Photo Release Form
Subject grants photographer/business right to use their image — for marketing, social media, websites, advertising.
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PHOTO RELEASE FORM Effective: May 11, 2026 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SUBJECT ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Name: Jordan T. Reyes Address: 4218 Maple Avenue, Denver, CO 80211 Phone: +1 303 555 0184 Email: jordan.reyes@example.com ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ RELEASEE ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Name: Northwest Light Photography LLC Address: 1408 SE Division Street, Portland, OR 97202 ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SHOOT / EVENT DESCRIPTION ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Headshot session on 2026-05-08 at Northwest Light Photography studio, for use on Apexa Robotics website "Team" page and LinkedIn. Approximately 50 frames; final selection up to 5 images. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ RELEASE — GRANT OF RIGHTS ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ For no monetary or non-monetary compensation; the release is gratuitous., I, hereby irrevocably grant to Releasee, its successors, assigns, agents, and licensees, the unlimited right and permission to use, reuse, publish, republish, edit, adapt, modify, distribute, copy, and display photographs, video, audio, and likenesses of me (collectively, the "Images") taken in connection with the shoot/event described above. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ PERMITTED USES ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ The Images may be used for broad commercial use including website, marketing materials, paid advertising, social media, print collateral, video, and any other commercial purpose. Specific permitted uses include: Apexa Robotics, Inc. corporate website (apexarobotics.com); LinkedIn company page and personal LinkedIn profile of the Subject; press releases and media kits; investor presentations; trade-show booth materials; print marketing collateral. No use in adult, political, or controversial contexts without further written consent. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ DURATION ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ This release is effective perpetually and without time limit. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SUBJECT'S WAIVERS ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ I waive: (a) Any right to inspect or approve the Images or any text or context that may be used in connection with them; (b) Any right to royalties, residuals, or other compensation arising from the use of the Images; (c) Any claim for invasion of privacy, right of publicity (including under state right-of-publicity statutes such as California Civil Code §3344, New York Civil Rights Law §50-51, or applicable state common law), defamation, libel, or any similar claim arising from the use of the Images, except for uses that are obscene, defamatory, or expressly prohibited herein; (d) Any right to additional compensation for any use of the Images, regardless of the medium or extent of use. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ RELEASEE'S OBLIGATIONS ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Releasee agrees that: (a) The Images will not be used in any obscene, defamatory, or unlawful manner; (b) The Images will not be used to imply endorsement of products, services, or causes that the Subject would reasonably find objectionable (e.g., political campaigns, adult content) without further written consent; (c) Releasee owns the copyright in the Images (as the photographer or commissioning party); this release transfers no copyright to the Subject. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ REPRESENTATIONS ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ I represent that I am over 18 years of age, have read and understood this release, and execute it freely and voluntarily. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ GOVERNING LAW ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ This release is governed by the laws of the State of Colorado. ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SIGNATURES ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ SUBJECT: _______________________________ Jordan T. Reyes Signature: _______________________________ Date: _______________________________ WITNESS (recommended): Name: _______________________________ Signature: _______________________________ Date: _______________________________
About this template
A photo release is the most-litigated consent document in commercial photography. Without a signed release, the photographer/commissioner can be sued for: (1) right of publicity violations (using a person's identity for commercial purposes without consent — actionable in 30+ states with right-of-publicity statutes including California Civil Code §3344, New York Civil Rights Law §50-51, Indiana Code §32-36, Tennessee Personal Rights Protection Act); (2) invasion of privacy (the "appropriation of name or likeness" tort recognized in nearly every state); (3) defamation if the use is misleading or false-light; (4) copyright issues if the subject has rights in the image content (e.g., performance, costume design). The threshold question: is the use COMMERCIAL or EDITORIAL? Editorial use (news, journalism, biographical, education) is generally protected by the First Amendment and does NOT require a release in most jurisdictions. Commercial use (advertising, product endorsement, marketing) almost always requires a release. The line between editorial and commercial is thin: a news article about a celebrity is editorial, but a Time magazine cover with that celebrity used to sell merchandise is commercial. Best practice: get a release for any use that could conceivably be commercial. Special considerations for minors: a minor cannot legally consent — the parent or legal guardian must sign on their behalf. Some states (California, New York) have specific minor-release rules including: (a) court approval required for long-term contracts (Coogan Law for minor performers), (b) right to disaffirm contracts on reaching majority. For minors who will appear in commercial campaigns, consult counsel on Coogan Law compliance. Special considerations for groups: a single release covers only the named individual; group photos at events typically rely on implied consent (signage at entrance: "by entering, you consent to being photographed for promotional use"). The signage-as-consent approach is standard for trade shows, conferences, weddings — but it has limits. Identifiable individuals in foreground who are clearly the subject of the image often need separate releases despite signage. Right-of-publicity post-mortem rights: many states (CA, IN, OK, TN, TX, WA among others) recognize post-mortem rights of publicity for some duration after death (CA: 70 years; IN: 100 years; TN: 10+ years renewable; TX: 50 years). Using a deceased celebrity's image without licensing from the estate can be costly. Standard celebrity licenses are arranged through agencies like CMG Worldwide and Greenlight Rights. Consideration / payment: a release is a contract and traditionally requires consideration. Most modern releases recite "for good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is acknowledged" — even if that consideration is nominal (a print, a gift card, the experience itself). Some states (NY) have explicit statutory requirements that may render a free release unenforceable; in those states, ensure some token consideration is provided. Use this template for: portrait sessions, headshot photography, event photography, trade-show photography, employee photography, brand/marketing photography. For high-value commercial campaigns (national TV, billboards, product packaging), use a more detailed release and consider talent-agency model releases. For documentary/journalism, a simpler editorial-only release may suffice, and editorial use may not require a release at all.
When to use it
- Headshot or portrait photography for use on websites, LinkedIn, marketing materials.
- Event photography (trade shows, conferences, weddings, parties) where identifiable individuals appear in commercial-use photos.
- Employee photography for company directory, intranet, or external marketing.
- Stock photography or commercial photography of identifiable individuals.
- Video/film of identifiable subjects intended for commercial use.
What to include
- Subject identification (name, contact, age/minor status).
- Releasee identification (photographer/business).
- Shoot description (when, where, scope).
- Usage scope (commercial broad / editorial / internal / limited).
- Specific permitted uses (websites, advertising, social, print).
- Compensation (or recital of nominal/no consideration).
- Duration (perpetual / time-limited).
- Subject waivers (right of publicity, privacy, royalties).
- Carve-outs (no obscene/defamatory/political use without consent).