If you’re taking pictures of people (including yourself) that you plan to sell to micro-stock stock photography agencies, you are going to need a model release. Stock Photographer Blog has a sample model release for stock photography that you can download in either Microsoft Word or PDF formats:

Download Model Release (Microsoft Word Format)
Download Model Release (PDF Format)

This sample model release should be valid with any of the major stock agencies. Please note that all of it must be filled out – assume that every blank on the model release is required, because for some stock agency it is. That includes the phone number, the description of the shoot, the photographer signature, and the witness signature on the model release.

And no, the photographer cannot sign as the witness. Furthermore you cannot use a “blanket” release for a model. You must have a new release for each shoot.

Here is a quick look at what this stock photography model release looks like:

If you download the word format of the model release, you can change the second blank in the first paragraph to read your name, or your company name. Thereafter you just need to print out a stack of the model releases and include them in your camera bag to bring with you wherever you go.

You can also read our guide on When Do You Need a Model Release for more information about when the model release is actualy needed.