A Usage License is a contract between a model, MUA, designer, publication etc… and a photographer. The photographer licenses (gives permission for) the images to be used in specific circumstances to the person named in the license. For instance, the license can state that the model can use the image in her on line portfolio or a publication can use the images in both the print version and web version of the publication.
 

The license can also state what cannot be done with the photo. For instance, if you do not want it to appear on Myspace or Facebook, you can specify it only appear on Model Insider or another modeling web site. You can specify it cannot have the watermark removed, only be used for a period of time or only be used in conjunction with a certain event.
 

What does the Usage License need to contain? A simple one can be an email stating something like “here are your images, have fun using them on Model Insider”. The sender and recipient of the email are the implied parties and the body of the email is the license. A more inclusive one can have everyones name and address, where the pictures were taken, the type of camera, file name and size of the pictures, restrictions on doing resizing or other Photo Shop work or any of the items noted above. (This list is not all inclusive, many other things can be added)
 

A usage license can work both ways. The photographer can include restrictions on usage for himself too. A good example as to why a model might want this happened right here in Las Vegas. A model approached a GWC photographer about doing a topless shoot with her for her boyfriend. She made it clear that no one was to get these pictures except her. There was no usage license in place stating that the usage was limited to the model only and that the photographer was not allowed to use the images in any way. It was a verbal agreement and there were no other witnesses.
 

You can guess what this clown did with the pictures. Yup, he put them on a modeling web site for the world to see, along with her name. She was horrified but she could not get him to remove them. A reputable professional photographer would have never done this. Lesson learned models, know what will happen with the pictures after the shoot. If you agree to something verbally, the photographer should have no problem putting it in writing. If he hesitates, run.