Releases in disaster areas?

[Conradzik]

Hey guys! Quick question.

Are model releases required when taking photos in disaster areas? For example.. I was recently in Haiti shortly after the earthquake and took a ton of photos. I was playing around on iStock the other day to see how I would go about selling my images if I chose to and I came across the following line: "All images containing recognizable people require a model release. There are no exceptions."

Now I don't know if iStock is the "trend setter" when it comes to things like this, but it made me wonder. There's no way that National Geographic guys and those that shoot for major publications actually get releases, right? I spent a lot of time with Time Magazine and New York Times photographers while I was in Haiti and they didn't get a single release or worry about anything like that.

So what's the deal? I can't imagine anyone in Haiti that I photographed is going to have an issue with my photos.

Oh and by the way, here are some of the photos I took while I was in Haiti: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=836320

Thanks guys!!!

Conrad

[JHunter]

National Geographic, Time Magazine, and the New York Times are news / editorial publications, which do not need a model release to use a photo. When you need a model release is when you want to use the photo in advertising, which is what a lot of stock photography is used for, prompting iStock to require model releases.

[MJPhotos24]

Darn, you're going to miss out on a nickel from istock!

If you want your images used editorially sell them with a good stock agency, though honestly you're late on the demand for photos from Haiti unless you captured something unique and amazing. So many stock agencies and freelancers have already been there so it's covered photographically speaking.

[Conradzik]

Ah. I totally forgot about advertising/editorial difference, thanks!

Yeah I'm not really interested in trying to sell my photos from Haiti. Right now I'm just getting orientated to the whole scene in case anything happens in the future.

Thanks guys!!!

[Viva-photography]

hahaha. iStock pays almost nothing. Its a shame. :/
I really like the photos by the way.
they really capture the emotion that was going on down there.
maybe you COULD get one in National Geographic instead! :)
How cool would that be?

[Conradzik]

hahaha. iStock pays almost nothing. Its a shame. :/
I really like the photos by the way.
they really capture the emotion that was going on down there.
maybe you COULD get one in National Geographic instead! :)
How cool would that be?
I KNOW!!! It would be awesome. While I was in Haiti I also spent some time with some guys from National Geographic and got all of their contact info. They said that they'd be in the States soon and that I should hit them up when they get back. I can't wait!!

Thanks for the comments by the way. And the comment about iStock is something I've gathered by reading a bunch of comments here. It sounds like it's not worth it for me.