Model release form, signed with every booking
A model release form is the document that lets you use a person's image commercially. Without it, a finished campaign can sit unused. On ModelContracts the release is part of every booking: it is generated with the Model Booking Agreement, signed by the verified adult model in the panel and stored in your archive next to the photos it covers.
Permission to use a person's likeness
A release is written consent from the person in the photo or video. It allows the producer or brand to use their likeness for the purposes and period described. It is separate from copyright, which usually belongs to the photographer or whoever commissioned the work under contract. A release answers a different question: may you use this person's face and body to sell or promote something.
The parts that make a release usable
A release that leaves out the basics is hard to rely on. These are the elements most commercial releases contain, and the ones our release fills in from the booking.
- Names of the model and the party receiving the rights
- Date and description of the shoot
- What is covered: photos, video, audio, behind the scenes
- How the images may be used, linked to the usage rider
- Whether the images may be edited, retouched or combined with other material
- Confirmation that the model is 18 or older
- Signature and date from the model
When a release is needed
In the US, using a recognizable person to advertise or promote a product generally requires their consent. Brands, stock agencies and ad platforms routinely ask for a signed release before images run. Editorial and news use follows different rules, but most of what brands shoot is commercial, so treat a release as part of every job. For a deeper look, read our model release form guide.
- 01 Product pages, ads and social campaigns
- 02 Lookbooks, catalogs and packaging
- 03 Event recap content featuring staff
- 04 Any image you may license or reuse later
A walkthrough from booking to signed release
The release is not a separate chore. It moves with the booking from start to finish.
- Step 1. You book a model from a casting. The booking holds the date, hours, rate and usage plan.
- Step 2. The panel generates the modeling contract and the release, filled from those details.
- Step 3. You review both and adjust the usage rider if your plan allows custom riders.
- Step 4. The model opens the documents in their account, reads them and signs.
- Step 5. You countersign. The booking is confirmed.
- Step 6. After the shoot, the signed release stays linked to the booking in your archive and can be downloaded as a PDF.
When usage grows, the paperwork follows
If a social image later goes into a print campaign, the original release may not cover it. You add a new usage rider to the booking, the model reviews it, and both sides sign. The release history shows which use was agreed when. Usage terms are explained in model usage rights.
Releases only from verified adults
Every model on ModelContracts is 18 or older and has passed age and ID verification before booking. That check sits behind every release you receive. We do not accept bookings for minors. More on safety.
Use it with your own judgment
Our release covers standard commercial use of images from a booking. It is not legal advice. For unusual uses, sensitive subjects or international campaigns, talk to your own attorney.
FAQ
Is a model release form the same as a modeling contract?
No. The contract covers the job: hours, rate, overtime, cancellation and usage. The release covers permission to use the person's likeness. On ModelContracts both are signed together.
Can a model withdraw a signed release?
The release states the terms both sides agreed. Questions about withdrawal depend on the facts and the law that applies, so talk to your own attorney if it comes up.
Can I get the release as a PDF?
Yes. Every signed release can be downloaded from the booking in your archive.
Do I need a release for event photos of promo staff?
If you use the images to promote your brand, yes. Releases for event bookings are signed with the agreement.
Never chase a missing release again
Create your account and get the release signed with the booking, every time.