When I got an email recently expressing disappointment in something I’d done… you can imagine I went into my usual spiral.

I’ve always had a bit of a fear of disappointing people. It’s some strange in-built thing from when I was a little ginger kid trying to win gold stars from literally everyone. And honestly, it still means I spend far too long overthinking things I probably shouldn’t.

But anyway. I digress.

Basically, I shared a sneak peek.

The gallery had already been sent. But I was just too flipping excited not to post one of the images. A quick Instagram story. A lovely one. You know the drill.

But here’s the thing.
The person in question didn’t want any images shared without approval.

Which brings me to something that really shouldn’t be awkward… but often is.

Who owns your branding photos?

Let’s break this down, because it confuses people all the time.
You’ve paid for your shoot. You’ve got a folder full of gorgeous, carefully edited brand photos. You’re off into the sunset, updating your website and sprinkling your images across social media like a proud business owner.

And then I go and post one. In a moment of ridiculous giddiness.

But here’s what most people don’t realise:

Unless your photographer explicitly transfers copyright to you (which I don’t), you don’t own the photos. You’re licensed to use them.

So what does that mean?

It means:

✔️ You can use your branding photos for your website, social media, printed materials, press features and other marketing
❌ You can’t sell them, massively alter them, or tell me I’m not allowed to use them myself
❌ You definitely can’t upload them to AI tools to “see what you’d look like with Beyoncé’s jawline” (but more on that another day)

And to be honest, this setup protects you as much as it protects me.
It ensures your photos are handled professionally, not shuffled off to stock libraries or misused. And it means you’re working with someone who takes both your brand and their own business seriously.

But there’s another layer to all of this, which is…

What about your face?

While I own the copyright, I still need permission to use your likeness. That’s where something called a model release comes in.

A model release is basically you saying, “Yes, I’m happy for you to use my face in your marketing.” It’s not about handing over control, it’s just a standard bit of permission that allows me to post images from your shoot on my website, socials or portfolio.

In most cases, this permission is built into your photography contract.

Mine includes a clause that says I can use the photos for marketing unless otherwise agreed in writing. So unless we’ve talked about it in advance, I assume it’s all good to share a few faves.

But if you’re mid-launch, camera-shy, or visibility-wobbly?

Tell me. Please. Beforehand.

Because if you’ve got sensitivities or just want a heads-up before something gets posted, I’m more than happy to work with you on that.

We just need to chat about it before it’s out in the world. Not after.

Let’s normalise these conversations up front. It keeps things simple, respectful, and drama-free.

Because your brand shoot should feel empowering. Not like a legal minefield.

Want your branding photos to feel like you, without the confusion?
I make the process clear, comfortable, and confidence-boosting — and yes, we’ll chat about visibility before anything goes live.