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Author Topic: Shutterstock insisting different model releases for different shoot dates  (Read 5542 times)

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« on: April 19, 2018, 11:24 »
+3
This is very disheartening, especially when the model and the photographer are the same.  So when using the same model for 50 different shoot dates, we have to fill out 50 different model release forms and attach it to the picture for that shoot date, otherwise it gets rejected.  This increases the workload on the contributor substantially to the point that I am almost in tears. I don't know how you guys are able to continue submitting.  Maybe you just use one model for one date and then never use the same model again.  Probably would make it easier.  Here is the comment from the Shutterstock reviewer:


Shutterstock has been becoming more strict on not using the same model release for multiple photo shoots. Many reviewers may still accept it, but you will likely see more rejections in the future.

It affects all of us contributors, and yes it definitely means a lot more work for everyone. There really is no workaround, they increase restrictions to prevent the possibility of lawsuits due to improper releases.

If you do not want to create another release, you can try to resubmit and hope for a more lenient reviewer.


« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2018, 11:33 »
+2
Is there any technical reasons for such demand? Currently, we didn't get any rejections using old model releases for video.

« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2018, 12:31 »
+3
I thought that it was pretty standard to require a model release for each shoot.

« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2018, 13:15 »
+6
They've been giving me a bunch of silliness lately.  The last one was that the name photographer and the name on my account have to be the same.  Which has no legal standing, and is crazy, because I list my business as the name on my account, and I am the photographer, as I am a person.

« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2018, 13:45 »
+4
I'm not submitting pictures of myself at the moment, but I have done. When iStock tightened up the rules about model releases to one per shoot, they made an exception for self portraits because you're never going to sue yourself - there's just no legal risk.

You had to put some wording up top to flag this - mine said (in red so they couldn't miss it, and still some reviewers did): "This is a self portrait. Catch-all release is allowed". Perhaps someone currently submitting self portraits to Shutterstock should suggest that they allow a similar exception.

The other thing iStock allowed was one release for a multi-day "session". I think there was some limit of less than one week. Was very useful when you use family/friends in a setting you're staying at to cut down on the paperwork. I believe subject matter needed to be similar for this exception to be permitted - so no mixing boudoir shots with tennis games and sports at the beach on one release.

« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2018, 14:59 »
0
they implemented this change ages ago. maybe they got stricter, but its not a new thing,

« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2018, 18:10 »
0
Video-stock...

Currently, I don't see this being an issue in video.  I've only seen it applied to images.  But it's only a matter time before they have the same strict standards for video  :-[

THP Creative

  • THP Creative

« Reply #7 on: April 19, 2018, 19:21 »
+1
They have been hit and miss on this for a long time, but they certainly have gotten a LOT stricter with it lately.

Its very frustrating.

« Reply #8 on: April 19, 2018, 21:07 »
+4
And in true SS style, they do not include this info in their e-mails but rather let people get rejections until they can figure out what is happening. Just like the new MR requirements last time.

« Reply #9 on: April 19, 2018, 21:52 »
+3
SS has been pretty random with model releases for me for a while. My default with the rejection is that I forgot to attach the release so I try again and make sure the release is attached. If their rejection was "this release needs to be the same date as the photo shoot" instead of "this photo needs a release or the release is bad or any number of other problems for you to guess" it would be easier to tell what was wrong. Especially with their new and "improved" system. They accept just enough to keep me submitting model released photos although less recently. For sure they should accept a catch all for photos of the photographer. SS doesn't seem to be about reasonable or smart these days.

Chichikov

« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2018, 02:44 »
+1
I thought that it was pretty standard to require a model release for each shoot.

I think that it is normal to require a model release for each shoot, for obvious reasons.
But it is a total absurd to ask a model release for each shoot when the photographer and the model are the same person.

« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2018, 03:03 »
+1
Unfortunately, for my submissions the rejections come long after the model and witness are available to sign a revised release.

« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2018, 12:44 »
0
Unfortunately, for my submissions the rejections come long after the model and witness are available to sign a revised release.


I've started having models email my all of their info and filling in the model releases myself.  Helps prevent a lot of mistakes. I'll print a couple of copies of the filled out release and bring to the shoot. It's good to have the extra copies because I've had models screw up their signature or the date and had to redo it.

Doing the release at the beginning of a shoot also helps reduce mistakes. At the end of a shoot, everyone is rushing around, packing up and getting ready to leave...too easy to make a mistake or overlook a mistake on a release.


« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2018, 13:21 »
0
I submitted a shoot last year, and all the photos were rejected because I didn't use THEIR form that had a date for both the model AND witness. In several years of working with SS I never had this happen. Fortunately, I knew the model and she lived nearby, so I just re-did my own release that I've been using for years and made sure to include ALL the information that was on their own release.
Rejected again!
I gave up, downloaded their form and went back a third time. All photos accepted.

I have not submitted any photos to SS that require a model release since then, and have been thinking that this was just a temporary thing. But after reading this post, it looks like they have doubled down. Sad, but thanks for posting.

derek

    This user is banned.
« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2018, 13:25 »
0
They've been giving me a bunch of silliness lately.  The last one was that the name photographer and the name on my account have to be the same.  Which has no legal standing, and is crazy, because I list my business as the name on my account, and I am the photographer, as I am a person.

Yeah and this is just as silly! as if one have time to chase around "real" models for all different MR's.

« Reply #15 on: April 21, 2018, 23:06 »
0
Because of different model release for the same model, their images can't be sorted as "same model". But to some models in SS, it is obviously that those photos can't be taken in one day(beach, mountain, summer, winter, etc), but those can be in "same model" search+, I just want to know how to make it......

« Reply #16 on: April 26, 2018, 11:17 »
0
Their system simply isn't designed for having releases for each shoot.
1) their release page becomes a total mess after while when there are numerous different releases (and search option is handicapped completely)
2) they have this feature to display all photos/videos by the same model which relies on the model release system.


« Reply #17 on: April 26, 2018, 13:12 »
0
I would understand if they needed different MR's for different photo sessions, but this is just rubbish.
I have the same person, in the same environment, just different pose, same day, same time, and why then they need different release?
I have all rejected because of that again...

The other question is - do they check if we used the same release before current submission?
Or just if we used the same MR in the current one?

« Reply #18 on: April 26, 2018, 15:48 »
0
I would understand if they needed different MR's for different photo sessions, but this is just rubbish.
I have the same person, in the same environment, just different pose, same day, same time, and why then they need different release?
I have all rejected because of that again...

The other question is - do they check if we used the same release before current submission?
Or just if we used the same MR in the current one?

There's no way they are requiring different model releases for a shoot that is the same person, same place, same time and same day. That just would not make any sense. Maybe they are rejecting it because something on the model release is not correct.


 

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