Photography Contracts, Model Releases and E-Signatures
A photographer sells two things: a day of work and the right to use the images afterwards. Most disputes are about the second one. Who owns the photos, where can the client post them, can you use them in your portfolio, and what happens if the client wants the raw files. Codec Document helps you put those answers in a contract the client signs when they book, alongside model releases signed on the day.
Copyright questions surface after the shoot, not before
A business client assumes that because they paid for the shoot, they own the photos and can license them to a partner. A couple assumes they can sell a portrait to a magazine. A model assumes their image will not appear in an ad. Under U.S. law, the photographer usually owns the copyright unless something in writing says otherwise, but assumptions do not read statutes. A contract that states ownership and usage in plain language prevents the argument and preserves the licensing income that often matters more than the session fee.
How it helps photographers
Booking contracts with a deposit
Date, hours, deliverables, delivery timeline and the booking deposit that reserves your calendar, signed before you turn other clients away.
Usage licenses in plain language
Personal use, social media, commercial use or exclusive license, stated clearly so the client knows what they paid for.
Model releases signed on set
Each person photographed signs a release on your phone or tablet, linked to the shoot, instead of on a paper form that gets lost.
Second shooter and assistant agreements
Make clear who owns images taken by your second shooter and how they may use them in their own portfolio.
Copyright transfers must be in a signed writing
Under the Copyright Act, the creator of a photograph owns the copyright unless the work is a work made for hire, as defined in 17 U.S.C. § 101, or the rights are transferred. A transfer of copyright ownership is not valid unless it is in writing and signed by the owner, under 17 U.S.C. § 204(a); an electronic signature can satisfy that requirement under the ESIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001. Rights of publicity for people in the images are governed by state law, for example New York Civil Rights Law §§ 50 and 51, which is why commercial use of a recognizable person generally needs a signed release.
The headshot on the billboard
A portrait photographer in New York shot headshots for a small business owner. A year later, the photos appeared on a regional billboard for a franchise the owner had joined. The photographer contract granted a personal and business-profile license only. Because the license was signed, the franchise paid a commercial usage fee instead of the photographer having to prove what had been agreed, and the owner apologized for not having read it more carefully.
What to put in writing when a client books
- The date, hours of coverage, locations and the number of edited images delivered.
- The delivery timeline and format, and whether raw files are ever provided.
- The usage license: personal, social, commercial or exclusive, and for how long.
- Your right to use images in your portfolio, and how the client can opt out.
- The booking deposit, the final payment date and cancellation terms.
- Model releases for every recognizable person when images may be used commercially.
Questions people ask about this
Can I get model releases signed on set?
Yes. Open the release on your phone or tablet, hand it to the model and they sign with a finger. The signed copy is stored with the shoot.
Can a minor sign a model release?
A parent or legal guardian should sign on behalf of a minor. Add the guardian as the signer on the release.
Can I include my usage license in the booking contract?
Yes. Most photographers include the license terms in the booking contract so the client agrees to them when they book.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. You can start free and upgrade when you book enough sessions to need unlimited documents.