FREE 7+ Sample Photography Copyright Release Forms in MS Word | PDF

A copyright is a document granting exclusive rights to publish and sell literary, musical, or artistic work. Copyright is generally meant to protect the original work of an author, a photographer, a piece of art, a drawing, a book, etc. Owners of copyright have the exclusive right to make copies, distribute, or display their work publicly. Any act that leads to the infringement of a copyright can be against the law.

Copyright is all about ownership and not possession. Technically, the person who takes the photo will automatically have ownership of the image; however, if a photographer, for example, has sold a photo’s copyright to an organization or is shooting as a contractor for an organization, then the copyright of the photo no longer belongs to the photographer but rather to the organization and will not result to copyright infringement.

Photography Image Consent Copyright Release Form

Sample Photo Copyright Release Form

Photography Copyright Release Form Example

Printable Photography Copyright Release Form in PDF

When dabbling into photography and professional imagery, determining the ownership of an image is crucial. A photo copyright release form indicates the creator of the photograph and the people who are allowed to use the image whether for profit or nonprofit purposes with the photographer’s permission.

There is no standard form for a photo copyright release form. In fact, you can download sample forms for photo copyright release forms online. Our Sample Forms offers templates for Photographer Release Forms, Photography Consent Forms, and photo copyright release forms.

A photo copyright release form should be notarized and approved by an attorney to make it enforceable. Below are some tips on how to make a foolproof photo copyright release form:

Use Proper Formatting

A photo copyright release form is a form of business document and should be written using the formal format of a business letter. Provide a letterhead to your copyright release form; be sure to use a paper type that clearly displays the photographer’s logo, business name, and address.

Indicate Ownership Details

Provide necessary details about the owner of the copyright. If the photographer owns the image, he should indicate his full name and signature. If the photographer works for a studio, the business name of the studio has to be indicated in the form as well.

Digital Photography Copyright Release Form

Photography Copyright Release Form in PDF

Commercial Photography Copyright Release Form

Photography Copyright Consent Release Form

Provide Imagery Details

Provide a description and a name of all the images that are to be released by indicating the digital file name or the film strip ID as well as a visual description of the image.

Explain Terms of Usage

Supply details about terms or limitations related to the use of the photo such as allowing them to use the photo for media publication or marketing and advertising purposes. Also, include exact details as to who can use the photos and the length of time they are allowed to use it.

Photo Credits

Some photographers wish to be given credit for their images even though the photo has been released.

As soon as you are done whipping up your photo release form, have an attorney evaluate your form and make sure to have it notarized by a notary public.

To help you save time, you can download our Photo Copyright Release Forms and Photographer Release Forms. Other photography-related Sample Forms such as Photography Consent Forms are also available for download.