TAYLOR GIVES PHOTOGS A BREAK

Taylor Swift has in effect responded to that U.K.-based photographer who posted an open letter last month accusing her of “hypocrisy” and “exploit[ing] our work for your benefit for all eternity” over Swift’s standard photo agreement. That photog, Jason Sheldon, started “a tempest in an f-stop,” as HITS’ Holly Gleason put it at the time.

Recently, Swift sent her reps to negotiate a new concert photo waiver with the National Press Photographers Association, and the resulting contracts for her 1989 World Tour are drastically more photographer-friendly. The news was first reported on Consequence of Sound.

Gone are the stipulations that images taken at any show can be used only once, with publications now allowed to freely use pictures “for news or information/editorial purposes” and photographers able to use them in portfolios and on websites. (Commercial uses are still not allowed, though there’s an exception with prior written consent.) Also axed is wording that gave Swift the right to use the images in almost any “non-commercial” way imaginable, replaced with explicit wording saying the images won’t be used on merch. It simply says she could post any picture she likes on social media, and even promises to give full credit. The opening paragraph ends with a perfectly clear, emphasized sentence: “This contract does NOT transfer copyright away from you, the photographer or publication.”

What’s more, if they catch you violating the terms of the contract during the concert, they may ask to see you images and may ask you to delete them. Whaddaya know.