You Paid for the Photos—But Can You Use Them?
Here’s a fun riddle for you:
What’s beautiful, expensive, and possibly useless?
I’ll go ahead and give you the answer: Your brand photos.
That is, unless you actually own the rights to use them.
Let’s talk about image usage rights - something most brands don’t think about until their attorney brings it up in a panic. It’s the fine print that can make or break your ability to actually use your own photos the way you want to.
What Are Image Usage Rights in Commercial Photography?
Image usage rights are essentially a permission slip that spells out where, how, and for how long you can use your photos. Just because you paid for the shoot doesn’t mean you automatically own those rights.
(Spoiler alert: When you work with me, you do.)
Why Usage Rights Matter for Your Brand
Imagine investing in a stunning campaign, only to learn you can’t use your favorite shot in a Facebook ad.
Or realizing that a model never signed a release and now you’re pulling content off your site before a cease-and-desist rolls in.
Usage rights aren't just paperwork, they’re your brand’s entitlement to your images and peace of mind that your investment in brand photography is going to last the long haul.
Full Usage Rights in Perpetuity: What That Means for You
I give my clients full usage rights in perpetuity. That means you can use your photos anytime, anywhere, forever. Billboards? Sure. Instagram? Absolutely. A random banner ad five years from now? Go for it.
There’s no expiration date, no upcharges later, and no licensing hurdles to clear every time you want to reuse content.
I find this to be tremendously convenient and a huge relief for my clients who have worked with other vendors who do not grant these rights. It’s especially useful for brands who produce a lot of print collateral or who are franchised, since their images can be much harder for them to track down when their contract term is up.
No more hunting down old photos or expensive contract renewals - these images are yours forever.
The Importance of Talent Release Forms
Here’s where I go full type-A on your behalf. I handle all the behind-the-scenes logistics to secure talent release forms from anyone who appears in your photos. So you’re covered from a legal perspective, even if your campaign goes viral (or gets repurposed down the line).
Talent release forms are something that seem like an unnecessary hurdle until you get burned. I’ve seen clients who have had happy employees willingly volunteer to participate in a shoot, only to become hostile when their employment ends or is reassigned down the line. Talent release forms protect you and your images from being unusable should your talent decide - for any reason - to protest your use of their image and likeness.
It’s the kind of thing you don’t think about…until you really need it.
Commercial Photography That’s Legally Buttoned-Up
You shouldn’t have to think twice about whether you’re allowed to post your own brand photos. When you work with Camera Girl Creative, you won’t have to, since I bake that legal peace of mind into the process from the start.
You get beautiful, strategic imagery—plus the paperwork that makes it truly yours.
TL;DR
Image usage rights control where and how you can use your photos
Many commercial photographers restrict these rights (read the fine print)
I give clients full usage rights in perpetuity
I handle talent release forms so you're legally covered
You get more than photos—you get freedom
