Who owns my property photos?

Who owns your property photos?
In most cases, the photographer or the brokerage that hired the photographer retains legal ownership of the photos—not the homeowner. Even though they’re pictures of your house, if you didn’t take them yourself or pay a photographer directly under a contract that transfers rights to you, you likely do not have full rights to reuse or distribute them however you want.

📸 So, what does that mean for you?
If the agent or brokerage paid for the photos, they typically have a license to use them for marketing your property while it was listed.

You may not have the legal right to use those same images for a new listing with a different agent, or for personal promotion on social media—unless you get permission.

Reusing photos without permission could lead to copyright issues, even if it’s unintentional.

✅ What Can You Do?
Here are a few simple, respectful steps to move forward:

Contact your former agent or the photographer (if you know who took the photos) and request written permission to reuse them. Some may grant usage rights for a fee or with proper credit.

Ask your new agent (if you're relisting) if they can coordinate reuse or arrange new professional photos.

If in doubt, it's safest to take new photos—especially if any updates or changes have been made to the home since the original shoot.

🎯 Pro Tip:
Fresh listing = fresh energy. Even if you can reuse the old photos, new images can bring better lighting, improved staging, or seasonal updates that make your home stand out even more the second time around.

Intellectual rights belong to the person who paid for them. Most likely, the listing agent.

Great question, Mike! If you’re looking for more insights on navigating real estate transactions and marketing, be sure to check out my YouTube channel @livintc, where I discuss property marketing strategies and much more. Now, let’s address your property photo ownership situation:

Who Owns Your Property Photos?
When it comes to property photos, ownership usually depends on the agreement between the photographer, the real estate agent, and the homeowner. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Photographer’s Copyright:
In most cases, the photographer retains the copyright to the photos they take. This means that, technically, the photographer owns the images, even though they were taken of your property. Copyright law grants the photographer the legal rights to control how the photos are used, distributed, and reproduced.

2. Licensing for Use:
Typically, when you or your real estate agent hire a photographer, you’re paying for a license to use the photos for a specific purpose—such as marketing your home for sale. This license may only cover use during the listing period, so if the listing has expired or been canceled, you may need to renew the license or get permission to use the photos again, especially for a new listing or on social media.

3. Check the Agreement:
If you have a contract or agreement with the photographer (or if your agent arranged the photos), it’s important to check the terms of that agreement. Look for details about:

Who owns the rights to the photos.
How long you’re allowed to use the photos.
Where you’re allowed to use them (MLS, social media, etc.).
4. Using the Photos on Social Media:
If you want to share the photos on social media, you should ensure that your license or agreement with the photographer covers this type of use. Some photographers may allow this, while others may require additional permission or payment to expand the usage rights beyond listing purposes.

5. Reusing the Photos for a New Listing:
If you’re planning to re-list your home and want to use the same photos, it’s a good idea to reach out to the photographer or your previous real estate agent to clarify the terms. Some photographers may allow you to reuse the photos for a new listing, while others may charge a fee for re-licensing the images.

Final Thoughts:
While you own the property, the photographer typically owns the copyright to the photos. If you want to reuse or share the photos, it’s important to check the original agreement and ensure you have the necessary permissions. If in doubt, it’s always best to ask the photographer directly to avoid any legal issues.

For more tips on real estate marketing and managing your home sale, feel free to visit my YouTube channel @livintc, where I cover topics like these in more detail.

I hope this clears things up, and good luck with your next steps! Let me know if you have more questions.

If you purchase them from a photographer, ask the photographer if the fee you paid was ownership rights or use rights.

Generally, the photographer sells the rights to the listing agent. I would advise speaking to the first agent who paid to have the photographer in.

If the photos were taken by the listing agent, then the firm would have rights to those. Our firm hires a proffessional photographer for best lighting and clear shots. Pictures definately draw the buyers in deciding whether or not to schedule a showing with an agent.

Depends on who purchased the photos. If you plan to use the same agent, I would speak to them about it.

Most likely the person that incurred the fee for the photography media. As a Listing Agent, I practice including the cost of all media to prepare the listing for the market as part of my Listing to do tasks. I usually, give full access to all of the Sellers/Owners to the media. Sharing is caring.

Hi Mike! I always put the designation of ownership for photos in my listing agreements. Do you have your former listing agreement that may outline that for you? Did you compensate your agent for the photos when you removed your listing? You could always reach back out to that agent and see if they will release them to you. Hoping it works out for you. Best of luck going back on the market!