Copyright Basics

https://www.copyright.com/Services/copyrightoncampus/basics/law.html

Photo Releases

https://www.rocketlawyer.com/article/when-you-need-a-photo-release.rl

This is a bit of a gray area. On one hand, the law states that any photographs shot at a place where a person has no reasonable right to privacy are acceptable for publication without a signed photo release. On the other hand, it is always best to have a signed photo release for the protection of your organization.

HM follows the National Park Service rule of not showing recognizable faces unless we have a signed photo release. We recommend all members use this guideline. This rule protects both you and your visitors – many parents do not want their child’s photograph to be placed where it can be reused by strangers, someone attending a program at your site may not wish to appear on the cover of your next brochure, and so on.

Photos/Art

Here is a list of places where you can search data bases for artwork that can be used for free or at a nominal charge.

National Archives
http://www.archives.gov/faqs/

Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/

National Park Service
http://www.nps.gov/media/multimedia-search.htm?q

Maryland State Art Collection
http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc1500/sc1545/apc_website/apchome.html

University of Maryland Libraries
http://www.lib.umd.edu/

The best way to gather images is to keep a camera at your site’s entry desk and shoot your own photos. Don’t have a camera? Maybe an HM Mini Grant would help out.