Antique Photographs

[SeenUnseenMedia]

One of the things I do is rescue very old photographs in poor condition from barn sales and estate sales and what not. 

I then scan them in and perform image restoration to make the photographs look almost new.

These images are clearly in the public domain, and both the photographer and subjects in them are long gone.

But the restoration is all my work.

So the question arises, would these require releases?

How would one secure releases from models or property owners who are long deceased, or indeed for property that may no longer exist?

What would be the proper procedure here.

[MatHayward · Accepted solution]

We do not accept public domain images. You need to be the original photographer that fully owns the rights to the images you submit. A release would also be required regardless unless you could verify the model has been dead for a minimum of 75 years.

-Mat

[SeenUnseenMedia]

Okie doke.  That answers that.  Thanks much!

[Cactus_Cowboy]

You could have just stopped with the "We do not accept public domain images." But no, you had to go and put the rest of that BS... and then this little jewel "unless you could verify the model has been dead for a minimum of 75 years." I'm still LMAO! What a crock. All that was just a needless insult even if it is true. And no this is not just my opinion but how I damn well feel! HA!