Photography is a fun hobby for most people and for some like me it is a way of life. Whether you are a random enthusiast playing with vacation pictures or a professional photographer, you need to be aware of who has the rights to your pictures and even if you have the rights to take it or use it once it’s been taken.
Doses one even have the right to take a picture? Anyone can take a picture on public property such as a street or sidewalk, but since September 11, 2001 places have been restricting camera use (Masoner, 2011). Places like the Milwaukee Art Museum require one to summit a request and review on a case-by-case basis, though their stated requirements are more geared toward larger and invasive productions. The building it’s self is copyrighted to the architect Santiago Calatrava, and much are the art work in the museum has copyrights owned by the artist so the use of the photographs once taken is still limited.
Buildings and structures that are copyrighted need a model release, especially if they are the subjects of the photograph. Like wise, a photographer and/or publisher need a model release for and person as a subject in a photograph. There are some loopholes and certain conditions where they are not necessary, but it is always best to be safe and get permission before any photograph is published or sold.
With all that hassle to make sure a photographer is not taking someone else’s work no wonder they flip when clients and internet users rip off their work. The photos taken can get the photographer in a lot of trouble. It can also cause blemishes to the photographer’s reputation and brake privacy laws between client and photographer. Though the photo copied may seem like the client saves a few buck, but it can cost the photographer thousands, as well as the thief who stole the photograph .Bet the $30 8X10 no longer seems too expensive compared to the $1000 fine a copy could cost. Bottom line be safe and get permission.
By: Mandy S. Chenoweth, BFA Owner of Focal Point Imaging http://focalpointimaging.org/ and Member of the Professional Photographers of America http://www.ppa.com/
Works sited
Biehl, Kathy. (2006, Febuary 7). Bloggers Beware: Debunking Nine Copyright Myths of the Online World. LLRX.com. Retrieved from http://www.llrx.com/features/bloggersbeware.htm
DSLRBlog Editors. (2009, April 6). Do you need a model release?. DSLRBlog. Retrieved http://dslrblog.com/do-you-need-a-model-release/
Masoner, Liz. (2011, April 15). Photographers Faced with Confusing Regulations. About.com. Retrieved from http://photography.about.com/b/2011/04/15/photographers-faced-with-confusing-regulations.htm.
Milwaukee Art Museum. Retrieved on 2011, May 7 from http://www.mam.org/info/policies/photo-film-permission.php
