Clients photos (new photographer - have questions)

[Kerbouchard]

A portfolio showcases your best images. Quality is much more important than quantity.

In order to use images made under controlled conditions that have people in them for self-promotion and self-publishing on a web site you use to advertise your service, you usually need permission from those people, in writing and kept on file, to do so. That is what a model release is for. Any person whose photo you use that you have not gotten written permission from can cause you legal problems.

That is not what a model release is for. Do you think I have a model release from every guest at the wedding I shot last night? Of course not, but I can put any of those images in my portfolio. Advertising yourself by showing work that you have created is not the same thing as using an image for commercial purposes.

Commercial purposes would be me selling one of those images to Macy's so they can advertise shoes.

 

[KmH]

The difference is because guests at the wedding are not shot under controlled conditions.

Technically, you do need a model release from anyone shot in wedding formals (controlled conditions) for self-promotion and self-publishing. The B&G can only sign a model release for themselves.

You have a model release written into your contract that the B&G signs, don't you?

 

[Kerbouchard]

There is nothing in copyright or usage law that differentiates between a shot under controlled or uncontrolled conditions. The only differentiation I am aware of is how the image is used and whether the subject is recognizable. You are just making crap up at this point.

Self promotion in a portfolio or a website is not considered commercial advertising. One of the big differences is you aren't implying that the subject is endorsing anything. You are just showing an example of your work. That isn't advertising.

 

[RTphotography]

Interesting Post thanks guys for the info!

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Ritty Tacsum - Experimental Photography photo gallery - a photo gallery powered by Photobox

 

[KmH]

You are just making crap up at this point.

ROTFLMAO.

Hardly. The source of my information is A Digital Photographer's Guide to Model Releases: Making the Best Business Decisions with Your Photos of People, Places and Things

What source do you use?

 

[CCericola]

You need to have some knowledge of marketing, promotion, salesmanship, customer relations, accounting, state and federal business tax requirements, state sales tax requirements, local business registration/licensing requirements, etc.

Or have enough capital to hire people that do have this knowledge.

 

[KmH]

Absolutely, but it's still prudent to know enough about each subject so you can tell if they know what they are doing, or not.