Copyright photos

[NikonNikonNikon]

Hi, I have taken some photos of my friends wedding, and have already sent them to him. I would like to put some of the wedding photos on my website as part of my online portfolio, but I have copyrighted all of my pictures on my website. I was wondering, do I (or can I) copyright the wedding shots, even though my friend already paid for them?

[gldiana]

Did your friend pay for the copies of the photos or did they pay to own the photos. In the first case the photos are yours and therefore the copyright (although I would ask them to sign a model release form if you haven't done that yet), in the second case they own the photos and you don't have any right to them (as if you worked "for hire").

[NikonNikonNikon]

Ok, so then I "worked for hire" and don't own any copyright to them. That's ok Thank you, that's all I needed

[gldiana]

Lesson learned right?

If I remember correctly the "work for hire" term is only valid if specified.