What does MODEL RELEASE mean?
To enclose photographers from complaints of photo models was made so-called model release. It is the document which is signed by photographer, model and witness (you don’t have to attest it anywhere). This document is necessary if there are some known faces or other parts of models bodies (for example, birthmarks or tattoos) by which one can define a person, they belong to. It is full coverage, even for strangers from the street. Every photobank has a template for writing of this document. Texts of everyone differ but you can use universal forms, which will be suitable for all photobanks. To take them you can follow these links:
Release of under aged model is signed by one of parents or tutor (it is desirable if another one will serve as a witness).
It must be signed in English, but it is necessary to make a copy in that language, which model speaks (it is foreseen in the form). It will help you to avoid problems with law.
Even if you make a photo of yourself or anyone makes photo of yours and you want to sell it, you also need a release. In this case you write it out for yourself. This release is an evidence that there are really you.
After being signed release must be scanned (photographed) and loaded with appropriate photos. You should have a release for every photo session, it will enclose you from models’ complaints, but some load few photo sessions with one release (photobanks don’t control this question). This should be your decision.
By the way, it is easy to fabricate release, they are not controlled. But I don’t recommend you to do it. Your secret with great likelihood will be opened, and then you won’t be able to avoid a court examination in the worst case. In the best case your portfolio just will be deleted, but the first variant happens more often. Even if there is your best friend or relative on the photo, no one knows what will be tomorrow. That’s why take real releases, if you don’t want to have troubles.
I just can add that data of release never get to purchasers of works.
This is an example of release:
All names and data are changed.
There is one more thing. It is editorial photo in microstocks. This is photo for the press; there can be limned strangers, politicians, meetings etc. In this case you don’t need a release. This is absolutely different category of photos, we won’t touch it yet.
So, we gain an understanding of taking photos.
What about illustrations, you also have to save all sketches. Some photobanks don’t believe that it is possible to draw something “from the head”. There always must be sketches in pencil. Scan it and load instead of release with illustration. If you have copied it from a photo, then you must have a release of this photo. This is currently, for example, for the microstock istockphoto.com. We will work with it, so prepare your sketches.