Wedding Terms and Conditons

[A.H.T. Photography]

Hello all, I'm a newbie to wedding photography and I came across this two agreement clause stated Negatives and/or Files: All digital negatives from your wedding day will be presented to you on a dvd in high resolution with a copyright release form. Copyright: It is illegal to use or copy images in any way or manner without written permison by Photographer. Photographer retains all copyrights.

Can anyone clarify this for me please! Thanks!!

[Howard Barlow]

Poorly written. Probably by a photographer, rather than an intellectual property attorney. If you are going to provide files for the clients use, the word is 'license', not copyright. If you give copyright, they have as much right to use as you do. License authorizes their use as per your limitations. If you retain the copyright, you control use, at least legally. They will still do whatever they want, once they have files.

[texkam]

They will still do whatever they want, once they have files.

Exactly and from a practical standpoint, how aggressive does one want to be policing this?

[suerenee]

I word mine to say DVD of all edited images with a release for personal printing.

Be careful of saying ALL images from the wedding day. I had a photog friend who had a Bridezilla want EVERY SINGLE photo we took--from 10 hours of coverage with 2 photogs. Not good.

[todd_a]

Originally Posted by suerenee

I word mine to say DVD of all edited images with a release for personal printing.

Be careful of saying ALL images from the wedding day. I had a photog friend who had a Bridezilla want EVERY SINGLE photo we took--from 10 hours of coverage with 2 photogs. Not good.

I think mine says something about I retain copyright of all photos.... and one part that says something about a printing copyright release for personal use and I believe it still has a part that points out specific examples of how they are NOT to be used, such as digitally or otherwise submitted to contests, magazines, or used in advertizing, etc...

But if you do word it incorrectly you stand the chance of forfeiting or at sharing your copyright to the photos. That could be a bad thing.

[A.H.T. Photography]

Thank you all for reply, I understand now.

[Sherman79]

Originally Posted by todd_a

I think mine says something about I retain copyright of all photos.... and one part that says something about a printing copyright release for personal use and I believe it still has a part that points out specific examples of how they are NOT to be used, such as digitally or otherwise submitted to contests, magazines, or used in advertizing, etc...

But if you do word it incorrectly you stand the chance of forfeiting or at sharing your copyright to the photos. That could be a bad thing.

Good point. It's always good to clarify what powers you are not giving. Takes away the I didn't know excuse.