Model release for regular photo stock? Yes, you need one. If you do a photograph of a person or with a person in it and want to sell it, you need to ask for a model release.
A model release allows you to sell the photo, it gives you appropriate rights for doing that. Also serious magazines and newspapers will ask you whether you have a model release for a photo, otherwise it’s a great change that it will not be published.
This is what I thought. (By the way, I still want to find how a “model release” or its template looks like. May be there is a variety of them?)
So till now I was convinced that any time you photoshoot a person or people you almost always must ask for the model release. (For me it sounds like a… difficult task, you know :-) )
If you are like me and still learning “photo things”, you probably is also subscribed or read different photo tips and information. In one of today’s readings one term attracted my attention – “editorial“.
The article was about something else, but between line it was saying that you need a model release for regular stock, but you don’t need it for editorial.
“Hmm… interesting…”, I thought.
What is editorial? Below is what I found about this.
Commercial stock photographs are used in ads, promotional brochures, posters, etc. that advertise and/or endorse products or services.
“Musts” for these images usually include: healthy, wholesome models; politically correct subject matter; this year’s trends, hues and colors.
These photos frequently are taken on assignment, or they come from files of stock photos that depict standard catalog images: waterfalls, sunsets, striking scenics, clouds, contrived family settings like a young couple picnicking in a city park or healthy-looking senior citizens cycling through colorful autumn leaves.
Model releases are required for commercial stock photos, since their purpose is to endorse or help sell something.
(source: www.photoaim.com/gen599.html)
What Are Images For Editorial Use Only?
These are images that can be used only for illustrating non-advertising materials in press or electronic editions. Usually such pictures are used in news.
Also “editorial use only” of image means that microstock doesn’t have rights to license this image for commercial use. To do so microstock has to have special documents.
If there is a recognizable person on the image then author of this image has to supply microstock with model release – a document allowing commercial use of the picture. And model release must be signed by person on the image.
If there is some object on the image and rights to this object belong to somebody else (for example, Ferrari vehicle with its unique design and logo) then author of this image has to supply microstock with property release – a document allowing commercial use of the picture.
And property release must be signed by person who has the rights to object on the image. So to license images with Ferrari car for commercial use microstock has to have property release signed by Ferrari.
That’s why if microstock has model or property release then it can license such image for commercial use.
If microstock doesn’t possess such documents then this image is marked “for editorial use only”.
(source: www.photobuyerguide.com/blog/500-what-is-editorial-license-editorial-usage-stock-images/)
How can an editorial image be used
An image with an editorial image can only be used in the following ways:
- In a newspaper or magazine article
- On a blog or website to describe an idea not to brand
- In a non-commercial presentation (video, slideshow)
An editorial image can only be used in ways where this is no personal benefit or commercial gain.
An editorial licensed image can not be used for the following:
- Any commercial purposes including advertising or promotions
- To receive any fees from a third party sponsor or endorsement
(source: www.stockphotosecrets.com/questions-answers/licensing/what-are-editorial-images-licences.html)
Now all is clear! The mystique of Editorial usage is uncovered! Hooray!
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Do you have anything to add to this? Much appreciated!
