What to Include in a Print Release as a Photographer

The second that the photos you take are saved to the memory chip in your camera, you are the owner of the copyright for those images. That means that a random person on the internet cannot legally find your images and use them on their website, blog, or social media. But it also means that your clients cannot do whatever they please with the images you shoot for them.

When you take photos for a client, you get to make the rules about whether or not your work can be reproduced, andhowit can be reproduced. This is why you want to ensure that your contract strongly spells out what you decide is allowable and what isn’t - so that you can back up your case should a client break the rules you’ve decided for your work. A great way to make sure that your contract does this and is clear is by having it include a print release.

What is a print release? 

A print release is part of your contract with your clients and it grants them the right to print and reproduce their gallery images for their own use. This allows you to retain the copyright of the photos you’ve taken and also allows your clients the ability to print and repost the images they love. It’s a win-win for everyone involved. 

Within your print release, be sure to outline the specific limitations such as size, quantity, and purpose of the prints, as well as whether your clients can repost on social media, reprint, and crop or re-edit the photos you’ve taken. 

What to Include in the Release

If you want to ensure that you’ve covered your work, you may want to include the following 4 clauses in your print release and contract:

1 - Names. Be sure that the names of both parties are included to identify who is granting permission and who is receiving permission.

2- Description of the Shoot.Outline where and when the shoot is taking place, as well as what images will be captured. 

3 - Terms. Make sure to include the specific terms of photo usage in clear and deliberate language so that your clients can easily understand what they are allowed to do and what they aren’t. Consider what printing rights you want to allow (such as size and quantity) as well as what posting and editing rights you want to allow. How and where can the images be shared, and are your clients allowed to re-edit or crop your work?

4 - Agreement Statement. This simply declares that the signee has read and agreed to the above terms. 

And finally, ensure that there are dated signatures for both you and the client because that’s what makes the contract valid. 

Want to make sure you’ve got a legally legit contract without hiring a lawyer to write one up for you? Check out our Print Release Template and have a simple-to-understand contract ready to send to clients in less than 10 minutes!

Other Releases You May Need

And, as a photographer, there may be some other releases that you should have in your contract stack to ensure you’re fully protected. 

Model Release Form. This ensures that you have permission to use someone’s likeness for commercial purposes. So, if you want to use the images you shoot in your marketing, you’ll want to make sure you have this covered.

Property Release Form. Similar to the Model Release Form, this contract gives you the ability to use images you shoot for commercial purposes. Specifically, if you’re shooting on private property, you’ll want to have this form in your contract or signed separately. 

Liability Waiver and Media Release. If you’re shooting at an in-person event and want to use someone’s image and likeness for commercial purposes, this would be the form you’d need signed.

And remember - these releases are simply part of what your contract should include - not your entire contract. For more on what you should make sure is inside your actual contract, check out this blog post next!