What Is a Model Release?
A model release is a signed agreement giving a photographer permission to use images of a person for specific purposes, such as marketing or stock licensing.
A model release is a signed document in which the person photographed grants the photographer permission to use their likeness for specified purposes — a portfolio, marketing, or wider commercial licensing.
It matters most when images will be used beyond simply delivering them to the client themselves, such as in the photographer's own advertising or a stock photography submission.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a model release for standard client work?
For simply delivering photos to the person who booked you, generally not; a release matters when you want to reuse their image for your own marketing or wider licensing.
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