Photography and Media Media, Publishing & Copyright 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'model release' in photography?
- A camera firmware update
- A legal document signed by a photographed person granting permission for commercial use of their image (Correct answer)
- A release date for a new camera model
- A document releasing a photographer from liability
Correct answer: A legal document signed by a photographed person granting permission for commercial use of their image
A model release is a legal agreement in which a person consents to having their likeness used in photographs for commercial, advertising, or other specified purposes.
Question 2: Under US copyright law, who typically owns the copyright in a photograph?
- The subject of the photograph
- The photographer who created the image, from the moment of creation (Correct answer)
- The publication that publishes the image
- The manufacturer of the camera used
Correct answer: The photographer who created the image, from the moment of creation
Under US copyright law, the photographer who creates an original image automatically holds the copyright from the moment the photo is taken, without registration.
Question 3: What is 'editorial use' of a photograph, as distinct from 'commercial use'?
- Use in a photography magazine only
- Use in news, educational, or informational contexts without implying endorsement, vs. use to sell products/services (Correct answer)
- Use by photo editors in post-processing
- Use of photos taken by newspaper editors
Correct answer: Use in news, educational, or informational contexts without implying endorsement, vs. use to sell products/services
Editorial use covers photographs used in news, documentary, or educational contexts to inform rather than advertise, while commercial use promotes products, services, or brands.
Question 4: What is a 'Creative Commons' license for photographs?
- A paid subscription service for stock photos
- A standardized public license allowing creators to grant specific reuse rights while retaining copyright (Correct answer)
- A photography community forum
- A license required for commercial photography in the US
Correct answer: A standardized public license allowing creators to grant specific reuse rights while retaining copyright
Creative Commons licenses are standardized legal tools that allow photographers to grant the public specific rights to use their work (with conditions like attribution or non-commercial use) while retaining copyright.
Question 5: What is 'EXIF data' in a digital photograph?
- A type of image compression format
- Metadata embedded in the image file containing camera settings, GPS, timestamp, and other technical information (Correct answer)
- An image export format used by professional photographers
- A file-naming convention for digital assets
Correct answer: Metadata embedded in the image file containing camera settings, GPS, timestamp, and other technical information
EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) data is metadata automatically embedded in digital photos recording information like shutter speed, aperture, ISO, GPS coordinates, and timestamp.
Question 6: What does 'rights managed' (RM) mean for stock photography?
- The photographer retains all rights and won't license the image
- A licensing model where usage rights are specified and fees vary based on use, exclusivity, duration, and territory (Correct answer)
- The image is free for any use after a fee
- An image that has been registered with the US Copyright Office
Correct answer: A licensing model where usage rights are specified and fees vary based on use, exclusivity, duration, and territory
Rights managed licensing grants usage rights for specified conditions — such as medium, territory, duration, and exclusivity — with pricing varying accordingly.
Photography and Media Media, Publishing & Copyright 1
What is a 'model release' in photography?