- Joined
- Apr 9, 2009
- Messages
- 41,401
- Reaction score
- 5,706
- Location
- Iowa
- Website
- kharrodphotography.blogspot.com
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Basically, the above is incorrect and/or incomplete information, except, "The fact that they haven't signed the releases and that they haven't relinquished commercial control to you doesn't mean that you don't own the photographs...' and "Your clients absolutely don't own any rights to those photos... you do."The fact that they haven't signed the releases and that they haven't relinquished commercial control to you doesn't mean that you don't own the photographs... it just means that you can't use them for private gain until you're given permission to do so.
Think of it this way... picture this... you to take a photo of a random guy on the street. You like the photo, but he refuses to sign a release form. There's nothing illegal about you possessing that photo... you just can't really use it for anything. See what I'm saying?
Your clients absolutely don't own any rights to those photos... you do. It's just that, if they won't sign a release, you probably shouldn't use them for ANYTHING, even non-commercial display, just in case. Now, whether or not they'd like to buy prints relies on them giving you commercial control, in the form of a release, which allows you to legally sell their pet's likeness in those photos... to the client, on stock agencies, whatever.
I suggest you start here: Model Release Primer
And then get Dan's book: A Digital Photographer's Guide to Model Releases.