Skip to main content
Pike is not a lawyer. We share legal information — not legal advice.Privacy policy
PIKE
Creator

Model release

For talent appearing in commercial work. Names the production, the compensation, and the ways the footage / photos can be used. Standard talent-release language.

1 documentsAbout 5 minutes10 questions to answer
What's in the pack
Model Release
Release, 1 page
01
Pike doesn't sign for you.These documents are drafted from the facts you provide. You read them, you sign them, you send them. Pike never claims to be your lawyer.
Save and come back any time.

Talent on a paid shoot is the simplest legal situation in commercial production — and the most often forgotten until the campaign goes live and the talent's lawyer sends a letter.

Who this pack is for

You're producing commercial creative work — a brand campaign, a stock photo shoot, a product launch video, a B-roll session, a corporate explainer — and you're working with paid talent. The model is being compensated (a session fee, a usage fee, a flat day rate, an exchange of value) and they appear in the final work in a recognizable way. You want a release that clearly defines what the talent agreed to, what compensation they received, and what rights you now have to use the recorded material.

When to use it

Get the release signed at the start of the shoot day, not the end. Treat it as part of the call sheet: model arrives, signs in, signs the release, hair and makeup. Models who haven't signed before they go on camera have leverage they shouldn't have. For multi-day shoots, the release covers the entire production period named on the form. For talent under 18, parents or guardians sign — the form must include the minor's name and date of birth, and many states impose additional requirements like Coogan trust accounts (CA), parental presence, and limited working hours; do not use the standard release for minor talent without an addendum specific to your state's child-performer law.

What it doesn't cover

This is a release for paid talent in a structured production with you (or your client) as the producer. It is not a photo release for incidental subjects or non-paid participants — for those, use the simpler photo release pack. It does not address minors (different rules — see above). It does not cover SAG-AFTRA union talent — those have their own contract structures (theatrical, commercial, new media) negotiated through the union. It does not cover music synchronization, voice-over rights for licensed audio, or rights to recognizable trademarks captured in the shoot. And it is not a buyout of the talent's name and likeness in perpetuity for unrelated future projects; the release is project-specific.

State-specific notes

Rules vary by jurisdiction. Below are notes for the states where model release runs into the most variance. If your state isn't listed, default to your state's tenant-rights handbook or local legal aid.

California (CA)
California has the strongest right-of-publicity protection (Cal. Civ. Code § 3344). The release should explicitly waive § 3344 rights to be enforceable. California also has a separate Coogan Law (Cal. Fam. Code § 6750) for child performers — minors must have a Coogan trust account and parental presence on set; the standard release is not enough for minors.
New York (NY)
New York requires written consent for any commercial use of name or likeness (NY Civ. Rights Law §§ 50–51). The release should be signed before any image or recording is used commercially. NY also has child-performer rules (NY Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 35.01) that require permits for child models and limits on working hours.
Tennessee (TN)
Tennessee's ELVIS Act (effective 2024) significantly expanded right-of-publicity protection to specifically address AI-generated likenesses. For productions that may produce AI-derived content or training data, the release should explicitly cover AI uses and derivative works.
Florida (FL)
Florida requires written consent under Fla. Stat. § 540.08 for use of a person's name, portrait, photograph, or likeness in advertising. Verbal consent is not enforceable. The standard release in this pack satisfies the statute.

Common questions

What's the difference between this and a photo release?
A photo release is for any subject of a photograph — a customer, a passerby, an employee — typically with no compensation or a token payment. A model release is for paid talent in a structured production: the model is compensated specifically for being recorded, the production is planned, and there's an industry-standard expectation of usage rights. Use this for booked talent; use the photo release for incidental subjects.
What does 'in any medium now known or later developed' mean?
Future-proof license language. When this clause is included, the release covers media that don't exist yet — VR, AR, holographic displays, AI-generated derivatives, whatever comes next. Without it, talent could later argue that 'I consented to a 2026 social media campaign, not the 2030 metaverse adaptation.' Most modern releases include this language; talent who push back are usually negotiating, not refusing.
Should I include exclusivity?
Only if you're paying for it. Exclusivity ('no competing brand for 6 months') reduces what the model can earn elsewhere and they'll typically charge more for it. Get it in writing, name the specific competing categories or brands, and set a defined window. Open-ended exclusivity is unenforceable; specific exclusivity is.
What about residuals and royalties?
The pack's release explicitly says 'no further compensation' — the session fee or flat fee is full and final. SAG-AFTRA contracts and high-end commercial productions sometimes include residuals tied to airings or campaign extensions; those are negotiated separately and require a different agreement structure. If your project might run for years and the talent expects residuals, that's a different deal — say so before signing.
What if the model wants to back out later?
Once signed, the release is irrevocable in the standard form. The model cannot 'change their mind' after the campaign launches. Two narrow exceptions: fraud (you misrepresented what the shoot was for) and unconscionable terms (extreme one-sided pressure or no real consideration). Document the shoot's purpose clearly in the project name field; pay actual money or value; have the model sign before going on camera. Those three habits prevent 95% of post-shoot reversal attempts.
What about AI training and derivative works?
This is the fastest-evolving area in right-of-publicity law. As of 2024–2026, multiple states (TN, CA, IL) have passed or proposed laws specifically restricting AI use of recognizable likenesses. The pack's release includes broad license language ('successors, assigns, derivative works, sublicensable') that covers most current AI scenarios. For productions specifically intended to train generative AI or produce synthetic likenesses of the model, get a more specific addendum and consult an entertainment attorney.
Do I need a separate release for each shoot?
Yes. Each release is project-specific and covers the shoot dates listed. For talent you work with repeatedly (a stock-photo regular, a recurring brand ambassador), draft an umbrella agreement with project-specific addenda or a master service agreement that contemplates ongoing work. Don't try to cram multiple unrelated projects under one release.

Pike provides plain-language legal information, not legal advice. State and local rules change. If money, custody, or your housing is on the line, talk to a licensed attorney or your local legal aid office.