1. If photographer is paying the model, photographer owns the photos, model must sign model release form and grant of rights.
2. If the model (or client) pays the photographer for his services, model owns the photos, photographer must sign a contract.
All must be done prior to shooting.
Originally Posted by pradoproductions
uh...no. i don't know where you got this idea, but - and i don't know how to say this more clearly - the photographer is ALWAYS the original copyright owner and
THE ONLY WAY ANY RIGHTS GET LICENSED OR TRANSFERRED IS IF A SPECIFIC AGREEMENT IS SIGNED regardless of who is paying who.
just because the client pays for the photos, they do not assume any ownership, and by far the most common scenario is one where the client is granted usage rights for specific time frames, print runs, etc. USAGE RIGHTS ARE NOT COPYRIGHTS.
suggesting to these ladies that the photos become "theirs" just because they pay and that a photographer must sign their rights away is just irresponsible. the only thing absolutely correct about whjat you said is that it has to happen before the shoot.