What permissions do I need to post pictures of people online?

[otebear]

I have been taking pictures on my school's grounds, mostly of my peers (middle school students). What sort of permission would I need to post them online, for no profit or advertisement, and from whom would the permission need to be? If it's important, I live in New Jersey.

 

[quincy]

What sorts of photographs are these? Are these group shots or individual shots?

Generally, you will want to ask those pictured in the photo if you can display their photo online (being specific as to where online you wish to display the photo). The permission does not have to be in writing, but it helps to have it in writing, and, because of your ages, it really should be a parent who gives the okay to the display of the photo.

Not all photos displayed online will require permission from those pictured, but you apparently have done some research and understand that, for commercial purposes and for for-profit purposes, permission is required.

Even when permission is not required, however, whenever you are handling another person's name or image, you must be careful with it. Getting permission prior to the display of their image online is the smart thing to do. It can avoid problems in the future.

 

[otebear]

What sorts of photographs are these? Are these group shots or individual shots?

Generally, you will want to ask whomever is pictured in the photo if you can display their photo online (being specific as to where online you wish to display the photo). The permission does not have to be in writing, but it helps to have it in writing, and, because of your ages, it really should be a parent who gives the okay to the display of the photo.

Not all photos displayed online will require permission from those pictured, but you apparently have done some research and understand that, for commercial purposes and for for-profit purposes, permission is required.

Even when permission is not required, however, whenever you are handling another person's name or image, you must be careful with it. Getting permission prior to the display of their image online is the smart thing to do. It can avoid problems in the future.

Some are group shots, some are individual, and some are close-ups. I'm keeping them in a Google+ album so I can control who has access. I have been getting verbal permission from the subjects, but I don't know if I need parental consent.

 

[quincy]

It is good that you are keeping the photographs of your peers in an album that gives you control over who can access them. It is also good that you have already obtained oral consent from those whose photographs are displayed. But parental consent is still a smart thing to have. Some parents can get a little weird about having their kid's picture posted online.

Although written consent from the parents is probably not something you need, a consent form can be fairly simple to create and have a parent sign. It is protection for you to have these forms. If you want to view an example of a fairly simple consent form, you can use the one the New Jersey schools use, as the schools are required by law to get written consent from a parent or guardian before posting anything about a student online.

You can access the New Jersey school form at: http://www.state.nj.us/education/techno/idconsent/form.pdf.

I congratulate you on knowing enough about the law to suspect you may need permission to post pictures online. And I also congratulate you on your correct use of "whom." Very few people know when to use it.

 

[otebear]

Draft

This is what I have so far. Any suggestions?
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B143AYsheUt1MnBremNSMlFONm8

 

[quincy]

I wasn't able to access (what I assume is) your consent form, so I am not able to comment on it. If it is similar to the New Jersey school form, though, it should be okay.