Giving a client copyright rights.

[Ursula]

I'm looking for this on the forums but cannot seem to find it, any help is appreciated!

I'm wanting to find out what exactly what I need to do to give one of my wedding clients the copyright to their photos. Redistribution rights and the whole nine yards. Any paperwork we need to exchange/etc. I'm going to be giving them the photo disc with all of the photos in color + B&W.

Thank you! :)

[EMarkM]

Really silly question, but why do you not want to keep the rights yourself? You can still give them a licence to reproduce the prints if they wish (for redistribution amongst friends, presumably), but in my opinion (only) you really should hang onto the copyright - you are the artist, not them!

[tcphoto1]

Unless I'm getting compensation of five figures, I'm not transferring anything. If they ask for it, they have to pay for it. What on earth do they think they'll do with the images to warrent the investment?

[Ursula]

That's true. Well the main reason is because I already said yes to her, haha. Is it possible for both of us to have rights to the images? I don't mean to give her ALL the rights like I have no way of using them in any manner but I want her to have the rights to print, and do whatever with them and it be in writing or however it works. :)

[Dorado]

You can buy a book like this (http://www.amazon.com/Business-Legal-Forms-Photographers-CD-ROM/dp/158115206X/ref=sr_1_1/002-2685107-0390464?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189115929&sr=8-1). It has a "Transfer of Copyrights" contract in it for you to use. Or hire a lawyer to draft one up.

Next time charge big bucks for this, you only hurt the rest of us when you dont...

-EDIT- you said "...give the copyrights to..." that means to sell all rights/copyright to an image, you no longer own it. If that is not what you mean, then you need to learn about "licensing" in image. Big difference. A search on this board will help with that.

[Ursula]

Thank you. Yes pretty much I just need a quick run through of how copyrights on photos work. I've always understood by default the photographer owns that and you have to give your client rights to have their photos printed by them. That's what I'm after. And I just bought that book, thanks again!

[Dorado]

Here's a good place to start:

ASMP (http://www.asmp.org/commerce/business.php)

[Ursula]

Wow that website is VERY helpful! I love it. Thank you.

[Croasdail]

Really silly question, but why do you not want to keep the rights yourself? You can still give them a licence to reproduce the prints if they wish (for redistribution amongst friends, presumably), but in my opinion (only) you really should hang onto the copyright - you are the artist, not them!

ditto.... why get rid of your copyright? When I was studying wedding photography under a seasoned pro as a second shooter, I never gave him the copyright. Rather, he was given distribution license which took care of all future reproduction needs.