[Leica] re: model releases

[kcassidy at asc.upenn.edu (Kyle Cassidy)]

>I talked to an editor yesterday about my "Congregation" series.  (The 
>photos aren't up on my site now.)  She asked about model releases for 
>the people who're in the photos.  She wasn't saying I needed them; 
>she was asking if I knew if I needed them.

When I was working for [insert name of famous photographer] I was suprised 
to discover that she had a model release for every person she'd ever 
photographed despite the editorial, non-commercial nature of her work. Fast 
forward several years, my own book contract had a line that said I was 
responsible for providing model releases for every image in the book. At a 
few meetings someone from the publisher would say "these people might be 
upset with being on the cover, I don't know if we can use this" to which my 
answer was "they signed a model release." Your models may be very happy to 
be in your images, and you may know that because you talked to them and had 
a verbal agreement, but a model release let's other people know that too.
 
You may not technically or legally need them (i'm not a lawyer) but 
publication is always going to be easier for you if you do.
 
that's my two cents.
 
kc