Checking ID's

In my business I only shoot women ages 18+ (glamour/boudoir photography). I have a legal age form that I make them read & sign, as well as check their license for proof of age (and I also sign the form stating I've seen their ID and they are of legal age).

I know fake ID's are easy to come by, but I have no real idea how to spot a fake one. So far, the women I've photographed I've known or are clearly of age, but I'm worried about running into that issue in the future.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I don't want to accidentially photograph someone that is 16 or 17 just because their ID says they're 18 or 19. I mean, the legal age form does say they understand the type of photography and they are willing participants, and that they must be 18 years of age or older, that they are truthful with their age and form of government issued ID, blah blah blah. But I mean, without an actual ID checker (like the scanners bars have to check for fakes) how else can I know? Is there a tall-tale sign?

I appreciate any advice on this. I did a forum search for fake ID's but didn't come up with anything.

Most ID's have holograms visible by looking at them. I don't know if the fakes can dupe that or not.

I think with all your paperwork, you'd be covered - but these days it wouldn't surprise me if they'd still go after you even with all that effort on your part. See if you can speak with a lawyer to determine what you legally are responsible for, and if the steps you are taking are legally sound to hold up against any problems. That's the only thing I can suggest.

Whenever I've ask for ID's with a release, I also photocopy the form and the id. That not only gives me a copy of their release form, but also a picture of them, their addresses information, and I can show that I did check their ID and it in fact showed their age. That would go a long way toward removing any doubt about whether or not you are just saying you checked it because you got caught.

I would just purchase a reasonable copier or all-in-one printer even if its just for that reason. Modify your release form so that the area where you align the paper has room for the id, and have a spot where you can assign a job number. Then just line up the ID, then put the signed release form over it, and your fully documented. I make three copies. One to the model, one goes in the job folder, and the last one gets filed in the releases folder which also has the reference to the job number on it.

Then don't sweat it. As long as the ID looks real, you did your due diligence there's not much more you can do.

I agree - making a copy of the ID would be a huge help.

Thanks for the help! I do have a printer with a scanner, so I was thinking of making a photo copy using the scanner and printing the image, then stapling the scanned image to the legal age form. I guess I need to invest in a printer that is easier to use/make copies with.

I just think back to high school and lying about my own age (saying I was legal) when I wasn't and having friends with fake IDs. I know I wasn't the only one and won't be the only one, so I just don't want to risk it.

Thanks again for the replies

Check with your local police department or bartender. I know when I took a bartending class we were told the various ways to check for a fake depending on the numbers. In WI your birth year is actually embedded in your license number and also your sex. It is supposed to help avoid problems where people change the birthdate and not the number.

Agreed. It is illegal to present someone with a fake ID. Having a copy to prove that you assumed the ID was real will negate any criminal liability.

Uhhh - If you have a camera, why do you need a scanner? Simply make the first shot a photograph of the ID!

Aside from making photocopies and keeping your paperwork in order, you may want to check out this link from the State of Virginia on detecting fake IDs.

http://www.abc.virgini​a.gov/licensing/detect​fakeids.html

Your first shot should be a picture of the ID, and your second shot should be the model holding her ID by her face. Keep the pictures in the folder of proofs and it will always stay organized.

-Scott

If it were me, I'd photograph/photocopy the ID and make a point of not learning any more about how to spot fakes. The more trained you are in this, the more liable you will become, should one slip through. It's not something a court would expect you to be expert in, where with a police officer or bartender the court might have much higher expectations.

As it stands now, you are a photographer who properly and diligently checks IDs (but really should be making a photocopy of each, or take the snapshots as suggested). If a good fake slips through, you would probably be at little risk (a really poor and obvious fake would be another matter)...

At least you weren't very liable until you started this thread and asked the question!

Now this discussion itself could potentially be used in a court case to show that this was a concern of yours and that you were looking for advice about how to handle fakes.

I ain't no attorney, but it seems to me that - legally - it's sometimes better to not ask certain questions.

What I do with model releases, is I shoot the person holding up the signed release and their driver's license using a FILM camera. I don't use a digital camera for that purpose. Gives me an additional level of security where it can't be "faked" on my end.

johnms88 wrote in post #5646560
Agreed. It is illegal to present someone with a fake ID. Having a copy to prove that you assumed the ID was real will negate any criminal liability.

Actually I don't believe that this is 100% accurate. In the liquor business a bar will still get fined for serving a minor even if they present a fake ID. I am going to assume that this same standard would apply here. At a minimum I would make copies of the ID, and then if there is an issue, make the argument that a reasonable person would not be able to tell the difference.

I hadn't even thought of taking the picture of their license. DUH!! Wow, sometimes I have a blonde moment (and I'm brunette).

I haven't officially opened my studio yet, and so far I've only done work for friends/family and they are helping build my portfolio (although I've done this for over 4 years, but I had another business I was committed to - now it's all about my photography studio). I wanted to cover myself for when I have "real" clients.

Thanks for the VA fake ID link! It's much appreciated!

Ask to see and copy their birth certificates.