When you die, what happens to your photos?

Something I never thought about before.  When someone passes away, what happens to your photos?  Is there a statue of limitations in terms of when they are free for anyone to take?  Actually, what's to stop anyone from taking them with?

Next of kin I believe

Do you refer to copyright, or estate? The copyright of your images passes to whomever gets the estate (unless stated otherwise in a will, right?) And copyright (in the USA) lasts 70 years past the death of the creator).

There is another recent thread on here about someone picking up old photos at a garage sale, and wondering whether they could capitalize on them (due to inquiries). Just because someone buys some old prints or negatives doesn't mean they "own" the images.

For the record this is completely random question guys.  If there is a will would one have to be specific regarding their photos, or would it be assumed that the photos will transfer.  

I'm still curious if there is no estate, no will, just a person who passes and has no next of kin.  What then of the photos?  

Whatever material or intellectual, ALL your property
will be passed and shared as prescribed by your own
will or the law's.

Sanford wrote: For the record this is completely random question guys.  If there is a will would one have to be specific regarding their photos, or would it be assumed that the photos will transfer.  

I'm still curious if there is no estate, no will, just a person who passes and has no next of kin.  What then of the photos?  

This is where you really need to get with an attorney and discuss putting a will together. There are some not so awesome laws and loopholes in the middle of all of it and having a will made up by a good attorney can get it all taken care of in that one document. 

 Unfortunately, I learned it by watching a lowlife family member take advantage of my grandparents, when each of them died...BOTH TIMES. My parents were so far behind the 8 ball both times, they were no longer able to do anything legally. 

Just take care of it and rest easier, trust me.

Nikon Shooter wrote: Whatever material or intellectual, ALL your property
will be passed and shared as prescribed by your own
will or the law's.

+1 Yep

G'day all

Okay - I am going to go a bit sideways with this - and talk about YOUR photos

Some years back my dad died and I got the task of going through about 6000 colour slides and colour prints and 1000 B&W albums of family history going back to the 1940s. My task was to locate and siphon off all images showing Mum or Dad or us 4 kids on family activities, holidays etc ~ and distribute CDs to all family members. So far so good

It came down to about 800 images ... the remainder were [just like you and me] landscapes + flora & fauna + holiday pics from unknown locations - ie: memories. But the klanger was inside those 800 images my dad only existed in 4 or 5 images coz he was always behind the camera!!

So- my request / suggestion to each and every one of you ... hand the damn camera to someone else occasionally so that your ugly mug can be recorded for posterity, and your grandchildren won't have to ask "what did grandpa look like?"

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Ozzie_Traveller wrote: hand the damn camera to someone else occasionally so that your ugly mug can be recorded for posterity, and your grandchildren won't have to ask "what did grandpa look like?"

A journalist interviewing a photographer:

I am sure you started taking pictures at a quite young age , didn't you?

— Yes, I was five when my father first asked me to press the button.

He must have been very proud of you, wasn't he?

— Not really! It was his way to be sure I was not in the picture!.

          Roger Dangerfield

Ozzie_Traveller wrote: G'day all

Okay - I am going to go a bit sideways with this - and talk about YOUR photos

Some years back my dad died and I got the task of going through about 6000 colour slides and colour prints and 1000 B&W albums of family history going back to the 1940s. My task was to locate and siphon off all images showing Mum or Dad or us 4 kids on family activities, holidays etc ~ and distribute CDs to all family members. So far so good

It came down to about 800 images ... the remainder were [just like you and me] landscapes + flora & fauna + holiday pics from unknown locations - ie: memories. But the klanger was inside those 800 images my dad only existed in 4 or 5 images coz he was always behind the camera!!

So- my request / suggestion to each and every one of you ... hand the damn camera to someone else occasionally so that your ugly mug can be recorded for posterity, and your grandchildren won't have to ask "what did grandpa look like?"

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

"[font=gotham ssm a, gotham ssm b, proximanova-regular, helveticaneue, helvetica neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]So- my request / suggestion to each and every one of you ... hand the damn camera to someone else occasionally so that your ugly mug can be recorded for posterity, and your grandchildren won't have to ask "what did grandpa look like?"  - the photographers curse.  However it's so   easy to remedy these days with timers and Gorilla pods.  But very good point you have made!   [/font]