Model releases

gertie · Mar 29th, 2007, 09:54

Hiya,

How do you go about obtaining model releases for portraits when you are travelling?

I find the language barriers difficult. If you obtain a signature on a model release form written in English, and the model doesn't read English, is it legally valid? How do you get around this, apart from carrying a folder full of translated model release forms in a hundred different languages!

Thanks,

Gertie

Nick-H · Mar 29th, 2007, 11:48

Doubt that anyone would understand the concept, never mind the language...

Merchant · Mar 29th, 2007, 12:30

Why do you want/need model releases?

arunchs · Mar 29th, 2007, 12:36

A model release is valid even if the person who signs it cant read English. But are you planning to use your people images for commercial purpose(as in advertisements, promotions, etc)? If not you would not need a model release at all, even if you want to sell prints and make money.

Also ethically speaking, dont forget to inform your model about where his/her image is going to be used and for what purpose. Though not necessary, you may also consider paying the model, since you expect to earn from the image.

cyberhippie · Mar 29th, 2007, 12:37

Gertie supplies models I think!!

capt_mahajan · Mar 29th, 2007, 12:38

and I aint releasing them

Sorry, sorry, offtopic again

gertie · Mar 29th, 2007, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberhippie

Gertie supplies models I think!!

Didn't really understand this...

Merchant, model releases are necessary for stock photo submissions.

Nick, you are right - the concept is a difficult one to explain in a few broken words of a foreign language. This is why I'm asking how other photographers go about it.

Arunchs, I'd be pretty pissed if someone asked me to sign something in mandarin for example, then I saw my pic plastered all over the place. Not that I would sign anything I didn't understand - and noone in their right mind would want my face on anything anyway, there's a reason I'm behind the camera!

But seriously, its surely ethical as a photographer to make sure the person signing the model release (no matter the language) understands the idea? But how?!

Gertie

cyberhippie · Mar 29th, 2007, 13:25

Sorry Gertie I've mixed you up with someone else in Chennai who doe supply models/extras my apologies it's obviously not you!!

arunchs · Mar 29th, 2007, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by gertie

Arunchs, I'd be pretty pissed if someone asked me to sign something in mandarin for example, then I saw my pic plastered all over the place. Not that I would sign anything I didn't understand - and noone in their right mind would want my face on anything anyway, there's a reason I'm behind the camera!

But seriously, its surely ethical as a photographer to make sure the person signing the model release (no matter the language) understands the idea? But how?!

I would be pissed off too. As for 'how', I don't know either.

I remember reading faqs in some stock/royalty free websites. It goes something like this:

Q: I am in a third world country and some of my subjects don't know how to read or write. Do I still need a model release? How do I get it.
A: Yes, you still need a model release.

Note that the part 'how do I get it' is conveniently ignored

This is a pretty tough challenge to workaround.

cyberhippie · Mar 29th, 2007, 13:33

Get someone to translate for you would seem the simplest way and get the release form done in a few local languages too!

gertie · Mar 29th, 2007, 14:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by arunchs

Q: I am in a third world country and some of my subjects don't know how to read or write. Do I still need a model release? How do I get it.
A: Yes, you still need a model release.

Note that the part 'how do I get it' is conveniently ignored

This is a pretty tough challenge to workaround.

You've gotta love 'advice' like this!

Maybe there's a niche in the market for a 'Photographer's Phrasebook - a model release request in a zillion different languages for the travelling photographer', lol.

Gertie

Nick-H · Mar 29th, 2007, 14:46

Can I ask, broadly what kind of photographs of what kind of people you are speaking of?

Lets imagine it is vegetable sellers in a street market...

They may well be illiterate. They may well get no further towards understanding this concept than, perhaps it is like the movies and so they should ask for lots of money.

Even if they can read and write, in their mother tongue; even if they can speak more than a few words of English, are they going to understand anything about intellectual property rights? Are they going to understand that you might photograph a thousand people and only make money from one?

So what do photographers do? take the pics anyway? Make the money (on the few that do make money) anyway?

Yes... I guess it is a tough question, ethically and pratically.

icetea · Mar 29th, 2007, 14:57

Well...I had no idea what a "model release" is til I read this post (and I thought I'm literate and all that)...

I think that even if they understand what the signature is for or if they can read the paper themselves, they'd be very reluctant to sign something coming from a stranger on the street.

mridula · Mar 29th, 2007, 15:08

Aah, and this stuff anyway makes me very uneasy to take photographs of people. I just use a few of them on my blog and then too I feel quite uneasy, because in some cases I definitely have not explained that the picture I am taking, I am going to put on the internet. That way, I enjoy to click the lakes and the mountains and paste it anywhere. But then I know I am taking the easy way out.

capt_mahajan · Mar 29th, 2007, 15:08

I guessed what a model release was.
Though I had some naughty ideas with that, sorry

Mar 29th, 2007, 09:54	#1
gertie Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 156	Model releases Hiya, How do you go about obtaining model releases for portraits when you are travelling? I find the language barriers difficult. If you obtain a signature on a model release form written in English, and the model doesn't read English, is it legally valid? How do you get around this, apart from carrying a folder full of translated model release forms in a hundred different languages! Thanks, Gertie

Mar 29th, 2007, 11:48	#2
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,856	Doubt that anyone would understand the concept, never mind the language... __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Mar 29th, 2007, 12:36	#4
arunchs Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 297	A model release is valid even if the person who signs it cant read English. But are you planning to use your people images for commercial purpose(as in advertisements, promotions, etc)? If not you would not need a model release at all, even if you want to sell prints and make money. Also ethically speaking, dont forget to inform your model about where his/her image is going to be used and for what purpose. Though not necessary, you may also consider paying the model, since you expect to earn from the image. __________________ My India travel blog and my Images from India

Mar 29th, 2007, 15:08	#14
mridula Sair Kar Duniya Ki Galib , Jindagani Fir Kahan ... Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 1,281	Aah, and this stuff anyway makes me very uneasy to take photographs of people. I just use a few of them on my blog and then too I feel quite uneasy, because in some cases I definitely have not explained that the picture I am taking, I am going to put on the internet. That way, I enjoy to click the lakes and the mountains and paste it anywhere. But then I know I am taking the easy way out. __________________ mridula http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/

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Mar 29th, 2007, 12:30	#3
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	Why do you want/need model releases?

Mar 29th, 2007, 12:37	#5
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Gertie supplies models I think!!

Mar 29th, 2007, 12:38	#6
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	and I aint releasing them Sorry, sorry, offtopic again

Mar 29th, 2007, 13:25	#8
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Sorry Gertie I've mixed you up with someone else in Chennai who doe supply models/extras my apologies it's obviously not you!!

Mar 29th, 2007, 13:33	#10
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	Get someone to translate for you would seem the simplest way and get the release form done in a few local languages too!

Mar 29th, 2007, 14:46	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,856	Can I ask, broadly what kind of photographs of what kind of people you are speaking of? Lets imagine it is vegetable sellers in a street market... They may well be illiterate. They may well get no further towards understanding this concept than, perhaps it is like the movies and so they should ask for lots of money. Even if they can read and write, in their mother tongue; even if they can speak more than a few words of English, are they going to understand anything about intellectual property rights? Are they going to understand that you might photograph a thousand people and only make money from one? So what do photographers do? take the pics anyway? Make the money (on the few that do make money) anyway? Yes... I guess it is a tough question, ethically and pratically.

Mar 29th, 2007, 14:57	#13
icetea 'sort of hate India' club member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Chennai, via Romania Posts: 917	Well...I had no idea what a "model release" is til I read this post (and I thought I'm literate and all that)... I think that even if they understand what the signature is for or if they can read the paper themselves, they'd be very reluctant to sign something coming from a stranger on the street.

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