The Difference Between Copyright and Print Release

Copyright? Print release? What is the difference?

So, you are researching photographers for your wedding day and are noticing the phrases “print release” and “copyright” being tossed around but it isn’t clear what that means and what the difference is between them. Let me help out.

When a copyright is purchased for images, that means the photographer no longer owns any right to those images. The photographer can not reproduce the image in any way, they can not display that image on their website or on their social media, among a list of other things.

Most professional wedding photographers will have wording in their contract that allows them to retain the copyright of the images, but allow their clients a print release for those images. Photographers retain the copyright to prevent clients from editing our work, using the images for advertising, selling our images for profit, and other uses that are non-personal. Images that are used for personal reasons are inherently less expensive because they are not meant to turn a profit for another person.

With each of my clients, I offer a print release.

A print release is actually what most people mean when they ask for copyright of their photographs. They want to be sure that they will have access to their digital images after their session or wedding day to download them and print them for their own personal use or to place images on their social media to share with friends and family. A print release will give the client the ability to have the images for personal use while the photographer retains the copyright.

However, some people do actually want a copyright versus print release. Those people are typically celebrities or other wise among the rich or famous. They want to be able to sell the images for publication, or don’t want the photographer building their brand off of images of them. Those clients expect a quote that is close to four or five times the price of a wedding quote with a just a simple print release.

Sarah + Robin | The Barns at Wesleyan Hills Wedding

A Summer Wedding day in Middletown, Connecticut at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills.

Sarah and Robin celebrated their wedding day at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills located in Middletown, CT.

The Barns provides a beautiful location for an outdoor wedding ceremony with big beautiful willow trees adding greenery to your ceremony. Inside, The Barns provides a rustic wooden style with beautiful string light detail in the reception space.

This Summer wedding day began with the Bride getting ready with her family and friends inside of the bridal suit at The Barns. After their hair and makeup was completed by Two Spa Girls and Image Hair Studio, Sarah got on her dress with the help of her Mom and then did a First Look with her girls. It was such an emotional moment watching the bride reveal her final look on her big day to her bridal party.

Following the getting ready portion of their wedding day, we headed outside and the bride had a First Look with her Father and then with her Fiancé. Both moments were so special to everyone.

We had a lot of fun during the wedding party portraits, kicking it off with the bridesmaids surprise “icing” the groomsmen. It was such a fun way to kick off the formal images.

Sarah and Robin’s ceremony was officiated by their good friend and Robin’s best man, Mike Shaw. Mike’s familiarity with the bride and groom provided the perfect balance of humor, love, and personalization that can only come from someone who knows them so well.

Doing the bulk of the formal images before the ceremony allowed Sarah and Robin to enjoy the majority of cocktail hour with their guests. I love being able to capture lots of candid moments during cocktail hour of the bride and groom with their family and friends. Cocktail hour is the perfect time for brides and grooms to be able to have the time to mingle with their loved ones, and I love when brides and grooms work their timeline with me to be able to be at cocktail hour with their guests.

Following cocktail hour the reception was filled with first dances, amazing food, and a super fun dance floor.

Makeup: Two Spa Girls
Hair: Image Hair Studio
Florist: In Bloom Event Designs
DJ: Power Station Events

First Look on the lawn at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills.

White rose bouquet details

Wedding Ceremony at The Barns at Wesleyan Hills in Middletown Connecticut