Answering a Reader Question #472

Anonymous Wrote:

 hi, do you have to be 18 to model without a guardians signature? or does it vary from country to country? or company to company?

Hey, Anonymous! 

Yes, in the United States you have to be 18 or older to model without a guardian's signature on a document like a model release form.

I can't speak for other countries but in the United States you must ALWAYS have the signature of a parent/guardian for model release forms when dealing with a model that is under the age of 18. Not only that, a parent/guardian must also be present during the shoot. They don't have to be right there in the middle of the set but they have to be somewhere on the premises.

Legit photographers, clients and companies in the U.S. know this. So if you're under 18 and somebody tries to tell you that it's okay for you to sign a model release form (or other contract/document) and/or work without a parent/guardian, they are breaking the law and is likely a person you should not want to work with.

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