The Model release may be one of the most important things you do whenever you are doing a photoshoot. This is a legal document and it gives certain rights to you as the model as well as rights to the photographer. It tells where and how the photos may be used and also discusses compensation in any form. Many photographers use a standard model release that can be found simply online many places. I find the standard release a little bit too full of legal mumble-jumble, so I rewrote a basic release into terms I believe are easier for the model and any concerned parties to understand.




You may sign the release either before the shoot or after. Although I usually do it after, many photographers require it before the shoot or else the shoot just won't happen. This happened to me once when I had 3 relatively new models refuse to sign a release. We all wasted our time and money getting to the shoot only to return home empty handed. I now try to make sure that any models I shoot now get a copy of the release several days before the shoot so if there are any questions we can make sure everything is clear before the day of the shoot.



If you are under the age of 18 you are going to need an adult, usually a parent sign the release for you. Keep that in mind when attending a shoot. If you don't take the model release form seriously, someday you may be looking at one of your photos either someplace very important with you getting no compensation, or worse; you might find your photo someplace you don't want to see it but have no recourse legally.



So - get your release, check it out, ask questions before you sign it and make sure to get a copy. One for you and one for the photographer at a minimum.



Phil Grierson, Photographer
Great Images Photography