Get legal support for your model release form in New Zealand

It is commonly used by photographers, videographers, agencies, production teams, event organisers, brands and content creators who plan to use a person's image, likeness or recorded appearance beyond a purely private setting. That might include advertising, social content, website use, portfolio use, promotional campaigns or ongoing brand assets. The service is especially helpful where the material may be reused later, adapted across channels, or captured in a setting where the intended use is broader than a one-off post. In those cases, the wording of the release can matter a lot.

Problems often arise when the person later objects to how their image is used, says the use went beyond what they agreed to, or disputes whether the content can stay online, be used in advertising, or be repurposed for future campaigns. Issues can also come up around minors, sensitive subject matter, heavily edited content or use in a different commercial context from the original shoot. A release form will not solve every issue on its own, but it can provide a clearer record of consent, usage scope and any limits that were agreed.

Alongside drafting or reviewing the model release form, we help identify the practical points that should be reflected in the document for your project. That can include who is granting consent, what content is covered, whether the use is promotional or editorial, whether future reuse is intended, and whether there are any approval steps or restrictions to record. We can also review an existing form you have been given and explain where the wording may be too narrow, too broad or missing important detail for the planned use.

Templates can be useful for simple shoots, but they often assume a narrow use case and may not match the way content is actually captured and reused in practice. For example, a generic form may not deal well with campaign reuse, social cut-downs, paid advertising, cross-platform publication, agency-client arrangements or specific approval expectations. If the content has commercial value or may be used over time, a tailored form is usually the safer option. It gives you wording that better matches the project rather than relying on broad assumptions.

No. This service covers the release form and related legal guidance, not the separate process of obtaining regulator approval, platform approval or other third-party clearance. If your project touches an area where outside approval matters, approval depends on the relevant regulator or authority. If regulator or authority requirements affect your matter, we will talk you through the practical next steps. so those steps may affect your wider production schedule. We can help you understand where the document fits, but third-party decisions and ongoing representation are not included in the fixed-fee.

Submit an enquiry on this page or click 'Get started'. One of our legal consultants will review it within 1 business day and get in touch to understand what you need.

Your consultant will then email you a fixed-fee quote setting out the cost, scope and timing. If you're happy with it, you can accept the quote and sign our engagement letter online.

Once you've accepted, one of our Australian-qualified lawyers will work with you to complete your project. They'll contact you by email or phone if they need anything.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the Model Release Form service, pricing starts from $900.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We work online, so we can help wherever you are in New Zealand. Our team works remotely, mainly from Australia.

Your work is done by our Australian-qualified lawyers, who hold Australian practising certificates and specialise in business law. None of them are New Zealand lawyers or hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

Sprintlaw NZ Limited is a legal consultancy, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. We don't act in court or tribunal matters, conveyancing (including leases and business sales) or other reserved areas of work. Communications with Sprintlaw are unlikely to be protected by legal professional privilege. We still keep everything confidential under our engagement letter.