Hi, I've recently started submitting my photography for inclusion in magazines, which has been greeted with a mixed response, and a fairly encouraging initial success rate. One particular group of the mags I want to target is specifically asking for images that feature people, preferably at close quarters with faces in the shot. These are angling mags and they are particularly looking for photos of anglers engaged in angling, and holding up their catches etc. This is a new area for me, as my previous submissions and work have been primarily of scenes and non-human things, so I've been doing a bit of reading up on the subject and one thing that's become clear to me is that I need to ask people who are recognisable in the shot to sign a model release form before I can use their image in a commercial way. This is no real problem. I've found plenty of generic model release forms online that I can download and modify for my particular use. But the question I have re: release forms is....Do I include a copy of it along with the images when submitting them for inclusion, or is it sufficient for me to keep a copy of file and make a declaration to the publisher that model releases have been signed, or will the publisher not even care and just assume that I have already taken care of that, as it's my problem, not theirs? Additionally, I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to the best way to approach fishermen when asking them if they mind. Obviously, depending on the shots, I'll be approaching some before and some after I've taken the photos. I was thinking the beast way to handle this would be to carry a selection of business cards and release forms in my camera bag, and approach them initially by presenting them with the card, explaining that I'm shooting for national angling mags, and would they mind if their image was submitted for inclusion before asking them to sign the release. Also, at this point, tell them that if they give me their email address, I'll happily email them copies of any photo featuring them. Is this a reasonable approach do you think? Any tips or advice will be hugely appreciated, as this is a new area for me.
I don't sell any public photo to any magazine, newspaper etc.. so I don't have any experience with Model Release Form, but I have run into the sample form on internet sometime ago. And it's the must have if you gonna sell the photo. About asking to take photo of stranger, I don't have much problem with it, and I think you are on the right track. And since you try to make $$$ out of their photo so you may have to make some deal with them, and having them signing the release form etc. Me? I just give them my business card with my email and web page for them to get their photo etc.. But yours is different so you may offer to mail them the photo. Also, I don't have much problem asking other probably either because of my "age", "charm" <bg>, or seeing an old man wearing photo-vest with 2 cameras swinging around (not always carrying 2 cameras). Also, I usually only ask when I shoot event or so, else I have no interest in sneaking behind's people back, even with long zoom I can snap people from blocks away.
As a long time Photographer and Fisherman I would suggest you ask before shooting. Remember, Fisherman always carry knives on them and if someone is not in the mood to have his picture taken then you might really have a problem LOL. If your at a distance and you really can't ask then you have no choice. Fishermen as a whole are a great very forgiving group and if you show an interest in what there doing then you normally wont have a problem. Remember, you aren't the first photographer ever to be on the water with them and they are also aware that there are a lot of magazines around. For your article, I'm sure you are aware of the many types of equipment. I would think that not only having your shooting information but also asking the fisherman what he is using at that moment (especially his line) will pretty much get him into talking about his stuff and not worrying about having his picture taken. Mark G Not4wood
