Model Release Forms

Model Release Forms, as article 1 below states, are important if you want to make money off of the pictures you take. These releases range from the simple "I give you permission" statements, an example shown in article 1, to a more complex form that expressly states how the pictures can be used and defines the various terms such as the example from article 2.

As article 1 from the New York Institute of Photography states, a simple release form is better then no release form. The simple release does show that you got some form of permission from the model and can be enough protection for most people. However, the more precise you can be in your wording the better protected you are should a disagreement occur.

The tricky part with release forms is when they need to be used. If you want to be safe then you should always get a release form signed when you take a picture of someone and possibly when you take a picture of their property and pets. However, unless you are planning on selling the pictures commercially, you probably don't need to worry about getting a release form signed.

(1) http://www.nyip.com/ezine/techtips/model-release.html

(2) http://www.istockphoto.com/docs/modelrelease.pdf