Photographic/Media Release Forms

Pictures of Groups of Students

Guidance from University Communications (March 24, 2009)

If the group is not the focus (in other words you’re taking a picture of a building, tree, etc.) you don’t need permission. However, for any picture with NMSU students in it, you really need to get their permission especially if it’s a face-on picture or in the classroom. Same for student groups or organizations.

Best things to do before taking group pictures.

1. Put the wording from the permission form on a page and then add lines for signatures. They can all sign on the same page.
2. Talk to the students and tell them:
   1. You’re going to take pictures.
   2. You need their permission.
   3. They can refuse.

If they don’t want to be in the picture, they need to move away from the group when a picture is taken or you need to be sure they’re not in the shot or focused on.

You only need to get one signature per picture-taking session. They don’t have to sign for every picture taken during that session.