Model Release

I am wondering how you might deal with a model release for folks under 18.

I am going to be shooting a couple of young ladies who are 16 - 17 years old and I might like to use their image in promo material. I know they are not old enough to sign a contract themselves so I assume the parents / guardian would have to sign one?

Also my wife's best friend's daughter is 17 and has a couple of friends who would like to have their portrait taken. I am very interested in getting the experience but I am concerned about the fact that they are under 18. I would never want someone to question my motives. I am thinking I should either talk with the parents or have some form of a "permission slip" signed before agreeing? Even if I don't plan to use the images for promo material? Curious what others here think?

A minor cannot enter into a contract, so you are required to have the consent of the parent or guardian. A permission slip will not be sufficient - you need them to sign the release.

So yes, you should absolutely talk to the parents beforehand, because without their signature, you're in big trouble later. It would be an extremely good idea to require the parent(s) to be present during any shoot, and also a good idea to have a MUA or other third party there as well. And never, under any circumstances, should you touch the model, even to fix her hair. Let the MUA or her parents do that.

Being under 18 is not a big deal, I have everyone sign a model release that away I can always decide later what I want to use the images for. In the under 18 case I have parents sign along with the "model" (figure better to have to many signatures then not enough lol).

Always have at least 1 parent on hand during shoot, act professional and like said above dont touch for any reason, have mom/dad or HMU gal do that. Its only creepy if you make it so.

My thoughts exactly. Would never dream of touching a subject, under 18 or over 18. I don't even like getting close enough to take a light reading. Very much about personal space.

Model release it is.

I could not imagine a bigger nightmare then someone getting the wrong idea. What a shame it is to even have to worry about it.

I guess I work with alot of the same gals over and over to the point a few have said just take my arm and move it like you want after 10min of trying to explain how I want it lol. And most of the under 18 "models" have been family friends or friends of friends that are there during a full day of group shooting, so the comfort level is set right away.

Littlejon Dsgn wrote in post #15769193
Being under 18 is not a big deal, I have everyone sign a model release that away I can always decide later what I want to use the images for. In the under 18 case I have parents sign along with the "model" (figure better to have to many signatures then not enough lol).

The model's signature is worthless if they are under 18 as they can't legally enter into a contract.

If a model under 18 somehow finds me and asks for a shoot, the first thing I tell them when I find out that they are underage is that I need their parent's phone number so that I can call them to ask their permission and give them the right information. As part of this discussion with the parent, I let them know that I need one of them to be with the model during the shoot as the model's helper and that others (ie. makeup artist, stylist, etc) may also be present at the shoot.

Why wouldn't your wife and her best friend be there during the shoot? I would just invite all of them to where I want to shoot and make it a family/friend "gathering".

aIpha wrote in post #15771143
If a model under 18 somehow finds me and asks for a shoot, the first thing I tell them when I find out that they are underage is that I need their parent's phone number so that I can call them to ask their permission and give them the right information. As part of this discussion with the parent, I let them know that I need one of them to be with the model during the shoot as the model's helper and that others (ie. makeup artist, stylist, etc) may also be present at the shoot.

Why wouldn't your wife and her best friend be there during the shoot? I would just invite all of them to where I want to shoot and make it a family/friend "gathering".

Not a bad idea but the wife considers my photography a colossal waste of time and money . I spoke with her friend yesterday (the girl's mother) on the phone and she will be here. She was actually really happy at the possibility of getting some nice images. Now all I have to do is deliver!

I have the parents sign and require them to be present at all times...I also use the parents in the background......kids usually will be looking at who ever is in the background.....so I position their parents where I want them to look....makes my shoot time move along faster

If a kid needs to change outfits I make the parents go with them....Makes the parents feel at easy knowing I take their child safety seriously...

Dan Marchant wrote in post #15771117
The model's signature is worthless if they are under 18 as they can't legally enter into a contract.

I understand this, but it helps them feel like an adult, and like I said better to have to many then not enough

I started doing this as well after one gal who was 2 weeks from being 18 did a shoot with me, a few weeks after her 18th birthday her new bf did not like the fact that she wanted to be a model so she asked that the images be taken down and argued that she did not know that I would be using them in my portfolio because she never read anything that said so. So now I have them sign as well just incase.

Littlejon Dsgn wrote in post #15778335
I understand this, but it helps them feel like an adult, and like I said better to have to many then not enough

I started doing this as well after one gal who was 2 weeks from being 18 did a shoot with me, a few weeks after her 18th birthday her new bf did not like the fact that she wanted to be a model so she asked that the images be taken down and argued that she did not know that I would be using them in my portfolio because she never read anything that said so. So now I have them sign as well just incase.

You should, of course, follow whatever policy is best for you business, but legally the release signed by her parent while she was a legal minor remains in force even after she reaches the age of majority herself.

That was settled by the courts when Brook Shield attempted to invalidate model releases signed by her mother for highly sexual photographs taken of her when she was a minor.