if i have permission to take candid photos at a wedding reception, can i put those photos on a website to sell

Question

i want to be able to take photos at events that i am asked to take candid shots of guest, so that the wedding party can order the photo's online.

Answer 1

If you are there in an "official" capacity, then the images you take are your property and you can do what you want with them.

If you are there because you are asked to be there to take candids, the people at the event should expect that they will be for sale or displayed.

It would be a good idea to make your intentions known prior to shooting and if you are planning on selling them to people other than those attending the event, it would be a good idea to get something in writing from the people putting on the event(services contract), spelling out all the rights you have over the images. A model release would be good if you want to sell them commercially, because most commercial outlets wnat to make sure that they will not be involved in any litigation for the images use.

Answer 2

Many pro photographers have an exclusivity clause in their contract. I am not sure how that would work with an amateur who was not paid by the b&g, but it's certainly a consideration. If I were the pro and found and "Uncle Bob" was posting prints from one of my weddings for sale I probably wouldn't say anything about it, partly because I charge up front for my services and do not depend on print sales. But a photog who does sell the prints might have an issue.

Are you at the wedding as a guest? If so, it seems rude and presumptous of you to try to make a profit from a family or friend event. And if you're not a guest, then the professional's contract prohibits you from shooting.

Also, will your prints be good enough to offer for sale? Do you have the know how and equipment? Or will your shots look like everyone's snapshots?

In short, it is a bad idea, unless you are the event photographer.

Answer 3

Absolutely not! In short, you want to do for free what professional photographers have invested a lot of time and money making arrangements to do. Many professional photographers (myself included) have it written in their contract with the wedding party that others taking any photographs may do so only with the prior approval of the professional photographer.
Next point. If you attempt to sell images of anyone for profit you need to get their written permission to do so. If you post someones image on the Internet and offer it for sale, you are taking a big risk of being sued.

Answer 4

The best thing to do is ask the wedding party to ask for permission, preferably in writing and proceed from there.

Answer 5

Thats not a good idea.

Answer 6

No NO NO NO