Will Getty / Shutterstock / Adobe Stock accept this release?

Most agencies accept any release that covers the required elements: identification of the parties, a commercial-use grant, sublicensing, and a signature with date. Some (notably Getty) prefer or require their own form — check your agency’s contributor docs before the shoot.

What happens if a buyer disputes the release later?

The agency asks you to produce the signed release, often within days. Two independent copies in two inboxes — which is how digital release platforms deliver — is the strongest position; a paper form in a drawer is the weakest.

Does stock use include AI training datasets?

Increasingly, agencies license content for AI training — but this template’s default denies AI training rights unless the scope of use grants them. If you submit to an agency’s AI-licensing program, use the AI training variant instead.

Free templates

Stock Photography Model Release Form Template

Stock agencies are the strictest release-checkers in photography — a submission without a compliant model release is rejected on sight, and agencies routinely re-verify releases years after acceptance. The structural quirk of stock is sublicensing: the agency licenses your image to its customers, so the release has to grant rights not just to you but down the chain.

This template adds an explicit sublicensing clause covering agencies, distributors, and their end customers, and records the model’s understanding that agencies retain identifying information for verification. Pair it with your agency’s specific requirements — some insist on their own form, most accept a compliant general release like this one.

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What the release says

I, the undersigned model named below ("Model"), confirm that I am of legal age and have the right to grant this release. In exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which I acknowledge, I grant the photographer named below ("Photographer") and any third parties acting with the Photographer's authorization the rights described in this release.

I grant the Photographer the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free right to use, reproduce, distribute, display, edit, adapt, and publish photographs, video, and other recordings of me ("Materials") created on the shoot date stated below, for the purposes described under "Scope of Use" below.

I waive any right to inspect or approve the finished Materials, and I waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising from the use of the Materials within the granted Scope of Use. The Photographer retains all copyright in the Materials.

AI training rights: Unless the Scope of Use below explicitly grants AI / machine-learning training rights, I do NOT grant the Photographer or any third party the right to use the Materials to train, fine-tune, or otherwise feed any artificial-intelligence model, dataset, or system, and any such use is expressly prohibited.

I release the Photographer and their assigns from any claims arising from use of the Materials within the granted Scope of Use, including without limitation claims for libel, defamation, invasion of privacy, and right of publicity, except for use that is materially false or that defames me.

This release is binding on me, my heirs, and my legal representatives. I have read this release before signing and I understand it.

Stock licensing: I grant the Photographer the right to sublicense the Materials through stock photography agencies and distributors, and to their end customers, within the granted Scope of Use. I understand that stock agencies may require my identifying information to be retained with this release for verification.

Common questions

Will Getty / Shutterstock / Adobe Stock accept this release?: Most agencies accept any release that covers the required elements: identification of the parties, a commercial-use grant, sublicensing, and a signature with date. Some (notably Getty) prefer or require their own form — check your agency’s contributor docs before the shoot.
What happens if a buyer disputes the release later?: The agency asks you to produce the signed release, often within days. Two independent copies in two inboxes — which is how digital release platforms deliver — is the strongest position; a paper form in a drawer is the weakest.
Does stock use include AI training datasets?: Increasingly, agencies license content for AI training — but this template’s default denies AI training rights unless the scope of use grants them. If you submit to an agency’s AI-licensing program, use the AI training variant instead.

Skip the paperwork

Printing, signing, scanning, filing — or a link your model opens on their phone. Signed releases land in both inboxes automatically, timestamped and locked.

Get it signed digitally — free

Related templates

These templates are general-purpose starting points, not legal advice. Adapt them to your shoot and jurisdiction.