Permissions for Prints

[blacklilly]

Hi Everyone,

I've shot a couple of live concerts in the past few months for a magazine. I have been considering making the photos available as prints for any of the fans who may be interested (sounds over-confident, I know, but I thought it was worth seeing if I could make a little cash from it).

My question is: do I need to get permission from the bands I photographed to make prints, even though I took the photos? Not sure how this is in other countries, but I'm based in Japan.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!

[OsmosisStudios]

Most likely. You can use the images in an editorial fashion without a problem, but if you're selling prints you'll most likely need some kind of release from the band or management. I'm not familiar with japanese copyright law, but that's how it'd be in most other countries.

You could make more money form selling the use rights to the bands themelves.

[blacklilly]

Thanks! I'll see what the feedback is when they see the images and propose that if they're interested.

[SaffireRed]

I am interested in knowing too if you would need to have a release signed by the band. I have some pictures like that from a concert I went to. I had no idea I could sell them or that I would even need the artist's permission. Most concerts don't let in cameras, probably for this reason, but it seems impossible nowadays to catch everyone with a camera

[BCampbell]

No idea how this works in Japan, but in the US, if you are shooting for press, your outlet has already contacted the venue and artist and there's a contract involved. That contract has restrictions on what can be done with the photos, usually pretty severe if the act is well known. Usually, the photographer sees a copy of the contract too.

So, the first step I'd take was asking the magazine for a copy of your contract with them and seeing if there are any restrictions there.