Video Releases - Why You Need the Essential Signature
In our social media-saturated world, it's easy to forget that you actually need to ask permission before you film someone. Yes, you do need to get a signed video release form* for any person that you film, even if they work for your company and even if you are not using the video for marketing. It cost one of my clients several hundred dollars to have me go back and remove all the shots of a terminated employee because their original videographer never got the signatures and the company was rightly worried they could be sued. If you are filming kids under the age of 18, you must have a parent or legal guardian sign for them.
#ProTip: Get signed releases for everyone in your video.
There are dozens of templates for release forms online - sort through them carefully and make sure they spell out your particular filming situation. Typically, the form will include wording that protects you from defamation charges just in case the person does not like how the video turns out (believe me, some people misunderstand the best of intentions). If you want to be sure, ask a lawyer to review it - it's cheaper to start with a template than to have a lawyer write the form from scratch! If you're hiring a professional videographer, make sure they have blank release forms ready to go (they should, but unfortunately many don't) that allow your company to use the person's video in perpetuity. Then, ask everyone who appears on camera to sign the form before you film them. Keep the forms on file... just in case. Should you ever be challenged, you'll find that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
*I am not a lawyer and these paragraphs are not intended as legal advice. You should contact a lawyer who is familiar with privacy laws if you need guidance.
Katie Rutter is the executive producer of Thing in a Pot Productions. She has received multiple awards for her videos and the overall quality of her work, including being honored as Video Producer of the Year in 2018 by the Catholic Press Association. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our video ProTips in your inbox every month!