Do I have rights to photos I took for film shoot?

I was asked to take photos of a film shoot. I was not paid for the service, but was requested to document the shoot. My question: Who owns the rights to these photos? I would like to put them on my web site. Do I have to ask the producer for permission? Does he have the right to stop me from doing so? Is it okay just to use them without permission, or permission of the subjects of the photos? Please Help.

Ohhhh, this is an interesting one. If you were not paid and there's no contract, I would think that you can do as you please, short of using them to sell a product. If you had been paid, you would have a problem because they would then fall under the rule of "work for hire." But since you weren't, I think you're in the clear. The movie people should have paid you $10, huh? :)

It depends what your website is. If it's just a site where you host your photos to share, you're probably fine. If it's a site where you sell photos, you should have a model release for every identifiable person in the photos. Further, if it is a site from which you sell, I would say that permission from the producer would be very wise, even though probably not specifically required.

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Originally Posted by brmill26

permission from the producer would be very wise, even though probably not specifically required.

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Good advice. Because even if you do have the right to post them, that won't stop someone from suing you. And a lawsuit will cost you money, regardless of your rights.