Legal Issues for Photographers

Author Tad Crawford

     I recently listened to a few podcasts that touched on the subject of protecting yourself as a photographer. The first was a great conversation with author of the book Business and Legal Forms for Photographers, Tad Crawford. Of the many things that Tad mentioned in this extremely informative podcast, there were a few key points that I have recently learned about myself that I want to share with others.
     Tad hits on the fact that it is imperative to protect yourself with solid, well rounded contracts when you are doing freelance work. His book provides a checklist for making sure you cover key areas when in specific situations. The checklist can also be used as a tool when evaluating those contracts given to you by others. Contracts will protect you against future misunderstandings. Tad voiced concern about so many current photographers working on a "handshake agreement." "This is just a bad idea, verbal contracts just don't work because people simply don't remember." Written contracts can also help to salvage business relationships where individual parties might have honestly forgotten about specifics otherwise agreed upon in a verbal agreement. He also talks about copyrights and the usefulness of registering them with the government. Which is required before pursuing litigation, even for something as simple as an injunctive release. For more information on his book or to listen to the podcast yourself visit Camera Dojo's website.



     Another very informative podcast I was able to catch recently was one from Fireground Action Photography, which is comprised of fire and rescue photographers. They focused on what you should be prepared to do when an attorney calls. First and foremost, they explained why it is important in this kind of photography to have a complete byline under the caption in your photo. When photographing fires and auto accidents there are often legal matters that can be helped by the assistance of the photos taken at these scenes, and it is much easier to find Moe Jones vice M. Jones. It is also important to mention that although these photographers expect to be compensated for these photos, they practice good ethics in the process of obtaining them.

Image by Fireground Action Photography

     An interesting case that was mentioned dealt with a class action suit where a photographer had taken pictures of a traffic collision and was later contacted by the automobile manufacturer who paid a large amount for unedited copies of all photos that were taken of the scene that day. The pictures in question were able to provide answers to important questions in the legal battle. Also talked about is how to handle negotiations with the lawyers involved in similar cases and where you might be able to find information on pricing these types of photos is also discussed. You can find the podcast on itunes under Fireground Action Photography's episode #40 to learn more.
     As I want to educate customers who use my business for gear rental this kind of information can be priceless when sharing it with returning and potential clients alike, seeing as many of them will most likely be professional freelance photographers. I intend to use information like I learned by listening to these podcasts in workshops provided to customers of my future business as a way of marketing and promotion.