This is very disheartening, especially when the model and the photographer are the same.  So when using the same model for 50 different shoot dates, we have to fill out 50 different model release forms and attach it to the picture for that shoot date, otherwise it gets rejected.  This increases the workload on the contributor substantially to the point that I am almost in tears. I don't know how you guys are able to continue submitting.  Maybe you just use one model for one date and then never use the same model again.  Probably would make it easier.  Here is the comment from the Shutterstock reviewer:


Shutterstock has been becoming more strict on not using the same model release for multiple photo shoots. Many reviewers may still accept it, but you will likely see more rejections in the future.

It affects all of us contributors, and yes it definitely means a lot more work for everyone. There really is no workaround, they increase restrictions to prevent the possibility of lawsuits due to improper releases.

If you do not want to create another release, you can try to resubmit and hope for a more lenient reviewer.

I thought that it was pretty standard to require a model release for each shoot.

I'm not submitting pictures of myself at the moment, but I have done. When iStock tightened up the rules about model releases to one per shoot, they made an exception for self portraits because you're never going to sue yourself - there's just no legal risk.

You had to put some wording up top to flag this - mine said (in red so they couldn't miss it, and still some reviewers did): "This is a self portrait. Catch-all release is allowed". Perhaps someone currently submitting self portraits to Shutterstock should suggest that they allow a similar exception.

The other thing iStock allowed was one release for a multi-day "session". I think there was some limit of less than one week. Was very useful when you use family/friends in a setting you're staying at to cut down on the paperwork. I believe subject matter needed to be similar for this exception to be permitted - so no mixing boudoir shots with tennis games and sports at the beach on one release.

Video-stock...

Currently, I don't see this being an issue in video.  I've only seen it applied to images.  But it's only a matter time before they have the same strict standards for video 

And in true SS style, they do not include this info in their e-mails but rather let people get rejections until they can figure out what is happening. Just like the new MR requirements last time.

I thought that it was pretty standard to require a model release for each shoot.

I think that it is normal to require a model release for each shoot, for obvious reasons.
But it is a total absurd to ask a model release for each shoot when the photographer and the model are the same person.

Unfortunately, for my submissions the rejections come long after the model and witness are available to sign a revised release.

I've started having models email my all of their info and filling in the model releases myself.  Helps prevent a lot of mistakes. I'll print a couple of copies of the filled out release and bring to the shoot. It's good to have the extra copies because I've had models screw up their signature or the date and had to redo it.

Doing the release at the beginning of a shoot also helps reduce mistakes. At the end of a shoot, everyone is rushing around, packing up and getting ready to leave...too easy to make a mistake or overlook a mistake on a release.

They've been giving me a bunch of silliness lately.  The last one was that the name photographer and the name on my account have to be the same.  Which has no legal standing, and is crazy, because I list my business as the name on my account, and I am the photographer, as I am a person.

Yeah and this is just as silly! as if one have time to chase around "real" models for all different MR's.

Their system simply isn't designed for having releases for each shoot.
1) their release page becomes a total mess after while when there are numerous different releases (and search option is handicapped completely)
2) they have this feature to display all photos/videos by the same model which relies on the model release system.

I would understand if they needed different MR's for different photo sessions, but this is just rubbish.
I have the same person, in the same environment, just different pose, same day, same time, and why then they need different release?
I have all rejected because of that again...

The other question is - do they check if we used the same release before current submission?
Or just if we used the same MR in the current one?

There's no way they are requiring different model releases for a shoot that is the same person, same place, same time and same day. That just would not make any sense. Maybe they are rejecting it because something on the model release is not correct.