Who owns the shots?

[Qikshots]

I have a chance to go a high rated Horse Show this weekend,the web sites says "Photographers Welcome",I plan on taking alot of shots as I have already had a preview to the horses that will be jumping in this event,will these shots be fully mine? I do plan on trying to sell a few,as well as send the Equestrian Center a CD of some of the shots ,along with my card,I will give them full rights to the shots that I send them,free,sorta as a Thank You for the open invite.
Joe Merritt
Chesapeake,Va.

[NorthC]

Well... you own the shots...

BUT, you need a release to "make a profit" from the shots...

Most likely you will be selling the shot to the people in the show, so not much of a problem there...

If you want to sell a picture to the local paper, no problem there...

But if you want to sell to the general public, stock, on the web, or whatever you need a release. Or you invite a lawsuit from the person in the picture or the owner of the horse, using their likeliness without permission...

The gift of a CD is nice... but this may set a standard you may not want to want... they will always expect that if you are there they get the shots for free... and don't we all want to make money...

Good Luck...

I AM NO EXPERT, THIS IS JUST WHAT I KNOW TO BE CORRECT... with a gain of salt...

Thanks

Chris

[gwphoto]

You can sell the photos and make a profit with OUT a release as long as they are for editorial use only. If you sell them for commercial use then you have to have a release.

[Qikshots]

Those were the answers I expected,photographic law is proving to be very tricky,while there wil be far tooo many people I will be shooting to go around and get releases from,I'll get the shots anyway,at this point,makeing money is only a small thought,Im more concerned about getting my name and face out there so that they know I an available,and I dont pass myself off as a photographer,I always make the "amateur" fact very clear up front,and as a result of my shots at Fotki.com,I was offered the chance to take shots for a rideing acadamy in August,with the promise of a credit on all shots used for thier ads and web page,which is what Im after,its hard for a "newbie" to get his ,or her feet in the door, but as long as I get the shots,and someone that likes them gets to use them,thats great,I am more of a person with too many cameras then an actual "photographer",kinda honeing my skills to gain the experience needed to produce shots worth paying for.

[I_B_Don]

At any public event you have the right to shoot what ever is being done in public... but without a "release" you do not have the right to sell or display those images.... the PPA has a real good section on there web page about this very topic....

[Carpe Imago]

Originally Posted by I_B_Don

At any public event you have the right to shoot what ever is being done in public... but without a "release" you do not have the right to sell or display those images.... the PPA has a real good section on there web page about this very topic....

This is generally true, but the definition of public can be tricky...and even when you're correct (within the letter of the law) the police might still have a differing opinion.

A totally agree with Don. Check out the PPA, and then buy a photographer's legal guide, and then get a business card from an attorney in your area that works with photographers and intellectual property issues. Keep that card in your case in case you ever need to pull it out.

[kgphoto]

Quikshots,

You may want to renegotiate that deal with the riding academy. It sounds like they are getting an awful lot in return for very little. How about no charge for the "session fee" but they agree to pay for usage and prints on an as needed basis?

Perhaps a few shots for free and the rest at "X" dollars? I would also request a data base of the members that you shoot so that you can market to them copies of the pictures you took for sale later, as well as additional sessions, if you want to be a horse photographer.

Otherwise, just go, take some pictures, write a brief local interest story and send to the local papers. Make sure they can use them only as long as they use your byline. That way you get the exposure you desire, and it is a more fair compensation to you. Maybe the riding academy will notice and then seek you out for prints, that you can then sell.