Forum Moderators: not2easy
Both I and several other people have already taken lots of pictures of church activities, such as "work days", potlucks, VBS (Vacation Bible School), etc. I'd like to be able to legally use some of these pictures.
What do I have to do to be able to legally use any of these pictures? Also, if I (or one of the other amateur photographers) want to take specific pictures for some parts of the website, how do I legally do that?
What type of pictures of people (close ups, groups shots, crowd pictures) can I legally use without permission, and what types of people pictures do I need to get permission to use?
Where can I read for myself the laws/rules about using pictures of people.
ALSO, is there someplace that I could get public domain modern day pictures of people and children for the website?
(I also have my own website that I put lots of pictures of my finished work. Since it's my own creation, I haven't had to worry about getting permission to post these pictures on my own website)
Thanks for your help
Best Wishes,
Stephen
[edited by: StephenWin at 4:58 pm (utc) on Nov. 24, 2006]
If you search for something like "standard model release form" you should get some examples. It's a bit of a minefield though, especially with group pictures.
Stock photography is your friend for situations like this. Try iStockphoto, which is very likely to have sort of images you describe. You could also look at image licensed under creative commons (attribution only), but I would be a little cagey about using CC images with people in them and you will have to give the original creators of the image attribution.
If you are really paranoid, post the pictures on the church bulletin board (the REAL church bulletin board) along with some release forms. Ask people to stop by, find their pictures, sign the release and leave it pinned to their picture.
If it is a "news" story about a church event in a public place then you do not need a release. Just do not use pictures of anyone in any place where they might have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Pictures of a pie eating contest at the church picnic, in a story about the church picnic is absolutely OK.
Sitting around in the livingroom on a ski trip should be fine.
Sleeping 4 to a room having a pillow fight, gets a little more iffy. I would probably ask permission before using that one.
Any picture taken with someone in the bathroom, even if they are not involved in a "private" activity, I would want a signed release.
Of course, being a church, you want to be sensitive about the privacy of your members. Someone who has been a victim of stalking should not have to be nervous about participating in church events for fear that their picture might show up on the website.
Just because you have a right to use pictures without a signed release, doesn't mean that you should use identifying pictures without concern for the people in those pictures. After all, this is the web, and not a limited circulation newsletter to the church members.
It may be a pain, but it would be best to at least talk to the people that are going to be showing up in individual or possibly embarrassing pictures.
