Verbal permission enough?

[Gem]

I was just wondering if verbal permission is enough to okay using photographs of people you don't know? I'll be travelling to a country where people don't speak english and most are illiterate too, so signing model releases are out of the question. In such a case, verbal permission should be acceptable, no?

[tirediron]

Like a verbal contract, it's worth the paper it's printed on. It likely won't suffice if you wanted to use the images for commercial work, or to enter a lot of contests.

[AcadieLibre]

Claim your a photojournalist, problem solved.

[tomorrowstreasures]

Claim your a photojournalist, problem solved.

How do you do that?

[Gem]

^^ Yeah, I can't just say I'm a photojournalist...can I?

[tirediron]

Turn around, face Kansas, click your heels together and say, "I'm a photo-journalist". That's all that's required. No law says you actually have to have your images published. The bottom line is that there is nothing wrong with taking pictures of people for the most part (However, as someone's who's just spent the last seven months in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, PLEASE talk to a knowledgable local and ask about what what's considered polite and/or appropriate in the area. In some places, esp. the Middle East, taking pictures of people while legal, is considered very rude, and can get you in trouble).

What I do strongly suggest, especially if you're going to be in poorer regions is have a stack of small denomination local curency handy and "pay" people for their pictures. It will make you friends, and you'll find people a lot more cooperative. This image:



taken recently in Chennai, India "cost" me 20 Rupees (less than twenty-five cents). The fellow in the picture was a street vendor, who sold most of the items on his cart for less than 5 Rupees; to see his face when I gave him the money, you'd thought he'd won the lottery. A tip however, don't "pay" until after you've taken your pictures or all of a sudden they may cost a lot more.

Hope that helps, John

The only reason you would need a release (at least from a North American perspective) is if you intend to use the images for commercial gain (ie advertising) or if you intend to enter them in certain contests. Many big contests now are very sticky about releases if you have anyone who is even remotely recognizable in the image, regardless of the circumstance.