When do I need a model release?

Any time a recognizable person appears in a photo you intend to use commercially — on your website, in advertising, or in stock libraries. Editorial and personal use is more flexible, but a signed release removes the question entirely.

Can the subject sign it on their phone?

Yes. The release downloads as a clean PDF you can hand over on a tablet or phone for an on-the-spot signature, or print and sign on paper. E-signature through BoldSign arrives for Studio subscribers in version 1.1.

What does the model release cost?

The watermarked PDF preview is free. Unlocking one release type is $29; all seven types are $49 with the Forms Pack. The fee is one-time, with no subscription.

Is the release tied to my state?

You pick where the shoot takes place. For California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Illinois, the release uses language specific to that state's right-of-publicity rules. Other states get a sound general release.

Are the subject's details uploaded anywhere?

No. The release is generated entirely in your browser. The subject's name and email are never sent to or stored on a server — only your email and payment go to Stripe at checkout.

Your subject's details stay in your browser

Model release form generator

Fill a short form and get a complete model release the subject can sign on their phone. Preview free; pay once to unlock the branded, editable version.

Start the release

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SIGNED RELEASE · 2026

A model release is the document that lets you actually use the photos you took. Without one, a subject can later object to a photo running on your website, in an ad, or in a print piece, and you have no written permission to point to. The release records that the person being photographed agreed, in advance, to how the images would be used.

Most photographers know they need one and still shoot without it, because finding a release means digging through a forum thread, downloading a stranger's Word file, and hoping the wording holds up. The form below removes that friction. You answer a handful of questions about the shoot, the subject, and how the photos will be used, and SignedShoot builds the release for you.

The preview is a real, signable release with a watermark across it. When you are ready, paying removes the watermark and adds your studio name and logo.

Release type Shoot type Where is the shoot? Photographer name Studio name Studio email Subject name Subject email Shoot date Shoot location How long does the release run?

What can the photos be used for?

What the model release covers

The generated release names the photographer and the subject, describes the shoot, and spells out the usage scope you selected — social media, web, print, advertising, stock, or editorial — so there is no ambiguity later about what the photos can be used for. You also set the term: perpetual, or a fixed one, three, or five years.

The watermarked PDF preview is free and complete. Unlocking gives you the same release as an editable Microsoft Word .docx, so you can adjust a clause if a client needs it, plus a clean PDF for signing. Everything is generated in your browser — the subject's name and email never reach our servers.

Frequently asked questions

When do I need a model release?: Any time a recognizable person appears in a photo you intend to use commercially — on your website, in advertising, or in stock libraries. Editorial and personal use is more flexible, but a signed release removes the question entirely.
Can the subject sign it on their phone?: Yes. The release downloads as a clean PDF you can hand over on a tablet or phone for an on-the-spot signature, or print and sign on paper. E-signature through BoldSign arrives for Studio subscribers in version 1.1.
What does the model release cost?: The watermarked PDF preview is free. Unlocking one release type is $29; all seven types are $49 with the Forms Pack. The fee is one-time, with no subscription.
Is the release tied to my state?: You pick where the shoot takes place. For California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Illinois, the release uses language specific to that state's right-of-publicity rules. Other states get a sound general release.
Are the subject's details uploaded anywhere?: No. The release is generated entirely in your browser. The subject's name and email are never sent to or stored on a server — only your email and payment go to Stripe at checkout.

Updated May 18, 2026