Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:25pm

Hello all - a couple of general questions on property releases for using architectural photographs commercially: 1. Is there any particularly easy way of finding out who you need to obtain the release from? I understand this is usually the owner, but what is the best way of going about finding out who this is? 2. What is the usual going rate for a property release? 3. What should you do if the building changes hands? Does this render the current release invalid? Many thanks.

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:25pm

Firstly, you're unlikely to require a property release for the purposes of editorial work. If, however, you're looking to license, trade or use/sell an image for the purpose of advertising then this isn't the case. Figuring out who to contact doesn't have any easy nor singular route. Property release tends to apply to private property, so government owned buildings, for example, ought not be a problem. However, this is a grey area (as with any photo / release / campaign); anything defamatory, or deemed as, could bring a case against you. Going rates for property release depend on what you're selling to who, the volume of the use, and so on. I don't have specific rates, but you can probably find things if you do some searches. As for property changing hands, if ownership changes, the owner is theoretically obligated to tell the new owner of the release prior to sale. So the prospective buyer can decide to purchase under that condition. This essentially takes the heat off you - once you have the release, it's fairly well set in stone.

Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:27pm

That sorts it out a bit better for me. Many thanks.