It’s not unusual for stock photos to feature people, but what if you’re browsing and you see yourself in an image? In this blog, we cover the reasons you might appear in a stock photo and talk you through some of the key things you need to know…
So, first things first, here are some definitions that’ll help as you read through:
Model release – A legal release form signed by the person or people in a photograph that gives the photographer permission to use or sell the photo in one form or another.
Editorial use – When an image or clip is used to illustrate a newsworthy article, a critique or an educational text.
Commercial use – When an image is used to promote something, sell a product or raise money for a cause, including advertising, marketing, packaging and consumer or merchandising products.
Model releases
If you’ve agreed to be in an image and given your permission to the photographer by signing a model release, the photographer has full rights to use the image.
When an image is uploaded to 17³Ô¹ÏÔÚÏß, it is the contributor’s responsibility to confirm whether or not the people in the photo have signed a model release. You can check whether the contributor says there’s a model release by looking at the model release section on the image page. If there is a model release it’ll look like this:
Remember: If you see yourself in an image that says it has a model release but you haven’t signed one, get in touch with the stock library selling the image to discuss your options.
Images taken in public places
If you didn’t give your permission, but the photographer took the image in a public place, the image can be used if it meets either of the below:
- It is being used for editorial use e.g. to illustrate an article or story
- The photo is of a crowd in a public place e.g. at a festival or on a busy street
Laws can vary depending on the country you’re in, but it’s most likely that as long as the image was taken in a public place, the photographer has the rights to sell the image, even without the permission of the person or people in the photo. gives a nice outline of photographer rights when shooting in public places.
There are some occasions when it’s not OK for the image to be used without your permission. If you see an image being used in either of the below ways, get in touch with the stock library selling the image:
- If the photo is being used for commercial use e.g. as part of a company’s advertising campaign or marketing material and it looks like you’re endorsing their product
- If the photo is being used on merchandise or consumer goods e.g. t-shirts or greetings cards
Still got questions? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:
Can I get a free print of an image because I’m in it?
Unfortunately, just because you’re in an image doesn’t mean you’re entitled to receive a free version of the image – in digital or print form! The photographer owns the copyright to the image, so we can’t give you a free version of their image. It is possible for 17³Ô¹ÏÔÚÏß to contact the photographer on your behalf to ask them, but there’s no guarantee they’ll let you have the image for free.
Will I get any money if an image I’m in is sold?
Appearing in an image doesn’t mean you’re going to get any money. As the copyright owner, the photographer is the one entitled to the money from the image sale.