Why Use a Photo Release Form?
There are times when, for professional reasons, you may need to use a photograph of a person for your material. It does not matter whether this is for print material or for your website – to safeguard yourself, have the person(s) sign written photo releases. It has happened that a person’s photograph has been used without his/her prior. Then the person comes back and sues for modeling fees, for invasion of privacy, or for other reasons. Back when I was teaching, many of the neighborhood’s families were in this country illegally. As teachers, all we knew was that these were children to be taught. One day, I took some pictures during a field trip and released the pictures to the local newspaper. As a result of that picture’s publication, the family was deported. I have always blamed myself for acting thoughtlessly. But newspapers don’t use photo release forms, you say? The rules are different for newspapers. You are not a newspaper. When having someone sign a photo release, give the pers
