The difference between personal and brand photo sessions.
You’re not alone if you aren’t aware of the differences between photo sessions for individuals and brands. Many people think that if you paid for a photo shoot for you or your family, the images are yours and you can then take those images and use them for business purposes later on. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
Let me explain.
So yes, the images are yours to use, print up, hang on your wall, post on your social media, send to family and friends, etc. But, as most photographers do not sell copyrights to the images they’ve taken, you are purchasing a Personal Use License, not rights to the actual images themselves.
A Personal Use License gives you the license to use the images for personal use only (not business use). These images cannot be used to promote ANY business, brand, or any activity with a profit motive. So if your hat maker likes your photo and wants to use it on their social media, they cannot do so without first purchasing a Commercial Use License for the image.
A Commercial Use License, on the other hand, allows businesses or individuals to use photographs for activities that directly or indirectly support revenue generation. This includes marketing, advertising, branding, website content, social media for a business, or packaging designs.
Commercial Use Licenses come in a few different flavors, including exclusive or non-exclusive, limited or unrestricted use, transferable or non-transferable.
As a Commercial Use License grants you permission to use the images in a way that can help you make money in your business, these licenses always cost more than a Personal Use License.
So what if you purchased a personal use license but want to use those images for business use later on?
No problem, you can pay an additional fee and upgrade your license at any time!
