The term "Model Release" makes it sound like something only professional fashion models need to worry about. In reality, it applies to nearly every kind of photo session — portraits, engagements, family sessions, even a quick shoot for someone's social media — anywhere the photos might later be shown publicly.
What it actually is
A Model Release is simply your written consent for the photographer to use the resulting photos beyond just handing them to you privately — for example, on a portfolio, a website, or an Instagram page. Without it, technically the photographer would need separate permission every single time they wanted to show a photo anywhere.
What it protects for you
A properly written release isn't a one-way document. It should guarantee that: your consent can be withdrawn at any time in writing, the photos will never be used in a way that damages your dignity or reputation, and — if a photographer profits directly from selling or licensing a specific photo to a third party — you're entitled to compensation from that.
What it protects for the photographer
On the other side, it gives the photographer clear, documented permission to use their own work — in a portfolio, in exhibitions, or for promotional material — without needing to re-ask for every single photo, every single time.
Why minors need a separate version
A minor cannot legally give this kind of consent themselves. That's why a photographer working with children needs a separate release, signed by a parent or legal guardian, who declares — under full legal responsibility — that they're authorized to consent on the child's behalf. It carries the same protections as the standard release, plus additional wording specifically protecting the child's dignity.
When you should actually ask for one
If a session is purely private — printed photos for your own home, nothing published anywhere — a release technically isn't required. The moment photos might appear in a portfolio, on social media, or anywhere public, it's worth having one in place before the shoot, not after.
Every session at Shot by Bojan includes the appropriate release form — standard or minor — alongside the Photography Services Agreement, so everyone knows exactly where they stand before the camera comes out.
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