Photographic Release Forms - Taking pictures of people in public

leinsterman

I have an assignment to do for my NCAD photography course involving a shoot. The lecturer used the term "social documentary" ... not 100% sure what what she means by this yet ... but I'm guessing the subject I pick will involve a good bit of people photography.

I have a few questions -

- Anyone know what a social documentary involves ? ... links to good examples would be great!!

Since I will be shooting people I think I may need to consider using a photographic release form of some kind to protect me from being sued by my subjects.

- Has anyone had any experience with these ?
- How do people react when asked to sign one ?
- Any tips for getting people to sign ? ... I presume offering copies of the pictures is a start.
- Can you send me a template ?

Thanks in advance.

Fajitas!

You won't need them if the people are in public, you're not using them to make a profit from, and you're not hiring the model.

Public areas are open game!

I'm on a college computer at the moment, but I'll link up a blog about it tomorrow if someone dosn't beat me to it.

leinsterman

Fajitas! wrote:

You won't need them if the people are in public, you're not using them to make a profit from, and you're not hiring the model.

Public areas are open game!

I'm on a college computer at the moment, but I'll link up a blog about it tomorrow if someone dosn't beat me to it.

Thanks Fajitas ... may give you a call thursday night if you are around ... one of us (usually me) always seem to be in a rush when we meet ... any news on the next field trip ... I got a 100-400mm L coming this weekend ... acheing to get it working ...

Fajitas!

This weekend eh?

There's an alley off Thomas St, I'll meet your there. Come alone. Bring your new lens...



I have to go back home to Waterford early this weekend, so I'll be gone early enough on Thursday, but I'll see ye Mon?

mdebets

Sorry leinsterman for hijacking you thread, but I have a few questions about the release form.

Am I just allowed to take a picture of someone or am I'm also allowed to publish it (e.g. on flickr) with out a releas form, if I don't make aprofit from it?
What about competitions? Do I need a release form if I wan't to enter it in a competition or does this depend on the price money?
Do I need a release form for people in the background or just if they are the focus of the picture?
Are there exemption for prominent people?

Thanks

leinsterman

Hijack away ... those questions concern me also ...

Fionn

I'm sure social documentary could mean images without people too.. i would imagine it would be relating to something that could include a series of photographs that might document a certain aspect of our society or perhaps a lifestyle or culture or something!!
don't have any links tho! just guessing
If your shootin people for most stock photography crowds you need a release form for each identifiable person in the photograph.
Some of the stock photography sites have a release template that you can download.
Personally if i shoot a street scene with people in it thats it..they're in it, it's a public place, I've taken photographs of prominent people, i'm sure thats why they were there anyway.
I guess if there's children about it's a good idea to at least check with the parents or guardians if it's ok to include them. Sometimes thats not always possible because in crowd scenes you'll only realise once you've processed the photographs.

there are places that won't allow you to shoot at certain times or not at all and sometimes it all depends on what your going to do with the photograph, like for instance the Eiffel Tower there's restrictions on photographing it at night I think for publishing.
In the US it's worse, try photographing a bridge there and the paranoia police and homeland security officials will descend on you like a ton of bricks same goes for federal buildings, subways (even tho you are officially allowed to photograph without tripod and lighting epuipment) unofficially you might be intimidated by some over zealous commissar to cease and desist in that land of the bold and the free . There's a few sites on flickr devoted to the state of photography in the United States. - scary stuff.

Fajitas!

Am I just allowed to take a picture of someone or am I'm also allowed to publish it (e.g. on flickr) with out a releas form, if I don't make aprofit from it?

Technically if someone along the way makes money, afaik, you *should* have a release form. By that, it could be the publisher of a book, even if it wasn't for profit. It's a very grey area in the law. Afaik, as I said.

What about competitions? Do I need a release form if I wan't to enter it in a competition or does this depend on the price money?

I shouldn't think so.

Do I need a release form for people in the background or just if they are the focus of the picture?

If they're obscured by being out of focus, I should think not.

Are there exemption for prominent people?

Technically not.

I should be on my own laptop come tomorrow morning. Get that link up here! As I said, this is all as far as I know! Could be completly wrong.

B0rG

cartier bresson

digitalage

Leinsterman would you not take a differenet angle, then approach people and ask them would they allow you to photograph them over a few days, ie a drug addict, street trader, an alcohlic, a garda, a crafts person, a runner preparing for the marathon etc. This is would be an insit into todays social activitie. If you can get your hands on this book http://www.aperture.org/store/books-detail.aspx?ID=77 it will give you an idea of what I mean. This is the angle I would take on this assignment.

leinsterman

digitalage wrote:

Leinsterman would you not take a differenet angle, then approach people and ask them would they allow you to photograph them over a few days, ie a drug addict, street trader, an alcohlic, a garda, a crafts person, a runner preparing for the marathon etc. This is would be an insit into todays social activitie. If you can get your hands on this book http://www.aperture.org/store/books-detail.aspx?ID=77 it will give you an idea of what I mean. This is the angle I would take on this assignment.

To be honest I have not yet even begun to think about the angle I will take for this assignment ... I want to do some research on other's approach to it and then explore different ideas ... so your post is very welcome ... thanks

Fenster

I'm in the US and I've done a fair bit of candid photography in the past two months. You don't need any sort of release although discretion is sometimes advised - The point of candid photography is that it's a person doing their thing and getting in their face with a camera defeats the purpose.

You can take photos of pretty much anyone or anything you want in Ireland, if they are in public. If they are in a place where they've a reasonable expectation of privacy you can still snap a photo AFAIK, but you cannot publish it without their permission.

Dunno, someone mentioned the US was zealous about no-photography. I saw a fair few signs and mostly laughed at them as they weren't enforcable.

Fionn

this is where i read about the US

http://www.popphoto.com/popularphotographyfeatures/2668/the-war-on-photographers.html

paudie

So what about gig shots. Am I meant to get the crowd's permission if I sell a shot from the gig that they are in?

Is this a legal thing or more of a courtesy thing?

Fajitas!

Nope, has to do with the venue & band! (Legally)

http://www.digitalrights.ie/2006/05/09/photographers-rights/

Give that a browse over.

leinsterman

Thanks for the tips all ...

I am thinking of doing something on emigrants in Ireland ... working title ... The New Land of Opportunity ... now I need to figure out how to convince the imman at the SCR Mosque to let me shoot a few snaps without causing offence ... or try to make myself understood to a bunch of Poles at a building site ...

Fajitas!

Pretend to be a tourist OR get a hi-vis jacket.