Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

moderator2 · Joined: 12 Jun 2009 Posts: 31

Contributors,

As many of you know, Shutterstock has been accepting, though not requiring, property releases for the past few years. Rather than continue our policy of rejecting images when we feel that a property release is required, we are making our form of property release available for download, first in this forum and then generally on the site. There is no need to provide property releases with your editorial image & footage submissions. For more information on our editorial policy, please see the forum post regarding editorial submissions.

The laws regarding the necessity of property releases are in flux and do vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. If the subject of your image contains any of the following, please provide a properly completed and signed property release when your content is submitted.

* Modern Architecture
* Building interiors
* Unique and/or custom designed luxury boats, vehicles, airplanes, etc.
* Recognizable animals: race horses, unique pets, certain zoo animals, etc.
* Photos/video of building exteriors taken from private property
* Public places with photography policies: most stadiums, museums, amusement parks, etc.
* Famous landmarks & historic locations:
Will vary from site to site - please familiarize yourself with location's photography policy
(See our posting of current image restrictions for more information.)

The foregoing list is not all inclusive and should be used for general guidance only. As a photographer, it is your responsibility to do the research and determine if a release is necessary. Each specific instance must be considered individually. As a reminder, you are bound by the Terms of Service when you signed up as a contributor for Shutterstock. Please refer to the TOS for additional information.

Currently, there is no "property release" selection in the drop-down menu for releases on the submission page. Until the interface is updated, please attach your property release as a "model release" when you submit images/video that require a release.

varius · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:44 am

Finally!

Thanks a lot for that. It will make thing a lot easier having a property release form that is known to be accepted by Shutterstock. :)

Just one question regarding the "Photos/video of building exteriors taken from private property": Do we need a property release for the subject in the footage or one for the place we're shooting from or both?

varius · Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:50 am

After looking at the release, three more suggestions, if I may:

1) Please leave a bit more room for the name of the property. I was just filling out one release for my dog and I was having dificulties getting his full name into that field. How much more difficult will that be for a private house...?

2) Maybe you could a space for an optional photo of the property to make it easier to identify for people not familiar with the property (such as reviewers).

3) If you could make a word document or similar available, we could fill in our photographer information before we print it. That would help making things more readable.

Thanks again. :)