A Digital Photographer's Guide to Model Releases: Making the Best Business Decisions with Your Photos of People, Places and Things - Softcover

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Dan Heller has been a freelance photographer and photo industry analyst for over ten years - a career that started when he put his photos on his Web site, www.danheller.com. His work has been featured in publications from news and business media to fine art books.

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Looking to sell your photos? First, take this quiz!

• Do I need a release for a photo of someone I took in public?

• Should I get a release even if the person is unrecognizable?

• Is a release necessary if I make a profit selling a photo of a person?

• Do I need releases for photos of buildings?

• Are releases necessary for pictures of people from other countries?

• I took a lot of pictures as a hobby, and now I want to sell them. Do I need releases for all my people pictures?

• If I have no plans for a photo when I take it, should I get a release anyway?

• Does it make a difference if the subject was paid to be in the picture?

Give yourself one point for "Yes," and two points for "No." In fact, make it three points. If you scored higher than zero, you have a lot to learn about model releases, because you can't answer these questions without more information. How will the photo be used? By whom? Can the subject be associated with an idea, product, or service? Until you know that, the question of releases can't be answered.

As the photographer, you need to understand your buyer's concerns in order to make savvy decisions about how you market your photos and to whom. Here's how to make money from all your photos, whether or not they have releases, by understanding the business aspects of the law.