Release for a wedding shoot?

[Beeej21]

Does anyone know where I can get a template for a wedding release? I have various model releases,... but none of them seem to cover any of the issues when it comes to a wedding. Is there a site I can visit, or will someone be willing to email me the verbiage for a wedding release?

On a side note, I always wondered how that same release would affect using pictures of others that are a PART of the wedding, i.e. bridesmaids, groomsman, etc. If I shoot a portrait of a bridesmaid, may I use her image in my portfolio to show even though I didn't get HER signature? Does the signatures of the Bride and Groom cover the whole bridal party? Just a curious question.

[robertwgross]

Normally, the terms of the release are simply written in as the fine print as part of your overall agreement/contract.

Normally, it is the bride and groom who sign the agreement/contract with you. However, I had one signed by the mother of the bride. The fine print states that the signing client is acting as an agent for the guests who may appear in the photography. I think we all know that that isn't really true, but that is the way the fine print shows it.

---Bob Gross---

[sasa007]

dude, I think people are not helping as much,He(Beeej21) was thinking abaout all that legal mubo-jumbo that contract has, I did send you a personal message, and I'll pass you a contract that I scanned from my friends...check inbox.

[Harry Settle]

My understanding is that people attending functions, such as weddings, are already giving their consent to be photographed, they are incedental to the occasion. Cover your butt with a nice clause in your wedding contract, like Bob was trying to tell you. If it was a major issue, we would all have to put up signs that photography is being done, enter at your own risk and have everyone attending sign an individual release.

[robertwgross]

... like Bob was trying to tell you.

Yes, I have never seen that become an issue.

Frankly, there are much bigger legal issues than that.

---Bob Gross---

[Beeej21]

Thank you Bob, thank you Harry, and thank you sasa007 for your comments. It is strange world, this contract/realease world, that we live in. I will try and put that incedental clause in the contract verbiage if it doesn't already have one, the one that Sasa007 is going to send me. Sasa007, thanks again for the private message. Check your inbox, I sent you an email. :-)

[sasa007]

better be safe than sorry :)

[robertwgross]

In today's litigious society, it seems like there are too many people out there trying to sue everybody and anybody. On one hand, you have unhappy clients who try to sue the photographer because of some missed shot. On the other hand, you have unhappy photographers who try to sue the clients because of a missed payment.

About all you can do is to get a fair amount of protection wording into the fine print to cover yourself against an unhappy client.

I have never heard of a wedding guest trying to sue a photographer.

---Bob Gross---

[tim]

I found a few sample contracts on google, and used that. I also use a document I got from the NZ professional photographers, http://www.nzipp.org.nz , but that won't work for the states.

[Mark_48]

Do a Google search for "wedding photography contract". Out of the million or so hits, one can no doubt be tweaked to fit your needs. As Tim noted pay heed to the country it originated from as some legalities may be a bit different from the US.

[dsze]

I carry around 5 model releases and 5 minor model releases in my truck. At the next wedding, I'll pass them out to people that are in photographs that I think I might like to use for advertisement....like cute kids on the dance floor. I haven't done that yet, but I'm trying to be more aware of the whole issue. ....these are of course, in addition to the main contract that the B&G sign before hand.