Copyright automatically applies to your work at the moment of creation. This copyright lasts your entire lifespan and for some time after your death. But sometimes it's better to copyright your photo officially. In case of any usage issues, it can help you with any legal issues you may encounter.

Create an online account at .copyright.gov (no charge for that). Log in and start a new “claim” (a new copyright application). Fill in the online form (between about 8 and 12 screens of information). Pay the government filing fee of $35 or $ 55 with your credit card.

You can register up to 750 images per application at a flat fee of $55 if all of the images have a single author, are all either published or unpublished and if all of the images were created in the same calendar year.

Key Takeaways on the Benefits of Copyright Registration The ability to sue an infringer in federal court; Ease in obtaining an injunction quickly; Providing public notice of ownership rights and creating a presumption of ownership in court; and. The ability to seek statutory damages and attorney fees.

Create an online account at .copyright.gov (no charge for that). Log in and start a new “claim” (a new copyright application). Fill in the online form (between about 8 and 12 screens of information). Pay the government filing fee of $35 or $ 55 with your credit card.

Add a Copyright Notice In most countries, photographers own the copyright of their images from the moment of creation without the need for registration. Therefore, it's perfectly legit that you add a notice stating that you are the copyright owner. You can do this anywhere on your website or under each photo.

How to copyright a photo Complete the application form. You can either do this online or with a hard copy that you must mail to the U.S. Copyright Office. Include a copy of the work to be copyrighted. ... Pay the filing fee and submit your application.