Following industry standards, for any work that will appear in consumer or trade magazines, newspapers, or educational books, you generally do not need a model release. This is also true for photographic exhibits. These are considered educational/informational uses.

However, for photos that will be used in commercial applications - ads, brochures, posters, greeting cards, catalogs, postcards, kiosks, trade shows, Web sites, etc. - you will need a release from your subject in order to be "legal."

Some ask: "If you sell a photograph to a newspaper, is it now considered a commercial use since there was commercial gain?" or, "If you sell a print from an exhibit, is that commercial gain?" In theory, no. In practice, my photojournalist friends do not get releases; and my colleagues in the general editorial and fine art genres don't get releases very often, either.

In all these years, I don't know anyone personally who has had a legal issue regarding releases for these areas of photography. I have sold images for use in travel guides, and done many assignments for consumer magazines without needing to get releases. There are exceptions, however, such as corporate magazines.

by Edmund Curtbert

Edmund Curtbert- Professional photographer from New Zealand. He is the founder of world photographer junky club. He also as a world photographer communities. Owner of http://www.photographerjunky.com

About the Author

Edmund Curtbert- Professional photographer from New Zealand. He is the founder of world photographer junky club. He also as a world photographer communities. Owner of http://www.photographerjunky.com