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"Who has the copyright to photos taken by a photographer: the photographer or the client?"

In the US, photographers generally hold the copyright to their photos, granting them exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, and display the image publicly.

Copyright protection starts automatically once a photograph is fixed in a tangible medium, without needing registration with the U.S.

Copyright Office.

The "work made for hire" doctrine applies when an employer, not an employee, is considered the author and initial copyright owner.

However, this rarely applies to photography unless it's a primary job function.

Photographers have exclusive rights as copyright owners, allowing them to make, sell, or distribute copies, adapt the work, and publicly display or perform their work.

Copyright protection applies to photographs from the moment they are "fixed" in a tangible medium, like when a picture is taken.

For photographs taken between 1912 and 1989, the copyright belongs to the person who owns the negative or the commissioning party, unless specified otherwise in agreements.

Before 1912, the photographer owned the copyright, unless the photograph was taken under commission.

Using someone else's copyrighted work, such as a painting, drawing, or cartoon, in a photo may result in infringement.

Trademarks owned by businesses can present issues for photographers when taking photos of corporate logos or other intellectual property.

Professional sports organizations often have exclusive contracts with image agencies like Getty Images or the Associated Press, limiting photographers' abilities to sell photos despite owning the copyrights.

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