When do you need a release form to publish photograph’s of people’s?
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When do you need a release form to publish photograph’s of people’s?
I am creating a self published book from photos that participants in the book will send me. This book will show the participants in various yoga poses so it will be educational in nature. Do I need a release form from the participants who send in their photos or is the email that they send back to me with the attached photos enough to protect me in the use of their image.
Asked on September 20, 2010 under Business Law, Maryland
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
You are wise to think of this first and before the book is published. You should seek help from an attorney in your area as to drawing up a release for the photo participants to sign and make sure that they do indeed sign it before you publish their picture. Everyone thinks how great it will be to be in a book, until they are the "don't" picture in the do's and don'ts. Or they look "too fat." Make sure that if you do use their photo to represent something that could be construed as negative that they understand that it is educational and meant to be critiqued. And maybe protect their image in some way from being a butt of criticism by blocking out their face, etc. Your ability to alter the picture in that way make need to be on the release as well. Good luck.
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