If I am hired to photograph and event, who holds the copyright?

Question:
Hello,

I was recently hired by a Museum to shoot an event. I would assume I get copyright since they are my shots, just as I would have in any portrait session. I know that copyright goes to the employer if it’s a for hire shoot, so is ‘for hire’ referring to when another photographer or studio hires you as a second shooter only? I mean, any paid gig you are ‘for hire’ right?

Thank you!

Answer:
Great question, thanks for asking.

Ultimately, you as the photographer have to copyright.  You should have a conversation with organizations that hires you or have them sign a contract that states how they are allowed to use the images.  When you let them use your images, they are licensing them for specific use like a stock house would.  (You are just cutting out the stock house.)  If you are shooting a specific event, they are still licensing the images.  It just happens to be that they are hiring you for specific images.

After this conversation with them, they can choose to hire you or go on to another photographer.

You may also negotiate with them that if you are ‘work for hire’ for the event (meaning they retain all the copyrights to the images) and you will be happy to do so, and your set schedule is $$$ vs $$.

What gets photographers in challenging situations is when they do not have a conversation first and try to negociate later.  Believe me, this conversation is MUCH harder to have than having it before being hired for the event.