Photographing Public Properties
The confusion over whether a public object can be photographed and published most usually comes from persons who arrive at the stock photography industry through the commercial door rather than through the editorial door. Or stems from well-meaning but erroneous advice written by magazine columnists who are unaware of your First Amendment Rights.
Photographers who have worked for a newspaper most of their career, know that model or property releases are not needed if the photo is to be used "to inform or to educate." In contrast, photographers who have worked in the commercial or advertising sector, e.g. corporate, advertising, or graphic art services, know that any photo used for endorsement or advertising purposes always requires a model or property release.
Here at PhotoSource International, our emphasis is on editorial photography, and most of our markets, such as magazines and book publishers, maintain an editorial focus.
About $70,000 a day is spent on editorial photography in this country. That's about 1/5 of what is spent daily on commercial stock photography. Although the monetary rewards in the editorial field are not as high up front as in the commercial field, other rewards abound. (Check out pages 72 and 73 of sellphotos.com for more on these other rewards.)
One example: editorial stock photographers can afford to specialize in a field they enjoy working in. This allows them to build a deep selection of images in that specialization, making them a valuable resource to numbers of publishers in that field of interest. (Book and magazine publishers specialize, too.) Although the per picture fee for editorial use is not as high as in commercial stock photography, most publishers buy in volume, and stay as long-term clients, which often makes up the difference over the long haul.
WHEN AVAILABLE
Of course, if model or product releases are conveniently available for the asking now and then while you are photographing, you should go ahead and get them, as that will allow those images to be available for a commercial use if the opportunity arises. Depending on the field you are in, you'll know when it's appropriate and beneficial to obtain a model or property release.
If you're in a public place (whether you pay admission or not) you can photograph freely. Only if you are trespassing would you run into the law. In the USA, trespass restrictions in public places are not as rigorous as you might encounter in a foreign country. Even in these times of heightened suspicion, security guards and law enforcement officers are usually aware of citizen's rights when it comes to photographing in public. If your "Track B" area of specialty is in sensitive areas such as aviation or petroleum -- watch for signs of where you can photograph and where you can't. Here at PhotoSource International we have heard reports of some instances of security guards accosting a photographer for photographing a "sensitive" site. Later it was pointed out the same photo was available on the company's website. Note: a cell phone call to the company's president or PR officer, while on the site, usually solves the problem and gets permission for you.
Related Tags: property, photography, advertise, model, editorial, release, rights, public, educate, inform
Rohn Engh, veteran stock photographer and best-selling author of "Sell & ReSell Your Photos" and "sellphotos.com," has helped scores of photographers launch their careers. For access to great information on making money from pictures you like to take, and to receive this free report: "8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer," visit http://www.sellphotos.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- A Subject And His Personality
The challenge to all portrait painters is pleasing the beholder as well as having the ability to fix - A Review Of The 28 Page Free Report "shoot Digital Pics Like The Pros"
There are a lot of fine, relatively recent products coming available to buy daily. A few of these ar - Night Vision Scope- Explore The Beauty Of Nature In Night Also
Going out for a camp in forests??? Or somewhere?? Not possible to see far of objects or things in th - Commercial Photography - Photography As A Business
Photography- I guess this won't be a strange word to hear for most of you but commercial photography - Night Vision Camera Ensuring Your Safety
No one can see anything in darkness. But imagine you are capable enough to do so then what would you - Looking For A Wedding Photographer In Edinburg?
You've spent sleepless nights to ensure that your wedding day is picture perfect and goes smoothly w - Cost Effective Wedding Photography
It's the most special day of your life and you've dreamed about this day, since you were a child. Yo - Hiring A Budget Wedding Photographer?
Wedding Photography accounts for almost 10 % of the entire budget of the wedding. Does this mean tha - Image Editing:a Must For Advertising Agencies And Publications
When you see any attractive image in any online publication or in print, have you ever thought who t - How To Guide For Properly Storing Photographs
Photographs are more than just pieces of paper, they are reminders of a life once lived, and cherish
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Matting Fine Art Photographs
Picking the right mat when framing fine art photographs and other pieces of art can enhance the visu - What Are Giclee and Digital Prints?
Digital images are created from photographs taken with a digital camera or from scanned images. Fine - Ten Tips For Working With Macro Digital Photography
Macro photography is a fun way to get close up shots look stunning. If you want to get technical, th - 32 Bit Images-Stunning New Style Of Photography
The new version of Photoshop which came out last year offers a whole new feature which allows photog - Merging Two or More Images in Photoshop
Have you ever noticed how magazines, newspapers and some web designers are able to combine multiple - Buying Limited and Open Edition Prints
When you're buying fine art photographs, lithographs and other printed art, you'll notice that they - Do You Have A Passion For People Photography?
Well, I'm sure you have a passion for photography and that's why you are reading this article.If you - What to Look for When Shopping for a Digital Camera
Shopping for digital camera for the first time can be a confusing and daunting experience. With so - Stock Photograhy Lesson - Quality Requirements for Online Stock Photograph Sales
Most online stock agencies require that your images be submitted in TIFF or JPEG format at resolutio - Hong Kong Photographer Stock Photography Royatly Free vs. Licensed
There are two types of licenses for the reproduction of photographs. One is called Traditional Licen