Photography model release form structure Our model release form template 1. Digital manipulation clause Digital manipulation is any change made to a photo in post like retouching, for example. Especially when the ‘photoshopping’ alters the model’s physical traits. I would venture to say that no photo commercially distributed today is without digital manipulation. For this reason, this clause should be included in all of your photography copyright model release forms to both protect yourself and those that license your photos. 2. Sensitive use Sometimes you’re hired to shoot a sensitive topic such as suicide, racism, sex, politics or religion, etc. Including a sensitive use clause will protect you from any claims raised by the model for loss of work down the road. Sensitive use cases are naturally subjective. They’re hard to define and differ from place-to-place. Think globally, and you’ll see the possible variance. However, it’s never a good idea to blanket authorize sensitive uses. Always use your best judgement. Here is an example of complete language from the folks at the ASMP (American Society of Media Photographers). "I understand that the pictures of me will be used in public-service advertisements to promote aids awareness. Knowing that such advertisements may intentionally or unintentionally give rise to the impression that I suffer from this disease, I nevertheless consent to this use." 3. Special considerations Are you planning a photoshoot with live animals? Are you shooting underwater? Is this shoot...a sexy one? You'll want to include any special considerations on the photography model release form before the shoot. Being as open with your model before anyone arrives to set keeps everyone on the same page and avoids uncomfortable situations. If your shooting setups are complex, StudioBinder's Shot List Builder is useful when identifying camera specifications.

You can also easily print out the shot lists and bring them to set, or save them as a PDF to share with your talent and crew.

Managing model release Administering releases 1. Prep your paperwork If you’re a fashion photographer, have your models sign before they even go into make-up. If a model refuses to sign after a day of shooting, the work is lost. Also remember to bring extra copies when going out into the field. People make mistakes and often need to start over. 2. Get a new MODEL release form everytime you shoot Remember to get a new release every time you shoot with the same model. It’s common to reshoot with the same models, but every project is a unique endeavor and requires new paperwork. 3. Make sure all the information is ACCURATE AND legible The legal wording of the release is important, but so is the information that is captured. Always make sure that all the models’ details are easy to read, especially when it’s handwritten. Because phone numbers change more often than emails, we added an email section to our free photography copyright model release form template. If you use StudioBinder's Call Sheet Builder to send your call sheets, then you can easily cross-check the emails provided on the photo model release form with the one that's on your Project Contacts page. Here's what my contact list looks like to give you an idea:

Project Contact List Management In StudioBinder

4. Associate proofs with executed model release forms You’ll need to know which releases cover which photos specifically, sometimes months, years or decades after a shoot. The best practice is to bundle thumbnails or proofs from the shoot with the release in your files. That way when someone wants to license a photo from you — you’ll know exactly which release to send. For greatest ease, create a single PDF file that has both the fully executed model release scan and the proofs from the shoot. 5. Create electronic backups Use a scanner or smartphone to take an electronic snapshot of your fully executed model release form. Make sure to back it up somewhere safe, preferably secure cloud storage like Dropbox or StudioBinder. Many photographers have a tendency to scan a release and discard the tangible paperwork. However, it’s best practice to retain all copies of every executed release indefinitely. In StudioBinder, your forms are safely stored in the File Manager where you can easily download them at any point. 6. Utilize email to establish a record Always countersign, scan and email a copy to the client after every photo shoot to generate a legal record through email trail. Having an email, or general a backup in the cloud, provides redundancy should your computer or hard drive fail.