Customer Reviews

Legal Handbook for Photographers: The Rights and Liabilities of Making Images (Legal Handbook for Photographers: The Rights & Liabilities of)

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As a professional photographer and writer for many years, I have occasionally bumped into problems related to making or using photographs -- people who tell you that you can't make a photograph, people who use your photographs without permission -- and I found Bert's first edition of this book several years ago and was delighted with its contents. His model-release form, for example, is the most simple and un-intimidating I have ever seen, and getting a signed model release is required for some of the work I do. I thought the advice generally was superb -- so much so that I bought copies of the book for everybody in our little company.

Since then we have worked with Bert on many copyright infringement problems, always successfully, and some of that experience has been incorporated into this second edition of the Handbook. There is tremendous misunderstanding about how the Copyright Act works and what a photographer must do to get full protection -- formal registration -- and what a photographer can get when a registered image is infringed. Bert knows this topic inside and out and shares that information in this book.

If you are a photographer who plans to keep from being sued, arrested, or harassed, and if you want to know what your options are when somebody uses your work without permission, Bert's LEGAL HANDBOOK is great advice at very reasonable expense. In fact, it is worth it for just the model release alone!

Hans Halberstadt

After jumping into the digital world and actually selling my images, the thought occurred to me that perhaps I should learn a few things about protecting my rights and respecting the rights of others. That is, I wanted information about how to cover my legal backside.

Krages' book describes a U.S. photographer's rights and responsibilities using a clear and conversational prose. While he explains the legal jargon specific to photography, he never forgets his readers care more about making photographs than reading dry law books. The book includes a great breadth of information in modest depth. I really appreciated the sample forms.

Given that I'm a novice pro, I found this book extraordinarily helpful. If you're turning pro, you'll want to read this book, too.

As an advanced novice taking the first steps to go pro, I had a LOT of questions about legal issues of photography. I'd searched for some of my questions online and in a few books, but the answers were never good. They either focused on different questions or didn't give enough of an answer to satisfy me.

When this book arrived, I flipped through it and read all of the photo captions. Wow! Immediately I saw its value. Then I started reading through sections of the text. It answered all of the questions I'd had.

While one would best be advised to contact an attorney if a legal issue came up, this book goes a long way to help the reader avoid legal problems. I am VERY satisfied that I bought this book. If you're a professional photographer with legal questions, I'd highly recommend it.

Yes, alot of this is covered in many other legal forums, but to have all the topics covered in a clear and concise format is invaluable. ( Well, at least as clear as laws themselves are. ) Where laws are black & white, this book describes them as such. Where laws are vague, this books describes them as such.

What I like most about the book is the organization and directness. There's not a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo and is organized in a manner that is easy to find for reference.

This is a book that every photographer ( new / experienced, informed / uninformed, pro / amatuer ) need. You will be glad you have read it and have it for reference.

This particular book is almost like a "Cliffs Notes" version of some other more in-depth books on the same subject matter. In that regard, it is a great reference guide to have in the event that a specific question comes up about legalities faced by still photographers when it comes to usage, copyright, privacy, etc. A great book and I recommend to anyone who has questions about certain subject matter when it comes to still photography.

If you're a professional photographer you must have this book. If you're an amateur photographer or even just a casual "snapshooter" who takes some occasional weekend shots, you must have this book. It will keep you from running afoul of the laws regarding photography, and most importantly it will define your rights as a photographer and help you to stand up for them when challenged by those who think they might be in the know but really aren't, and surprisingly enough this can include law enforcement personnel! I was surprised at and pleased with the information I learned from this book. Bookmark and highlight relevant passages and take this book into the field with you if you think you may encounter resistance to your legal rights to shoot. I'm ordering a second copy in order to do just that very thing. Highly recommended!

Fine basic review. Well-recommended but may be worth looking for at your public library given the cost.

If you're a pro, you will get professional legal advice. That's how it works. It's a cost of doing business professionally. Your attorney may recommend reference material.

If you're a hobbyist, you probably want to read this once or twice and take a few notes. Many won't go back over and over.

I wouldn't think about posting photos online or shooting in more-or-less public places without reading a book like this at least once. You may differ. Perhaps you don't care to have a say in the use of your photos and you don't mind handing over your camera if/when someone objects to the photos you're taking.

Me? I'm a reader. I bought this book and will probably read it annually. YMMV.

There is something useful on every page. This was one of the best things I've bought next to my camera. This is book is a great resource for any photographer, but a must have for anyone who is thinking of selling their photos.

John

An informative book that any photographer should have that not only covers common legal issues but also sorts out gray areas of the law concerning photographers. Every chapter holds a lot to be learned and will make you rethink some of the things that may be taken for granted. This book is definetly a tool for understanding the rights of photographers as well as their subjects. Legislature that could be confusing is simplified and potential legal infractions are more easily identified. A smart addition to any photographer's library.

the book gives you over view of your legal rights what allowed to be photographed... and your rights to copyrighs