Labs are very strict about copyright infringement and do not want to take on the liability of having a professional photographer sue for letting the lab make copies without permission. The Copyright Release is a very short document that can be just a paragraph or two with the name of the studio and your signature to make it legal. This will give your client full rights and the go-ahead to create as many copies of the photographs that they wish to make.

Don't swim with the fishes
As a rule of thumb, whether you're an amateur or a new professional, if someone pays you to take pictures you are doing them a service. A service business means abiding by the boring legalities that may protect you from future problems that could arise. It also gives you greater credibility with your clients because they will see you as a professional who takes the assignment seriously.

Consider a contract for all of your work. Modify the written document as needed when situations arise. You can even customize a contract to suit the immediate needs of the project you have been hired to do. Just remember the day you don't adhere to your own policies is the day you will end up regretting the decision to go without.

Think of your contract as a boat that will take you to shore because it certainly would be difficult to swim that mile inland without it. Your contract could be indeed become a lifesaver one day. Of course last, but not least, don't forget the all-important handshake.

For more than 20 years, David Gewirtz, the author of Where Have All The Emails Gone? and The Flexible Enterprise has analyzed current, historical, and emerging issues relating to technology, competitiveness, and policy. David is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines, is the Cyberterrorism Advisor for the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals, and can be reached via email at david@zatz.com.