Legal/ethical considerations P2 (g)

Press Complaints Commission (PCC)

1. Accuracy

2. Opportunity to reply

3. Privacy

4. Harassment

5. Intrusion into grief or shock

6. Children

7. Children in sex cases
8. Hospitals
9. Reporting of Crime
10. Clandestine devices and subterfuge
11.Victims of sexual assault
12. Discrimination
13. Financial journalism
14. Confidential sources
15. Witness payments in criminal trials
16. Payment to criminals


Photographers must take copyright into consideration. Never should a photographer publish any images taken by anyone else, this would go against the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Also, as soon as an image is taken on a camera, the photographer has copyright. This does not have to be registered and requires no further litigation. However if someone uses this image without permission, or publishes publicly and claims they took it, the photographer is protected by copyright and can easily prove they took the image, and the illegal user will then face litigation, as they would infringe the copyright law.

Model Release must take place. This is where the subject or model of an image signs a legal release granting permission, usually resulting in civil liability for the artist to publish an image taken of them.

Parental Consent for the use of images of children - A photographer must provide and assure the parents of children have signed and approved a consent form if their child is going to be photographed. There are risks for children photographs being published anywhere, for example people may be able to copy images and misuse them. However if parents are 100% certain on what the photographers intentions are, and where it will be published or used for, then they can sign the consent form, allowing images to be taken. Below I have found a real consent form written up online.

Article 8 in the Human Rights Act is - The Right to Privacy.

Photographers and press must always bear in mind this right. If any image or article is posted that do not give the correct facts, and no consent has been given, this could cause problems and possibly litigation for the press company.

Use of long-lens photography - Photographers, especially paparazzi must think and cogitate before taking images. They must consider the concequences of their images. For example, if they take images of a celebrity or well known person, when they are not in the public eye, e.g at their own home, a photographer should not use a long-lens to capture images of them without being seen, or without asking permission. This, in most cases will go against the rights of the celebrity, therefore resulting in a complain being made and most likely a fine or other consequence given to the photographer if they image was published.

Above shows my Model Release Form, this is essential for the protection of the model as well as the photographer. 

Signed Version of Locations Form

Above shows a locations permission form, this again is essential for the protection of the photographer and the owner of the location. The contract should be thoroughly understood and signed to assure both sides are clear on the events that will follow.