Licensing Agreement
If you’re reading this page, you’ve probably hired me to photograph a property — or you’re thinking about it. Either way, it helps to know exactly what you’re getting when the images are delivered. I’ve tried to keep this as straightforward as possible, because nobody should need a lawyer to understand what they can and can’t do with photos of a home.
Here’s how image licensing works when you work with me.
What you’re receiving
When I deliver a set of photographs, you’re not buying the images outright. You’re receiving a license to use them in specific ways for a specific period of time. The copyright stays with me — that’s standard practice for photographers, and it protects both of us. It means I can continue to use the work in my portfolio, and you get the rights you actually need without paying for ones you don’t.
This is what makes the most sense for property work. A home gets listed, it gets sold, and the images have done their job. You shouldn’t be paying for perpetual, unlimited rights to photos of a property that’s no longer on the market.
What your license covers
For most residential property shoots, the standard license allows you to use the images for:
- Property listings — on portals, agency websites, and any platform where the home is being marketed for sale or rent
- Social media promotion — posts, stories, and paid ads related to that specific property
- Printed marketing materials — brochures, flyers, and signage directly tied to selling or renting the home
- Internal presentations — showing the work to clients or colleagues
If you’re an agent or builder using the images across multiple properties in a portfolio presentation, that’s usually fine too — I understand how real estate marketing works. But if you’re planning to use the photos in a way that goes beyond promoting the property itself, let’s talk about it before the shoot.
What isn’t covered
Some uses fall outside the standard license. These include:
- Third-party licensing — reselling the images or granting usage rights to another company, publication, or platform that isn’t directly involved in marketing the property
- Editorial or commercial use — using the images in magazines, advertisements, or product campaigns without a separate agreement
- Stock photography — uploading the images to stock sites, even with attribution
- Print-on-demand or merchandise — placing the photos on items for sale
If you need something beyond the standard scope, I’m not going to say no automatically. I’ll work with you to figure out a license that makes sense. The goal is that you get what you need, and the work isn’t used in ways that devalue it.
Timeframe and renewal
For property photography, the standard license lasts twelve months from the date of delivery. That covers the typical listing period for a residential property in most Indian markets.
If a property stays on the market longer than expected — and I know it happens — just reach out. Extending a license is usually a simple, low-cost thing, especially when it’s the same home and the same marketing purpose. I’d rather extend a license than have you feel stuck.
Editing and modification
You can crop the images to fit different listing formats or social media dimensions. Basic adjustments like slight brightening are fine too, because I understand different platforms have different needs.
What I ask you not to do is materially alter the image in a way that changes how the space looks. No swapping out furniture, no changing wall colours in post, no adding or removing elements that weren’t there. The whole point of my work is that it shows the home honestly. If you need a different angle or a different room shot, tell me — I’d rather shoot it properly than have someone edit around it.
Crediting the work
You don’t need to credit me in property listings. That would clutter the listing and honestly, buyers aren’t looking at who took the photos. But if you’re sharing the images on social media, a small mention or tag is appreciated. It helps me reach more people who might need this kind of work.
For editorial features, publications, or any use where attribution is standard practice, please credit Ananya Rao / ludaronkycaptures.com.
A note on trust
I’ve written this agreement in plain language because I want you to actually understand it. I’ve been in situations where people sign things they haven’t fully read, and then feel surprised later. That doesn’t help anyone.
If something here isn’t clear, or if your situation doesn’t quite fit what’s described, just ask. I’d rather have a conversation than have you assume something and be disappointed later. This agreement exists to protect the work — but it also exists so that you feel confident using the images you’ve paid for.
That’s the whole point, really. You hire me to photograph a home so you can sell it or rent it. These terms are just the fine print that makes sure that happens smoothly.
If you need a license tailored to something specific — a long-term development project, a magazine feature, or anything else — email me and we’ll work it out together. The agreement above is the starting point, not the final word.