Customer Reviews

Photographer's Legal Guide

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Photographer's Legal Guide gives you detailed, step-by-step information that is essential for photographers that plan on making their hobby become their business! It is done in a clear, concise manner that even those of us not accustomed to "legal jargon" can follow!

This book is well written and concise. It clearly explains the legal hurdles for photographers - both those who sell a bit on the side or those who are making a full-time business out of it.

Starting out as a Freelance Photographer, I acquired this publication and found, that the information researched, concerning starting out as a new Freelance Photographer, is "Outstanding". Copyright Laws etc. It's everything a Photographer needs to survive. I give the author much, much credit, for taking the tasking, to publish a truly "Outstanding" book of information. Every Photographer absolutely needs a copy of this publication.

Carolyn Wright has written a book for every photographer who is selling or who is considering selling their work. Carolyn has written the book in a concise and easy to read manner that will help photographers navigate through photography topics such as types of businesses, tax advantages for photographers, getting paid for your photography, insurance, copyright, procedures and forms to use when registering your copyrighted work, ways to prevent others from stealing your photographs (especially important in today's digital age), contracts, model releases and many other important topics related to photography and the law. This book belongs in every photographer's library!

I'm just to the point where I am considering selling some of my work. I found Carolyn's book to be extremely helpful in identifying some areas needed to protect myself and my images.

This book is absolutely fantastic. It covers all aspects of the legal rights of photographers. I'm strictly an avid, amateur photographer, and thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I don't have a business, am retired, and I take lots of photos, and I now feel armed with my legal rights as a camera carrier. Carolyn is a great writer. The book is written in plain, easy to read and understand English. Her credentials are impeccable--even a little scary. I even enjoyed the few outdoor photos that she put in the book. Her explanations of copyrighting, and when and where you're allowed to take different kinds of photos are a must to have in your arsenal. But she also tells you what you're not allowed to do. The book is about 120 pages, and every page is a winner.

The solo practitioner and the small law firm cannot have an expert on every law question. "LAW" applies to every human interest and activity. The vastness of the law research recources can prove insurmountable. This nonesoterical, plain languge book can acquaint and help pinpoint THE question, making the answer eaiser to identify.
Thanks from a retired country lawyer,
John H. Poteet

I was very disappointed by this book.

I expected a work telling me when, how, and in what circumstances I could photograph subjects and distribute my works.

Instead, this book could basically be retitled "Some General Information about Starting A Small Buisness That is Much Too General To be Useful and a Few Pages about Photographers' Rights."

Much of this book is about such general things as: what is a sole proprietership; how to get a tax ID; what is a contract; and very general stuff that is common to any small business owner. While there is nothing wrong with this, the subject of starting a small business is covered in more detail and better in many other works. You do not need this book to learn how to start a business, nor should you buy it for that. The book is mostly full of general information on starting a small business, and a general introduction to copyright law, and a prudent admonition to get a waiver from models.

For me, this book was a waste of money. It was not detailed enough to provide good advice as to how to run a business, nor did it explore in detail what I bought it for, namely what are the rules of the road for a photographer taking and distributing images. The author has an excellent blog on current events in photographers' rights, but the book disappoints.

I would not recommend this book.

FULL DISCLOSURE: In addition to being an amatuer photographer, I am an attorney who practices in the field of intellectual property law. So much of what I found banal about this book may not be so to the general reader. On the other hand, I recognize that the advice in this book is general and is not a substitue for a lawyer. Photographers with real legal problems will have to go elsewhere, and people starting a business are not likely to find the information they need here.

While some would argue that this book does not cover "everything", this book is a great resource. It provides a starting point and answers many of the common questions regarding photography and the law. Coupled with Carolyn's blog [...] and the appendix in this book, a photographer is provided with a great, easy to understand source for legal information.
There are quite a few misconceptions regarding photography and the law with both photographers and non-photographers alike. This book is a great starting point for eliminating these misconceptions.

This book hits the highpoints to get you going. It covers a broad array of subjects to give you the basics. A must read for those starting out and a good quick reference for the experienced.