Photographing people and model releases

[betty1704]

How do you go about photographing people and getting model releases?
I must make a note of travelling with model release forms... but it doesn't work in most situations.
I've had these situations:
I have a wonderful picture of a rastafarian walking in the Knysna forest. I tried the first pic in Auto and the second (closer) in program mode (he didn't look too friendly). He had such an angry look as he walked past that I wouldn't dream of asking for a model release.
The other that I took this weekend is of a rural woman all dressed in blue and shading/blocking her face (from the sun or from me) with a machete. Come on...I wouldn't dare asking for a model release.
The last one was of a young kid in the Outeniqua mountains walking with a bag of potatoes on his shoulder. I could easily get a model release from him but as a minor it had to be signed by his parents.
I guess the only way around it is to have those photos painted in a way that you couldn't recognise the features.
Please give me some advise or I'll stop photographing people.

[poloman]

Be more aggressive. If you really think you have something, get the release. Offer a print if you think you must.

[Double Negative]

People in public places don't have a "reasonable expectation of privacy" and therefore you don't need a model release per se... But if you plan to do commercial work based on their likeness you probably should get one.

For example, Madonna's hoofing it down the street in NYC. You capture a nice picture. Nothing wrong with that and you're in the free and clear. Now if you want to use that picture in a billboard or magazine advert, you'd better have some paperwork.

[jblaschke]

For example, Madonna's hoofing it down the street in NYC. You capture a nice picture. Nothing wrong with that and you're in the free and clear. Now if you want to use that picture in a billboard or magazine advert, you'd better have some paperwork.

By the same token, the photo of Madonna itself is your property, and you own the copyright. Which means you could turn around and sell it to a tabloid free and clear, sell copies from your website at $10 a pop, etc. Use of likeness and use of photo are two entirely different issues (although admittedly ones that can overlap at times).