PHOTO CONTRACT FAQs
Would it be possible to ask for our permission before using any photos of us for advertising, social media, your website, or other promotional purposes? We’re comfortable with you using the images, we’d just love to have the opportunity to approve them first.
1
Our standard clause allows us to use any image for advertising without permission. However, we do have an option to add an exclusivity clause. There would be a fee (20% of your total package) and no images would be used at all.
We use an all-in or all out approach so communication and copyright are absolutely clear from the beginning. We have had quite a few couples select our exclusivity package before and it is a seamless process.
Transparently, if you do not want to choose that option though. We do not advertise every wedding we shoot (on our website or Instagram). If I do, it is a very small selection of images (about 20-30) and does not include family photos or children. You also have the option to decline sharing images with vendors.
In terms of your exclusivity clause, that doesn’t interfere with a videographer or a content creator (if we were to have one), correct?
2
Correct!
What rights transfer to us upon final payment?
3
Here is the clause referring to copyright in our contract: PERMITTED USES: Client shall have the right to use images as follows: (a) Client may reproduce the wedding day images created hereunder for (1) personal, non-commercial use including the reproduction of copies for family, wedding guests and friends, and personal web publication (i.e. blogs, social media, etc.) and (2) the publication for wedding-related newspaper announcements or articles provided that images carry a copyrighted credit line (© Sydney Marie, 2028. For images used on personal, noncommercial websites, Client will in reasonable efforts create a copyright notice that appears near the images stating that they were taken by Photographer as well as a link to Photographer's website or Social media handle (@sydneymarie.co). In no event shall Client permit or assist in any commercial use or sale of the images without specific written consent of Photographer.
For the model release, we feel strongly about having the opportunity to share our wedding ourselves before any images are published/shared publicly (unless it’s a major publication). We would not want any wedding images shared publicly before we’ve had the opportunity to post them ourselves. After that, we’re totally happy for them to be shared!
4
We actually already implement this in our practice already. We do not post any images until our couples have a few days with their preview gallery (if publication comes up in the process, we can discuss what this usually looks like). If we share images at all, we only share about 20-30 images total (unless it's for a publication that requires more photos). We don’t share every wedding we shoot.