📸 Why We Use a Contract

📸 Why We Use a Contract (And What a Photo Release Really Means)

At Bell Real Estate Photography, we love helping you make your listings shine — and we want to make sure everyone is on the same page, too. That’s why every time we shoot a property, we use a photography agreement. It's not because we love paperwork (we don’t!), it’s because we care about protecting your investment — and our work.

Let’s break it all down in plain English.

💼 Why a Contract? Isn’t a Handshake Enough?

We get it — real estate moves fast. But here's the thing: a photography agreement protects you and us. It clears up the “who, what, when, and how much,” so there are no surprises later. Think of it like GPS for your shoot — everyone knows where we’re headed.

For Example:

• You know what you're paying for (like high-quality images of main rooms and exterior).

• We both know when the shoot is, how long it’ll take, and what happens if someone needs to cancel.

• It tells you what happens if it rains, or if the home’s not ready, or if we show up and the dog’s in the bathtub (true story!).

✍️ So What’s a Photo Release, Anyway?

This part usually raises eyebrows. Some folks ask, “Why do I need permission to use the photos I paid for?”

Great question. When we take photos, those images are automatically protected under U.S. Copyright Law. That means the person who takes the photos (in this case, Jerry Bell) is the one who owns them — even if you paid for the service.

But don’t worry — you don’t need a law degree to use the photos.

We give you a limited-use license (that’s the “photo release”) that lets you use the images for exactly what you need: selling or renting the property.

You Can Use the Photos For:

✅ MLS Listings
✅ Zillow / Realtor.com
✅ Airbnb / VRBO
✅ Your property-specific site
✅ Your Facebook Marketplace listing

You Can’t Use Them For:

🚫 Your own marketing materials or website (unless you ask first)
🚫 Passing them to another agent or the new homeowner
🚫 Sharing them with the builder or stager for their portfolio
🚫 Editing or filtering them to make the house look like something it’s not

🤔 But Why So Strict?

Because copyright is serious business. If someone uses the photos outside of what was agreed on — even accidentally — that could be a copyright violation. And yes, those come with real legal consequences.

We’re not trying to be buzzkills — we just want to make sure your listing looks great and everything stays above board.

🚨 What Happens If a Third Party Wants the Photos?

Say the home doesn’t sell and the owner lists it with a new agent. That new agent wants to reuse the same photos. Can they?

Short answer: Nope.
Long answer: The original license was only for your use to market that property during your listing period. If someone else wants to use them, they’ll need written permission — and maybe a new license.

🎯 The Big Picture (See What We Did There?)

We created our agreement not to make things harder — but to keep things fair, clear, and professional.

You’re hiring Bell Real Estate Photography to deliver beautiful, high-quality images that make your listings stand out. The agreement is just the safety net that makes sure everyone plays by the same rules, avoids misunderstandings, and focuses on what matters: making properties look amazing.

❤️ Need More Info?

We’re always happy to answer questions about our agreement or how licensing works. Just give Jerry a shout at (727) 776-0564 — whether you’re ready to schedule or just want to chat about the difference between image rights and usage rights.