Photography & Events

Free Minor Model Release Form Template (PDF)

A model release for a minor is the version to use whenever the subject in your images is under 18 — it's signed by a parent or legal guardian on the minor's behalf, which an adult release can't substitute for.

When to use it

Use this any time the subject whose likeness you want to use is a minor — a child at a family portrait session, a young performer, a minor who appears in event photography you want to feature. A release "signed" by the minor themselves generally isn't enforceable; it has to come from a parent or legal guardian.

What's typically included

• Minor's name (as a filled-in detail, not a signer)
• Grant of permission to use the minor's likeness
• Scope of use (portfolio, website, social media, print, competition, licensing)
• Commercial or editorial use
• Territory and duration of the grant
• Compensation (or acknowledgment that none is provided)
• Guardian signature block

How to fill it in

• The minor's name is a custom variable you fill in once — the guardian is the one who signs, so make sure the signer you add is genuinely the parent or legal guardian, not another relative without that legal standing.
• Be as specific about scope of use as you would be for an adult release — guardians are often more cautious about commercial or social-media use of a child's image than adult subjects are for themselves.
• If the same guardian is releasing images for multiple children (siblings at one session), use a separate copy of this release for each child rather than trying to list multiple minors on one form.

Frequently asked questions

Can a minor sign this themselves once they're old enough to write their name?

No — this release specifically requires a parent or legal guardian's signature, regardless of the minor's age. If the subject is 18 or older, use the adult model release template instead, which they can sign themselves.

Is an electronically signed release valid for a document a guardian signs on a minor's behalf?

Yes — the U.S. ESIGN Act and state UETA laws apply the same way to a guardian's electronic signature as to any other signer's, as long as they consented to sign electronically.

What if I'm not sure whether the person signing is actually the legal guardian?

This template doesn't verify guardianship for you — it's your responsibility to confirm the signer's relationship to the minor before relying on the release, the same as you would with a paper form.