Let’s talk about Photography Licenses
Under US copyright law, the photographer is the sole owner of the media unless rights are sold or specifically given away.
Please read on for basic information of licensing agreements, as understood in my T&C and contracts.
What does it all mean for my realtor clients?
Clients purchase a license to use the media. Licensing terms can vary depending on how the media is used, the length of time for its use, and the intended audience.
But before we get all legal and complicated, just remember one simple thing.
My license allows you to use your media as you like, but you are not permitted to share media with a third party (i.e. don’t give the photos to anyone else without my permission)
A comparison of licensing agreements
For Realtors
Real estate agents purchase a limited-use license that allows the media to be used for the sale of that specific property.
To quality for this price, client must have a current MLS number for the property.
The license for media is considered expired when the sale of the property is complete, or after one year — whichever comes first.
Real Estate photos are plentiful so the short lifespan allows us to justify the low cost per photo.
For Stagers
Licensing for stagers differs from licensing for real estate agents.
Stagers that have set up a property for a client of Showcase Photo Tours may share photos of the listing on social media with appropriate tags.
Stagers who wish to use our photography to promote their business should contact us to purchase an extended license.
Stagers who would like to purchase the full set of photos for a listing should reference the Cost Sharing section. Please be sure to specifically request cost sharing prior to the shoot.
For Architects and Design/Build clients
These licenses may differ, but generally allow for use of media for an unlimited amount of time. There are also fewer restrictions on photo use, whether it be online, print, etc.
Photos with a commercial license can continue to benefit your business for years to come.
Examples of typical commerical use include hospitality (hotels, bed and breakfasts), retail (restaurants, shops), commerical buildings (offices, condo buildings), design and build businesses, interior designers and contractors.
SAVE WITH WITH COST-SHARING
Our cost-sharing agreements allows multiple parties to split the cost of a single photography project.
Contibuting parties may be realtors, designers, stagers, landscapers, architects, contractors, product manufacturers, etc.
All parties must sign a licensing agreement prior to the photo shoot. This agreement will clearly define the project deliverables for each party involved.
The more parties involved, the higher the savings!
We are The Washington DC Region Real Estate Design And Architecture Guild and we made this video:
