.

Would that sort of thing qualify as public? Are there different legal matters for events that are considered a private affair? How do you make the distinction?

[dogwood]

Thanks Sid and Pete. Public events? Well, I'm not technically sure what would qualify them as public. Some of them have a definite guest lists, which is to say, the average Joe cannot just walk in off the street. Others are ticketed events to which members of the general public could buy their way in.

Would that sort of thing qualify as public? Are there different legal matters for events that are considered a private affair? How do you make the distinction?

Don't worry about the public event part-- I probably should have left that part out. It's the end use of the photos that matters-- if it's for editorial use, you don't need a release.

[Angelo]

Sounds like your end use of these images might be editorial... In that case, you don't need a release

:agree

[wxwax]

Don't worry about the public event part-- I probably should have left that part out. It's the end use of the photos that matters-- if it's for editorial use, you don't need a release.
:nod