Who owns the photos after a shoot?
After a shoot, the photographer owns the photos. Since 2012, Canadian copyright law has made the photographer the first owner of the images, even when a client commissioned and paid for the shoot. The exception is personal use: someone who commissions photos for their own personal use can use them that way without a separate licence.
At Le Café Studio, your agreement changes that default: you own the finished, edited images from your shoot and can use them wherever you need. The studio keeps the unedited raw files and may show the images in its portfolio.
Summary
Paying for a shoot and owning the photos are two different things. In Canada, the photographer owns the copyright in the images unless a written agreement says otherwise. At Le Café Studio the written agreement gives you the finished images: you own the finals, and the studio keeps the raw files and the right to show the work in its portfolio, all agreed before the shoot.
What you own, and what the studio keeps
- You own the finished, edited images delivered in your gallery: for your website, social media, lookbooks, print, ads, packaging and magazines, anywhere and with no end date.
- The studio keeps the unedited raw files. They are not delivered.
- Portfolio: the studio may show the images in its portfolio. Confidential and NDA work stays out of it.
Editorial use and commercial use
Editorial use tells a story: a magazine spread, a feature, press coverage. Commercial use sells something: a campaign, an ad, an e-commerce page, packaging. Because you own the finished images from your shoot, you can use them for both.
What designers get from a runway gallery
At fashion weeks we share a curated gallery with each designer and model for their portfolio and press kit. That covers showing the work: your own website, your own social accounts, and press about the collection. Using those images in paid advertising or on a product page is commercial use, and needs its own licence.
Model releases
A licence covers the photos. A model release covers the people in them. Commercial use of anyone who can be identified needs their signed release, and a release for anyone under 18 is signed by a parent. We arrange releases on our shoots and note in your agreement which images have them.
How we price it
One shoot fee, in writing, before the shoot. It covers the time, the team, the setup and the edit, and the finished images are yours.
Questions
Do I own the photos if I paid for the shoot?
With Le Café Studio, yes: you own the finished, edited images. By default in Canada the photographer owns the copyright, so this is written into your agreement. The studio keeps the raw files and may show the images in its portfolio.
Do I get the raw files?
No. The studio keeps the unedited raw files. You get the finished, edited images, and those are yours.
Can I use runway photos from my show in an ad?
Not under the portfolio and press use that comes with a runway gallery. Advertising is commercial use and needs its own licence, which can be added at any time.
Do I need a model release?
For commercial use of anyone who can be identified, yes. For editorial use it's still good practice. We handle releases on our shoots.
This is how Le Café Studio works, not legal advice. For contract questions, talk to a lawyer.
