Copyright can be a bit confusing. Find out who really owns the copyright to your wedding photographs.
Owning full copyright of your wedding images would mean that you could legally sell them to your wedding venue, florist, dress designer etc or even sell them to an advertising agency. If your wedding photographer sees one of his images used, without his permission, as a full page advert in Brides Magazine he will probably ask them for a fee.
The fact is that a professional photographer will always retain copyright of his work unless they sign it over to you in writing, which is not standard practice. Professionals will instead grant a licence for personal use.
If your florist wants to use your wedding photos in a brochure then they will need to seek a separate licence for commercial use from the photographer.
Article submitted by Dan Sharpe
If you are just starting out as a photographer or setting up a new wedding photography business and you don’t fully understand the implications of giving away ‘Full Copyright’ then we recommend you read this.
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