Photography, Image Use & Content Usage Policy

The written agreement should identify who owns copyright, the content being delivered and each party’s permitted uses. South African copyright law, including the Copyright Act 98 of 1978 and its rules for commissioned photographs and films, may determine ownership unless a valid agreement provides otherwise. This policy does not assume that the photographer always owns commissioned work.

Agree any licence scope: personal or commercial use, platforms, territory, duration, editing, attribution, paid advertising, exclusivity, and whether raw files or project files are included. No automatic copyright transfer or unlimited licence is promised here; equally, no restriction overrides rights the client has under law or an agreed contract.

Before capturing or publishing identifiable people, the parties should clarify the lawful basis and who will obtain any necessary participant, venue or rights-holder permissions. A booking client cannot necessarily consent on behalf of every guest. Event notices may support transparency but are not a substitute for consent where consent is required.

Children and sensitive situations require particular care and any legally required consent from a competent person. Clients should only supply logos, music, images or other material they have permission to use. The business should likewise check the rights needed for material it adds.

Proposed default pending project-specific agreement: delivery to a client is not permission for public promotion. Milah Muse & Co. should obtain a separate, specific permission or establish another appropriate lawful basis before placing identifiable client content in a portfolio, on social media or in advertising, and resolve copyright permissions as well.

Any permission should identify the content, channels and purpose. Declining promotional consent should not by itself prevent delivery of the agreed service. Consent to one use does not mean consent to every future use or to third-party advertising.

Private delivery, access and retention arrangements should be agreed with the client, with proportionate safeguards for identifiable images. Social platforms may permit resharing beyond the business’s control; that risk should be considered before publication rather than used to excuse unlawful sharing.

To raise a concern, request removal from channels controlled by the business, or withdraw consent for future use where consent is the basis, email shamilah.titus01@gmail.com or call 078 226 6744. Identify the image or link and requested action without sending unnecessary sensitive information.

Requests should be reviewed promptly and fairly. Withdrawal of consent does not invalidate earlier lawful processing, and removal from third-party copies cannot be guaranteed. Any lawful retention need or limitation should be explained; POPIA rights and available remedies remain intact.

Confirm a project agreement covering commissioned-work ownership, client licensing, participant permissions, optional promotional consent, children’s images, delivery and storage, and a practical removal-request process. The current website’s preview images do not by themselves establish any client’s consent or ownership arrangement.