NOTICE: PROCEED WITH CAUTION

Don’t snap any pictures or make any video, with the intent to publish, without first protecting yourself. Learn how to use our real time media release consent form to secure permission to publish your photos and videos.

If you’re a small business, a non-profit, or a club/organization, you’re probably trying to use social media to grow. You might not be thinking about whom you need permission from before you publish photos or video on various platforms. The answer is EVERYONE. 

Media release forms are used when people, pets and property are photographed, and you want to publish the images. In this situation, you need to obtain a signed media release form from the subject of the photo, or, in the case of a minor, the parent or guardian.  Also, the owner of the pet or property featured in the images.  A media release does not give you permission to take the photo, but rather to publish it.

Requirements for publishing images

Anyone is allowed to take photos or videos of anyone or anything in a public space. If the photo/video is for personal enjoyment, nothing else is required, you don’t need a media release form or permission.

If you wish to publish or sell the photo/video, however, you will need a signed media release form that documents that permission was given by the subject, guardian of the subject, or the owner of the subject in the photo. Publish means that the photo will be used for promotional purposes. Without a signed photo release form, any promotional and commercial use is prohibited. The essential elements of a photo release form include:

• Full name of the subject or model
• Statement that expressly gives permission to use their likeness in any digital media format (e.g., photo, video, website and other web-related publications) without payment
• Right to digitally alter the image (if applicable)
• Release of any and all copyright ownership or claims
  

  

   

Use Release123 to streamline your media release form and more…

A permanent record of the executed release, a photo of the person executing the release, and a copy of the end media product forever maintained in your secure database.

Use your phone to secure the release at the time of your photo/video capture.  In real-time, as soon as the subject signs the form on your phone, an email of the release is sent to you and the subject.  Immediately, the executed release is filed in your database.  All while you are now capturing the photo/video you desired.