In most cases, the copyright in an image is automatically the property of the photographer. This legal standard remains the same regardless of whether or not the copyright has been registered; under British law, copyright is conferred at the point of creation, meaning it is owned by the photographer by default. There are, however, a number of exceptions to this. Primarily, it should be remembered that any image taken by a photographer who is employed by an organisation for that purpose becomes the property of the employer rather than the photographer. If, for example, a wedding photography company employs a photographer to shoot an event, the copyright in the images taken for that purpose will be the property of the company rather than the photographer.
If, on the other hand, a freelance photographer is paid by an individual to take photos of a wedding, the copyright will remain with the photographer in question and not the individual. In most cases such as these, the arrangement between the individual and the photographer will include a single print of each image. If the individual requires extra prints, they will have to negotiate a subsequent rate as the photographer is still the copyright owner.
