500 Wedding Ideas

I had my wedding photos taken by a photographer. Do those photos belong to me or is it the photographer's? ?

My wedding planner want some of our photos taken to be printed out in a wedding magazine. If the photos belongs to me I can allow it to be printed,right? 1 more thing.. I paid him to take the photos for me. Is it still not mine?

Public Comments

1. The photographer owns the copyright and can give you other rights to use the photo call the photographer and ask for permission Just to be safe
2. Sure they are your property
3. No. It's the photographer's intellectual property. You can buy the rights, or perhaps the right to just a few of the photos.
4. i'm pretty sure the photographer would be psyched to have his/her work published in a wedding magazine.
5. Check the photography contract you signed.
6. As far as I'm aware the photographer owns the right to the photo's so you would have to seek their permission.
7. The photos don't belong to you, unless you purchased the copyright rights to the photos, which would be very unusual. The prints belong to you, but not the rights to the photos. IF the photographer has a copyright stamp, gold embossed stamp, or any identifying marks, then you can't even bring the photos to a photo lab and have them copied. That would be copyright infringement, a major lawsuit. An analogy: If I go buy a magazine, can I scan the images and sell them as my own? No. Talk to the photographer, he will probably let you use them, but all money is rightfully the photographers, unless you make other arrangements.
8. They belong to the Photographer. Once you buy them, the copies are yours to keep and do what you want with them except to copy them or selling purposes. In this case you need to buy the actual wrights to the picture. You even see this when a photographer takes pictures for famous people and then sells it to magazines. Good Luck and ask your photographer if he can sell you the wright to the picture that you want to use on the magazine. Take care!
9. if you bought them from him their yours if you didnt their his unless you paid him to take the pictures then there his
10. Different countries have different laws. Where do you live? In Australia, these images belong to the bride and groom, NOT the photographer. Where do you live?
11. They are photos OF you, but belong to the photographer. You paid to record the events of the day and paid for prints. The photog has the copyright and is entitled to any sales made to publications. Since they are of you, you also have to give permisssion for them to be used in a publication. The photog may grant permission to use them or ask for payment for the publication to reproduce them. The publication will know what they are willing to pay for one time rights or limited time usage. That is standard practice.
12. Like everyone else said, unless you signed for copyright in the contract, the photographer owns the images. However, I don't think it would be very logical to go and ask to buy the copyright if someone wants them to print in a magazine. It would make much more sense to point your planner in the direction of the photographer to ask him to use the images, and he will likely charge them to use the photos in publication. Although depending on your contract, the photographer may need your permission to do so as well.
13. Unless your contract with the photographer says different, the PRINTS you order from him are yours, but the IMAGES belong to the photographer. Essentially, what you pay for are the prints, and the services of the photographer to get you those prints. Part of his income is in selling prints to his clients, so, if you try to bypass his copyrights, you are stealing from him. But, here's the good thing. Almost ANY professional photographer would be happy to release some image for publication in a magazine. He may do it for free, or he may asked to be compensated, but, that kind of exposure and "free" advertisement can help out HIS career. What is a big surprise, here, is that your "wedding planner" didn't know this. I suspect this person is not a pro, or, at least, very inexperienced that he/she couldn't answer this question for you, or, get the necessary clearances from the photographer.
14. Unless you specifically have in writing that the photographer has transferred copyright to you, then the photographer still owns the copywright. Contact your photographer, they would probably be more than willing to let you use their photos if they are credited for it. (Free advertising)
15. There should be a release in the agreement if any. Many photograpers will have a model release written within an agreement stating that they can publish, advertise, use in portfolio, and earn profit off of your photos. once you sign the agreement you have agreed to these conditions. If the photographer or wedding planner wanted to publish your photos in a magazine, that is fully up to the photographer and not you...of course that is the black and white explanation....if you do not want your face on a cover of a magazine and it really upsets you, you could contact your photographer and plead your case....photographers are human too and he/she might understand. As for claiming the photos as yours in copyright terms? The photos are copyrighted to the photographer. You can purchase a copy of the images so that you may have them on hand (some photographers offer this option) but you can not own the negatives and images. I hope I didnt ramble to bad here. :) Good luck!