model release

[E.M]

Hi all , I have a question about model release . I am a part time photographer , mainly doing classic car shows . Sometimes there is a model hired by the organizer and I have to make photos of her with the cars . I have no model release , but I know the organizer has some sort of agreement .

There are a few pictures that I want to use for my website or comercially , so I need a release . The organizer has bought all my photos ( I am actually hired for the job ) , but we have no agreement about copyright , so I guess I am the owner of my photos and they can use them all . Is it legal to get a release by email from the model , as she is living abroad ?

 

[hepcat]

You probably shouldn't have accepted the shoot without an agreement with the client, and you should, in fact, have gotten a model released signed before shooting. You're in a tenuous position on both issues. Email the model a release and ask her to sign it and snail-mail the original back to you.

 

[E.M]

Thanks for the reply . I work for this client for more than 10 years , the shoot with the model is just a small part of the show , and I have no knowledge of her before the event , which I am hired for . Normally I shoot everthing and give it all to the organizer , who then send it to magazines etc . Only in this case , I liked the photos of the model and would like to use them also for myself , which isn't a problem for the organizer , but might be for the model . I just wanted to know if someone knows if a positive reply on an email with attached photos would be enough as a release , or does it really have to be a signed paper ? Thanks again , much apreciated !

 

[Scrambler]

The element is consent, which can be communicated electronically, verbally, written, etc. You need to be able to prove consent, though, to third parties. Some sort of signature would be a good idea. I would consider using an electronic signing service. Email consent would be valid but you need to be able to show that it was the model in the picture that you communicated with. Much easier in person.

 

[E.M]

Thank you Scrambler . I 'm pretty sure the person I emailed with is the model , because we emailed a few times , and she is asking for the photos to use on her website . I promised her a dvd with high res photos which she can use , but I just want to keep the copyright of some , if not all .