Model Release Questions

photocat

I am still confused about those releases forms...
If you are on a fair for instance, and you shoot there, people you don't know, does it mean that they can not be sold or used to be sold to a magazine if you don't have a release form?
How do the release form relate to street photography?
Is it so that you can not sell a photograph of NY city to a magazine if there are people on the street that you have no release form off?
How do you tackle this in reality? Do people have a stack of 100 release forms in a backpack to give out?
Any insight on toddler level would be appreciated... and I hope this is the right spot to bring this question up...

Foochar

photocat wrote:

I am still confused about those releases forms...
If you are on a fair for instance, and you shoot there, people you don't know, does it mean that they can not be sold or used to be sold to a magazine if you don't have a release form?
How do the release form relate to street photography?
Is it so that you can not sell a photograph of NY city to a magazine if there are people on the street that you have no release form off?
How do you tackle this in reality? Do people have a stack of 100 release forms in a backpack to give out?
Any insight on toddler level would be appreciated... and I hope this is the right spot to bring this question up...

I'm in the U.S., so my explanation is U.S. centric, it may not apply exactly to you. First off for a very thorough discussion of model releases (again U.S. centric) take a look at http://www.danheller.com/model-release. The summary version is that if you are going to use the image for commercial purposes - to advertise for a product, or to sell a product (mug with the picture on it) - than you need a model release. If the image is going to be used for editorial purposes, - as part of newspaper or magazine article - than you do not need a model release. The editorial exception does not apply to a place where someone has a "reasonable expectation of privacy" including in a bathroom or dressing room, on their own property if the location is screened or otherwise shielded to prevent visibility from the street and other publicly accessible locations or set far enough back that a substantial telephoto lens or substantial magnification and image enhancement would be required.

Angelo

photocat:

this topic has been addressed many times and there's a ton of info available for you...

The 3rd "sticky" post at the top of the Mind Your Own Business forum is dedicated to Photog Resources, including legal issues.

Have a poke about in there for some answers.

dogwood

Foochar wrote:

I'm in the U.S., so my explanation is U.S. centric, it may not apply exactly to you. First off for a very thorough discussion of model releases (again U.S. centric) take a look at http://www.danheller.com/model-release.

Yes-- this was the link I was going to post too. Well worth the read even if you think you understand releases! Lots and lots of good info here-- with the main point being, "It all depends on each individual circumstance".