Create a comprehensive media release covering photographs, video, likeness, and voice recordings. Customize usage rights, territory, compensation, and minor consent with real-time document preview.
A photo and video release form is a legal document that grants permission to use a person's photographs, video footage, likeness, voice, or other media for specified purposes. Whether you are a professional photographer, videographer, marketing agency, or business owner, obtaining a signed release protects you from claims related to privacy rights, publicity rights, and defamation. This generator creates a comprehensive, attorney-drafted release that you can customize to your exact needs.
A photo and video release form is a legal document in which a person (the releasor) grants permission to another party (the releasee) to use their photographs, video footage, likeness, voice, or other media for specified purposes. It protects the photographer or company from claims related to privacy, publicity rights, and defamation.
A model release specifically grants permission to use a person's likeness for commercial purposes such as advertising and product packaging. A photo release is broader and can cover editorial, educational, and non-commercial uses in addition to commercial ones. Model releases typically include more detailed provisions about compensation and usage scope.
Whether you can revoke a photo release depends on the terms of the agreement. If the release is marked as irrevocable, you generally cannot withdraw consent once given. Some releases include a revocation clause allowing withdrawal with written notice, but existing materials created before revocation may continue to be used. Always review the specific terms before signing.
In the United States, editorial use of photographs (such as news reporting, commentary, and education) is generally protected by the First Amendment and may not require a release. However, obtaining a release is still recommended as a best practice because the line between editorial and commercial use can be blurry. A release provides additional legal protection.
A photo release typically grants the right to use, reproduce, publish, distribute, and display photographs or videos of the subject. It may also include rights to edit, crop, digitally alter, and create derivative works. The release can specify permitted uses such as websites, marketing, print publications, broadcast, and commercial products.
Yes. Minors (persons under 18) cannot legally sign a binding release on their own. A parent or legal guardian must sign the release on behalf of the minor, consenting to the use of the minor's likeness. The release should include specific provisions identifying the guardian, their relationship to the minor, and a warranty of their legal authority to consent.
You should obtain a signed release whenever you plan to use a person's image, likeness, or voice in a way that goes beyond incidental or purely editorial use. Common scenarios include:
There are several types of media releases, each suited to different situations: