A few Words About Needing a Model Release Form

Let me make this quick and easy. There may come a time when you are going to need to use a live model to create content; an image, video or other(?). If you do, heed my words… Have the talent/model sign a model release form. It will save you tons of headaches down the road. Ok?

I don’t care who it is – if they have a pulse and you both are collaborating on creating something from their likeness, they need to know who owns the creations and how much they are being paid. You need to know who they are, how to get in contact with them and if they have any limitations, restrictions or other demands on what you can do with the images. Even if it’s your partner, your lover or your kids. Get them to sign a release laying it all out.

Some people see it as a headache because “we are friends” or they are just going out with a model to shoot stuff for fun that may later be used for your website or YouTube channel. If you plan to use the images in a later project and they don’t know about it, you can be in for a world of financial hurt.

In my case, she wanted me to pull her image in the final creation. After she read the agreement, signed the agreement and was paid the money for the job and left. She thought she still had control over them just because it’s “The right thing to do!”. No, I needed a certain image. She agreed to give me that certain image. She was paid for providing me that certain image and she knew what this image was going to be used for (A client project). The right thing to not do a project with another person if you think you need to control it all.

A model release form is signed by the talent so the photographer has permission to license or use the image.

If you are doing what would be considered “adult” work, the need for documentation is even greater. You need to know stage names, email addresses, and list where the images are being used at (the location of use is filled out later as they are published)

For me, the document states: