Published on 04/21/2006

There are certain legal considerations that are unique to photographers and photojournalists. Ignorance of the law is NOT a defense if you should ever get on the wrong side of the legal fence.

This article gives you some great resources so that you can get up to speed on your rights and obligations.

Legal Considerations for Photographers

Ignorance of the law is NO defense. So it is important that photographers, especially photographers who are in business or who want to sell their photographs know about the legal considerations that are unique and specific to their profession.

Photographers should have a good grasp of the following:

privacy rights
property rights
intellectual rights
copyrights
freedom of information
ethics
work for hire
licensing images
liability
fair use
use of images on the internet

One of the best places to get guidance and information is the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA). NAPPA is committed to providing information so that their members can make sound decisions on business and photo practices. The NPPA has over 11,000 members worldwide. Their members work for newspapers, television, and magazines and include journalists, photojournalists and editors.

http://www.nppa.org/

NAPPA's website offers a variety of valuable business information including Frequently Asked Questions about photographers rights, copyright, etc. The information is available to both members and non-members.

http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/self-training_resources/legacy_report/questions.html

The National Writers Union has some great easy-to-read information on copyright.

http://www.nwu.org/nwu/index.php?cmd=showPage&page_id=1.2.13.1

My bookcases are filled with books on writing and photography. Here are a the two that I find most useful:

Business and Legal Forms for Photographers:

Read my review:
http://proofpositive.com/articles/230/1/Business-and-Legal-Forms-for-Photographers

Buy the book at Amazon

Canadian Copyright Law by Lesley Ellen Harris.

This is a MUST for Canadian writers and photographers. The law DOES differ slightly from the USA so be sure to find out where and how.

Be sure to get the 2006 edition which is SO HOT off the press even Amazon doesn't have it listed yet. Get it direct from the publisher.
http://www.mcgrawhill.ca/companion/copyrightlaw/

If photography is your profession, be sure that you ARE professional ... don't leave money on the table by not understanding your rights, and don't get on the wrong side of the law by NOT understanding other people's rights.