Model Release Form
Standard model release form granting permission to use a person's likeness in photos and videos for commercial or editorial purposes.
Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the CheckinPulse Research Team
Use This Form Digitally
Paper forms work, but digital forms work better. Here is what you get when you use this template on CheckinPulse:
Clients fill out on their phone (no app needed)
Scan a QR code or tap a link — works on any device
E-signatures with legal timestamp
IP address, timestamp, and audit trail on every signature — valid in all 50 states under the E-SIGN Act
Submissions go straight to your dashboard
No more clipboards, filing cabinets, or illegible handwriting
PDF waivers stored for 7 years
Encrypted, searchable, and accessible anytime on paid plans
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This is what your clients will fill out. 14 fields, mobile-friendly.
Model Release Form
All fields marked with * are required
Consent / Waiver Language
This waiver text is included at the bottom of the form, above the signature field.
For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is acknowledged, I hereby grant to the Photographer/Company named above, their assigns, licensees, and successors, the irrevocable right to use my image, likeness, and appearance in photographs, video, and other media in any form, for any lawful purpose including but not limited to: advertising, promotion, editorial, commercial art, trade, and display. I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished product or copy that may be used in connection with the images. I release the Photographer/Company from all claims, demands, and liabilities arising from the use of my likeness as described herein. This release is binding upon my heirs, executors, and assigns.
Legal References
The federal law that makes electronic signatures on consent forms and waivers legally equivalent to handwritten signatures in all 50 US states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any time you want to use someone's photo commercially — ads, product packaging, website marketing, stock photography. Editorial use (news, education) generally doesn't require one, but getting a release anyway avoids disputes. If money is being made from the image, get a release.
Legally, it might hold up, but practically it's a nightmare to prove. Stock photo sites require signed releases. Ad agencies require them. And if the model later denies giving permission, you've got nothing. A signed form takes 60 seconds and eliminates ambiguity.
For editorial or artistic use, generally no — photography in public spaces is protected by the First Amendment. But if you sell a street photo to a company for advertising, you'd need a release. The distinction is editorial vs. commercial use.
A model release needs "consideration" (something of value exchanged), but that doesn't have to be cash. TFP (time for prints), a copy of the photos, or even "the experience of participating" can count. Just document whatever was exchanged on the form.
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