Use of individual's likeness on website portfolio

[RandLarson]

Does anyone know if it's okay (or legal) to have an image of someone's likeness on your website portfolio? I shoot events so I can't reach the people I photograph for their permission. I'm wondering if it's legal for me to have someone's likeness on my website.

I'm guessing that a famous person (say Tiger Woods) would be a problem. Or would it? I shoot golf events and have great photos of him golfing.

But what about someone attending a company sales meeting and if I want to put a photo of them in my online portfolio?

Makes me wonder....

Any advice appreciated.

[ChrisPerry]

A good question I've not seen truly addressed.
AFAIK, you can use anyone's pic in a printed sample in your studio without a release.
If you have a release you can do whatever that release says you can do.

Generally you can't use an image commercially without a release, so selling tiger woods face on a tshirt or poster would be a no-no, so using Suzy Neighbor would be the same thing. Even if you shot them in a public street.

Do you shoot for an event organizer and is there some blanket thing there? I shot for the county fair. The fair queen signed a release for the fair to use her images. Fine. Can I use the images? Do I only need the fair's permission or the Queen too?

Is a website 'publishing'? Like a book or magazine? Or is it some form of advertising like a billboard or TV commercial? If it's in a gallery vs the main image on your site or in a sales site like you might do after a football game make any difference?

Personally I'll put anything on my website, posters, etc. If I was going to a TV commercial or bill board I'd want a release in my files - I'd hate to go to the expense only to have an upset client, perhaps one that will get an injunction to stop me. But that's not to say even with a release you won't have issues with the 'model' - just ask my assistant.

[David_Buzzard]

Oddly enough, putting Tiger Woods on your site would probably pose less problems than someone at a sales meeting. He's a public figure at a public event.

That said, you're probably fine to put up some shots on your web page from a sales meeting or conference. They are at least semi public areas, and nobody is doing anything that they wouldn't normally do. If someone does take offense, the worst you can expect would be to have to take down the picture.

David Buzzard's Technical Blog