On 8/2/2013 12:51 PM, Bill wrote:
Better than nothing. Unless you and the model are actually friends,
having an assistant along is a good idea. Often, models will want to
bring an escort for their "safety", having an assistant has the same
effect on your safety.
Yeah, I'd be operating from the assumption that any model would insist
on bringing an escort, particularly on a first-time shoot with a
photographer. In fact, I'd question the judgment of any model who didn't.
Model releases are good for photographers who are potential dickheads
in my mind, but I don't, as a rule, do things with pictures that would
embarrass the models. A good model release gives you the ability to
tell the model to go pound sand if she decides she doesn't like your
usage. Of course, if you are that type of photographer, you will stop
getting models willing to work with you in a hurry as well.
Usage agreements give the models certain rights, the fewer rights you
give, the more prickery you can pull down the road. Again, these are
good if you tend towards dickheadedness, as when the model instagrams
one of your images, you can point out that she can't do this and
threaten to sue.
You might win a very expensive battle, and lose the war.
I have never bothered with model releases or licensing agreements. I
think the whole tying these sorts of things up with contracts is
somewhat arrogant, and I won't get involved. The model has just as
much skin in the game as the photographer (sometimes a lot more
depending on the type of shoot), and I put their interests ahead of my
own. Any files I hand over to the model have shared copyright written
into the EXIF data, so the model has equal ownership of the images.
I could sympathize with any model who insisted on a written
release/contract given the proliferation of "girlfriend/boyfriend
revenge" and other sketchy sites on the web these days. It's something
I'd rather not have to deal with, and I always try to be as
accommodating as I can when it comes to how they choose to use the
photos I produce, but I can understand anyone being wary. I also think
it's probably a good idea to have a release form signed in the event a
model tries to get prints made from a CD and runs into trouble getting
the printer to do it. I had that issue about a month ago when a mom
tried to get prints of her daughter made at Walgreen's. She used the
watermarked, low-res shots I sent to her on Facebook, which prompted the
lab to have her call me while she was there and grant permission over
the phone. (I would've happily provided her with a CD with the
non-watermarked shots, but I guess she was a little anxious to get
prints made and didn't want to wait.)
YMMV, your culture isn't as trusting as mine, and tends to be more
litigious and confrontational in this regard.
Unfortunately, there's virtually no penalty for vexatious litigants down
here. On the other hand, I live in a fairly small town where lawyers
aren't too keen to take up cases that don't guarantee obscene payouts
from big corporate entities. Also, I know most of those lawyers
personally from having worked in the court system in the past.
Sometimes, small-town life has its advantages.
-- Walt
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