Copyright
In the main there are five types of relevant copyright issues relating to our work as a social or wedding photographers:

- Reproductive copyright
- Outright copyright
- Model rights
- Venue copyright
- Artwork copyright

Copyright is a bit boring, but it is still important. Copyright is designed to protect all parties - the photographers, event organisers and the subjects

We recommend you consider these four issues before any photographer you hire takes a photograph

Copyright and weddings
As a matter of course, we sign over to the bride and groom a reproductive copyright - for all the EDITED photographs we produce from a wedding. Normally the outright copyright remains with us - the photographers

We supply a CD or DVD containing the edited high resolution digital image files. We will not ever supply RAW files or the images that were not included in the final edited selection of images

Only the bride and groom - jointly - have the option to negotiate, for the outright copyright of the edited images from a wedding

The details of any copyright is defined in writing in the contract that is signed before the wedding

Reproductive copyright
Broadly our reproductive copyright gives the bearer the right to have an image printed, in any way, for any private use that is not commercial

This would not give the bearer of such a copyright the right to sell the images to the press or a magazine for example, or have the images reproduced in any paid for document. Neither would it give the right of distribution of the images for example on the internet or television

This would however give the bearer the right to pass the image to an artist and have an oil painting made from the image, or print an image to use in a private album or hang in their own home etc. The exact details will be defined in a written, signed contract

Oughtright copyright
Our outright copyright gives the bearer the right to use the images, negatives, photographs or digital files in any way the bearer sees fit. Unless specifically negotiated, this remains with ourselves, the photographers. This may be re-negotiated after the wedding as required. The cost per image after the wedding would be considerably more than the cost if negotiated before the wedding. To give an idea of the current commercial rate, per image for using photographs - look here

It is very rare for any photographer to ever give this away. If you are looking at several photographers, and copyright is the issue in question, be very sure that oughtright copyright is not confused with reproductive copyright (it invariably always is)

Model rights
Weddings and events have many attendees. As a professional photographers, we make the working assumption, that any photographs taken have the individual model rights signed over to us. This means that individual attendees at the wedding, who choose to impose a restriction to usage will need to negotiate with the bride and groom, who then in turn will need to negotiate with us. This needs to be done in advance of us taking photographs

The bride and groom, is responsible both letting attendees know there is a professional photographer present, and for letting me know of any individual in not to be photographed before we start shooting photographs

Named buildings with specific copyright issues
The London Eye - for example - cannot be photographed and reproduced commercially without permission. If we shoot your wedding there, we will need written permission to shoot. Furthermore because we will be clearly selling photographs (to you), we will need to pay a royalty to the owners. These restrictions are obscure.

We have to make the working assumption that any venue that we are asked to take photographs in has given the permission to the event organiser, and that the copyright for any images remains with us, unless otherwise negotiated

The bride and groom or wedding organiser is responsible for obtaining that permission (if required at all) before the photographer takes a photograph. If you are unsure � ask your church or venue if there are any specific issues in this area. Invariably there are no issues at all; sometimes there is an issue over a particular building

Art, painting and objects
Just as with certain named buildings, some objects and artworks are subject to some copyright restrictions. We have to make the working assumption that objects in the vicinity that may fall within our photographs, at the venue or church for example, are not subject to an additional copyright

It is the responsibility of the wedding organiser and bride and groom to ensure that any specific rights are assigned to us before shooting, or we are informed of any restrictions.

If you are unsure, ask your church or venue if there are any specific issues or restrictions. Invariably there are no issues at all; If there is a restriction, it is normally an artwork

Copyright in a nutshell
There are a lot of things to consider with copyright. Getting a disk of images does not mean you can do what ever you want, or you "have copyright"

Copyright applied properly protects all parties - the client, the bride and groom, the guests and children. Beyond that copyright also recognised areas where the photograph may be an infringement itself - specifically images of third party objects, artworks and buildings

All the specific details of copyright will be in your contract with us, If however you have a question about this, just ask us