Permissions and Release Forms

Release forms are written agreements that allow a media producer to film, photograph and publish images of people or property. Getting permissions in place before a shoot avoids problems later: if someone refuses or withdraws their agreement after the work is finished, the footage or photographs may be unusable.

A property release form is signed by the owner of a property. It allows images or video of their land or buildings to be used. A model release form records a person's agreement to be filmed or photographed and for the resulting images to be used. It is needed for each person who can be recognised, including extras and people visible in the background, not only the main actor.

Other permissions cover where and how you record:

• Location permission comes from the landowner or council and lets the crew and actors use the land.
• Buildings permission applies when a key or famous building, such as a clock tower, is visible in the background.
• Highways permission is needed when the crew will block or make use of a road, path or pavement, such as setting up a tripod on the pavement.

For example, filming a scene in a village hall needs location permission from whoever runs the hall, and a model release form from every actor and extra who can be recognised.

Consent should cover the intended use. A photo for a personal album is different from publishing an image or using it commercially, which usually needs explicit consent. Where consent is required, anyone who does not agree should be left out of the image or made unidentifiable, for example by cropping the shot or choosing an angle where they cannot be recognised.

Some people may not be able to give informed consent, for example a child or an adult with a learning disability. Extra care is needed, and consent may need to come from a parent, guardian or carer.

Before publishing images for commercial purposes, media producers must have the appropriate permissions for people, property and locations.