Comments on: Who Owns The Photos? Not All Realtors Understand Photo Licensing

By: Photography For Real Estate » Who Owns The Photos

Photography For Real Estate » Who Owns The Photos — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:04:47 +0000

[...] licensing but if they understand your expectations they will go out of their way to comply. In a previous post on this subject I listed what is considered the standard practice for most real estate [...]

By: Bo Buchanan

Bo Buchanan — Tue, 13 May 2008 05:00:16 +0000

What a great post! Coming from the real estate perspective as a REALTOR – these are issues I had never really considered. This is great information. I’m curious – do any of you photogs include copyright info on the photos themselves?

By: larry

larry — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:38:05 +0000

@Samantha – Most real estate photographers starting out use the form of business called a “sole proprietor”. That is they are doing business as individuals. There are companies that hire real estate photographers and pay by the job but typically pay much less that you could make if you find your own customers and run your own business.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:01:28 +0000

I am looking to become a free lance or contract Real Estate photographer, do I need to have a company registered or can I do it individualy? How many of you out there are individuals verses a photography company? Do you have any advise for me starting out? I could use all the help I can gets, it is hard thinking about starting a company or a career from scratch. Thank you all so much!!!!!!

By: Photography For Real Estate » Top 10 Photography For Real Estate Posts In 2007

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 18:50:37 +0000

[...] Who Owns The Photos- Not All Realtors Understand Photo Licensing [...]

By: Thomas Johnson

Thomas Johnson — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:14:01 +0000

What about the web where the pics will have a lfe of forever, even after the listing sells? Is release needed from the new owner?

By: Ryan Coleman

Ryan Coleman — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 03:36:33 +0000

This is a GREAT post and definitely something that needs to be addressed. I was at a particular real estate office this past week dropping off a brochure I had created for a client, when I noticed a section of the local newspaper taped up on the wall. It was an advertisement for the office and showcased 30 properties. Lo and behold I recognized 6 photos (20% of the total) as my own, 2 of which were being used by agents I’ve never even met before! I approached the client who was allowing this and he IMMEDIATELY became defensive and informed me that HE owned those photos because he “paid for them” and therefore could do anything he wants with them. I didn’t retaliate because my professional relationship with him is worth more to me than the money I would request for use of my artistic property, but still… When are we going to get the respect we deserve as professionals and as artists? Are we going to be bullied even though the law seems to be on our side?

Keep posting, everyone. I want to read more points of view. This is important.

By: Michael Wellik

Michael Wellik — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 02:38:13 +0000

I use a property release form for ALL virtual tours that I shoot. I had a very difficult time finding examples to use online so I did the best I could. Would appreciate comments to help improve it. It’s at http://www.nccotours.com/PropertyReleaseForm.pdf
Pardon the website. I do my own HTML and it’s currently on a free site. I just totally reworked the site 3 days ago so it’s not yet complete. I just want to add that I’m so glad I found this website tonight. I can’t stop reading. It’s so full of very useful information.

By: What to do with photographs when you lose a listing : Real Central VA

What to do with photographs when you lose a listing : Real Central VA — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:37:36 +0000

[...] want your photos used by the next Realtor? Seeing as how once the photos are submitted to the MLS, the listing agent relinquishes all rights to those photos … take all the photos out and replace them with something like this [...]

By: Scott Hargis

Scott Hargis — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 02:48:09 +0000

William – where are you getting this from? Editorial means newspaper or magazine, maybe web, and part of the rationale is that they’re essentially disposable. Art gallery or “book of photos” definitely requires a release. You can probably get away with it if the location of the image is not readily recognizable (e.g. a typical bedroom where it’s the furnishings that differentiate it from other bedrooms), but if there are any distinguishing architectural characteristics at all, you’re on thin ice.
For good copyright information, join ASMP or APA; both have great resources for members.

Even “editorial” use is being tested now, since news outlets are realizing that their archive of images are worth money. This is essentially untested, but when the Times, say, releases a compilation of images that appeared on the pages of the daily, is it still editorial? Of course not; but they don’t have releases. Eventually this will be resolved in court.