Model Release Terms

1. Default Privacy

We respect the sensitive nature of self-portrait photography. Unless you opt in to this Model Release, HQ Portraits will not publicly display or use your session images for advertising, marketing, portfolio, or promotional purposes.

2. Acceptance and Covered Materials

If you opt in during booking by checking the Model Release box, or sign a separate Model Release form, you accept these Terms for yourself and, as represented and warranted below, for every person present in your session.

“Materials” means every photograph, still image, video, audio recording, preview, outtake, digital file, screenshot, composite, and other visual or audio material created, captured, stored, edited, or derived in connection with your session in which you or any other person present appears, is recognizable, or may reasonably be identified. This includes all photographs from the session, not only photographs selected, purchased, downloaded, retouched, or delivered to you, and every crop, edit, retouched version, composite, or other version of those Materials.

“Participants” means you and every other person present in, appearing in, or identifiable from the Materials, including guests and minors.

3. Grant of Rights

In consideration of your session, any promotional exposure, and other good and valuable consideration, you grant HQ Portraits, its owners, affiliates, successors, assigns, licensees, sublicensees, contractors, advertising partners, media partners, and service providers a perpetual, worldwide, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid, transferable, sublicensable, and non-exclusive right and license to photograph, record, use, reuse, reproduce, copy, edit, retouch, color-correct, crop, resize, adapt, modify, composite, publish, display, perform, transmit, distribute, license, sublicense, and otherwise exploit the Materials and each Participant’s name, image, likeness, portrait, voice, appearance, and other identifying characteristics appearing in the Materials.

This grant applies to all Materials from the session in which any Participant appears. HQ Portraits may use the Materials alone or together with other photographs, images, recordings, text, graphics, music, trademarks, designs, or creative elements. HQ Portraits has no obligation to use any Materials and does not need to seek further permission or approval for a use permitted by these Terms.

4. Permitted Uses and Media

HQ Portraits may use the Materials for any lawful business, commercial, advertising, marketing, promotional, public-relations, portfolio, lookbook, editorial, press, educational, recruiting, investor, or trade purpose relating to HQ Portraits or its services, including to advertise, promote, sell, explain, document, or publicize HQ Portraits.

Permitted uses include, without limitation, use in all media now known or later developed, whether physical, digital, electronic, broadcast, streamed, or interactive, including:

• HQ Portraits websites, landing pages, online galleries, blogs, and search results;
• email, SMS, newsletters, and other direct communications;
• organic and paid social media, including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and similar services;
• paid search, display, programmatic, retargeting, and other digital advertising, including Google, Meta, TikTok, and similar platforms;
• print advertisements, newspapers, magazines, brochures, flyers, postcards, direct mail, posters, menus, signs, banners, packaging, and other printed materials;
• billboards, transit advertising, window displays, in-studio displays, trade-show materials, and other out-of-home uses;
• video, audio, streaming, presentations, public screenings, press materials, and public-relations materials;
• internal and external portfolios, case studies, lookbooks, samples, sales, recruiting, or training materials; and
• distribution or placement through contractors, advertising networks, publishers, platforms, affiliates, licensees, sublicensees, and other third parties acting for or with HQ Portraits.

5. Editing, Context, and Approval

HQ Portraits may make reasonable technical, creative, and editorial changes to the Materials, including retouching, color correction, cropping, resizing, compositing, sequencing, captioning, and formatting for a particular medium. You waive any right to inspect or approve the Materials, the finished product, the copy, the layout, the timing, the placement, or the context before use.

HQ Portraits will not knowingly use the Materials in a defamatory or otherwise unlawful manner. This Model Release does not authorize a use that falsely states or materially implies that a Participant endorses an unrelated third-party product or service.

6. Purchaser’s Authority and Responsibility for All Participants

By accepting this Model Release, you represent, warrant, and agree that:

• You are at least 18 years old and have capacity to enter into these Terms.
• You are the person who booked or paid for the session, or are otherwise authorized to act for that person.
• You have the legally required authority and consent for every minor Participant, including authority from the parent or legal guardian where required.
• You have obtained express permission from every adult Participant and are authorized to grant these rights to HQ Portraits on that Participant’s behalf.
• You accept full responsibility for obtaining, documenting, and maintaining all permissions required for every Participant and every Material in which that Participant appears.
• You will provide evidence of that authority or permission if HQ Portraits reasonably requests it.

As between you and HQ Portraits, you are solely responsible for all Participants and all Materials covered by this Model Release. Your acceptance of this Model Release confirms to HQ Portraits that the required permission for every Participant has been obtained and that you accept the financial and legal consequences of any failure, misrepresentation, or lack of authority.

7. Release, Indemnity, and Hold Harmless

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you, for yourself and for each Participant for whom you have authority, release and agree not to sue HQ Portraits and its owners, employees, contractors, legal representatives, affiliates, licensees, sublicensees, advertising partners, media partners, and service providers for claims arising from an authorized use of the Materials under these Terms, including claims based on right of publicity, appropriation, privacy, publicity, emotional distress, defamation, false light, or similar personal or property rights.

You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless HQ Portraits and the persons and entities identified above from and against all claims, demands, actions, damages, judgments, settlements, liabilities, losses, costs, and reasonable attorneys’ fees arising out of or relating to: (a) any Participant’s claim concerning the Materials or a use permitted by these Terms; (b) your breach of these Terms; or (c) your lack of authority, permission, or legally effective consent for any Participant. This obligation does not require indemnification for HQ Portraits’s fraud, willful misconduct, or use that is outside these Terms or unlawful.

8. No Payment or Approval Rights

You and the Participants will not receive additional payment, royalties, residuals, accounting, or other compensation for the rights granted here. You and the Participants have no approval, takedown, recall, or consultation rights over a permitted use, and HQ Portraits has no obligation to use or continue using any Material.

9. No Revocation; Existing and Third-Party Distribution

The license and permissions granted in this Model Release are irrevocable. After acceptance, you may not withdraw, revoke, limit, terminate, or condition them, and HQ Portraits has no obligation to remove, pause, discontinue, recall, destroy, or cease any permitted use in any channel, whether print, digital, social, paid, organic, archival, or otherwise.

You understand that Materials may be copied, shared, reposted, embedded, cached, indexed, archived, downloaded, or retained by third parties and that HQ Portraits cannot control or recall third-party copies or distribution.

10. Ownership and Copyright

This Model Release grants publicity, privacy, likeness, and related permissions; it does not transfer copyright ownership in any photograph, video, recording, design, or other work. Any copyright or customer-use rights are governed by the applicable booking terms, delivery terms, or separate written agreement. You may not grant rights that belong to another person, including another photographer, creator, rights-holder, or Participant.

11. Minors and Sensitive Content

You must not accept this Model Release for a minor unless you have the legally required parental or guardian authority. HQ Portraits may require a separate release or may decline to use Materials involving minors or sensitive, intimate, boudoir, maternity, or otherwise private content. Nothing in these Terms authorizes disclosure of intimate or private images in a manner prohibited by law.

12. Governing Law and Venue

This Model Release is governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms must be brought exclusively in the state courts located in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, or the federal court having jurisdiction over Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and you consent to that jurisdiction and venue.

13. Entire Agreement and Severability

These Terms, together with the applicable booking terms and any separate written Model Release signed by you, are the entire agreement concerning the subject matter of this Model Release and supersede prior discussions or representations about marketing use. If any provision is held unenforceable, it will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law and the remaining provisions will remain in effect. Electronic acceptance, including a booking checkbox, has the same effect as a handwritten signature to the fullest extent permitted by law.

14. Acceptance

By checking the Model Release box or signing below, you confirm that you have read and understood these Terms, accept them for yourself, and make all representations and accept all responsibility stated above for every Participant in the session.

Questions about this Model Release may be sent to hi@hqportraits.com. Full Terms of Use are available at /terms.