Idiotic question! Celebrity photographs - difficult to get release?

I got a really good shot of Joe Gibbs at the Daytona 500 last month & a lot of my friends want a copy. Some want to send their copy to him & try to get it autographed, and one of them owns a bar; he wants to frame & display his copy there. I haven't done anything with the image yet, as I want to find out the legalities of this. How hard is it to get a release from his people? Is that even done? I don't really want anything more than to be able to enlarge a few copies. But I don't want a lawsuit either. ;-) I see plaques of NASCAR drivers all the time that are obviously not posed shots, so I'm wondering how it's accomplished. :D

I think if it is a public figure and taken in a public place you shouldn't have any problems with using the image, how do you think the press get their images of celebraties.

If it is that good, maybe send him a copy, might help to break the ice and might even get you a follow up shoot with better access.

...and that is your shots were NOT taken in a public place. So, the only thing you have to worry about is whether the Daytona Speedway allows spectators to photograph the event and the participants. I think we both know the answer to that is yes...

Releases are all about USAGE, not who is in the photo. For non-commercial use, you can pretty much take pictures of anybody (as we established, in a place that allows you to photograph) and print them for personal use.

While, as Peter said, celebrities in public (or at major events) are fair game, USE of their likenesses is not.

IOW, you could not use your shots of Mr. Gibbs on a billboard advertising lite beer (without paying him that is), but enlarging a few for friends would be no problem.

OK Steve, another question along these lines.

Suppose I went to Lambeau Field and got a great shot of Brett Favre. Could I make copies and sell them?

I was just at the post office and saw them selling several framed shots commemorating his 200th start. Could I do the same thing?

Probably not, by being a ticket holder you agree to be bound by certain stipulations, typically they state that you may not take pictures for resale. Even pro sports shooters are bound by the agreements written on their field passes, typically they are limited in resale, to varying degrees.

Kelly,

I don't know enough of the legal aspects of celebrity and sports figure licensing to be able to give you any kind of useful advice.

Besides (as Seb mentions) the limitations and restrictions your ticket agreement may place you under, there is also the matter of the NFL licensing, which is a tremendously powerful marketing group.

I CAN tell you this: if you saw prints for sale at your local post office, you can bet they're somehow licensed...