What a print release lets you do
A print release removes the question of where you may print. With one, you can order prints from any lab or store, make a wall display, send a card, post the images online and use them on a profile or a website. The release covers personal use by default, and a business can use headshots to represent itself.
That is the reason a release matters. Without one, a photographer may require you to buy prints only from their own store, and the files you download may carry limits on printing.
What stays with the photographer
Copyright normally stays with the photographer unless a written agreement says otherwise. The release gives you permission to print, and it does not hand over ownership. That is the usual arrangement in the industry. Anything outside it, such as selling the photos to a third party or licensing them for an advertising campaign, needs a separate agreement.
This is a general statement about how photography usually works. It is not legal advice, and the details depend on your agreement. If you need a specific use, such as a large ad campaign, ask me before you book and we write it down.
Digital download, print release and print store
These three are different things, and the words overlap.
- A digital download is the file itself. The price list lists a single photo download at $20 and all photos at $125 in the store.
- A print release is the permission to print the file anywhere.
- The print store is the option of ordering prints and wall art from the studio's gallery.
A GKPhoto session includes the edited digitals and the print release in the price, so you do not have to buy the download separately. The store is for reference and for items you want me to order.
What the print store costs
Store prices are listed for reference and are not added to a session quote.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 4x6 | $8 |
| 5x7 | $12 |
| 8x10 | $25 |
| 11x14 | $45 |
| 16x20 | $75 |
| 20x30 | $125 |
Wall products such as canvas, metal, framed canvas, gallery frames and albums are priced from a starting figure on the price list. The wall-size tool shows each size to scale on a sofa, a mantel, a bed or a stairway.
How GKPhoto delivers
Portraits arrive in 48 hours in a private online gallery. Events and large jobs take 2 to 3 weeks. Each gallery has full-resolution downloads and the print release. The all-inclusive page lists what a session price covers, and the glossary defines the other terms on this page.
Before you print
Check the resolution for a large print. A small file stretched to a big size looks soft. Start from the full-resolution download, and use the visualizer to see how each size looks on your wall.
Printing tips
Print color can differ between labs and between your screen and a print. General advice: order one small test print before you order a large one. Start from the full-resolution download, and keep the original files in two places. If a print looks too dark or too bright, tell the lab. A good lab can reprint or adjust.