@doug: the copyright issue is essential but only one part of the story (at least for German law?); the copyright holder may not do with "his" image what he'd like to do if this affects the personal rights of the depicted person; that is "transfer of the image rights " including publishing has to be agreed as well.
most model releases consequently contain a) explicit transfer of copyright and b) explicit transfer of f.i. publishing rights to the photographer, retaining similar publishing rights for (unaltered) images to the model. commercial issues are mainly to be negociated independently.

I think a model release has to be distinguished properly from a contract for work and labour with a photographer, f.i. for portraits or a wedding - that is what Zachary is asking for in my view...

any person not in "public interest" owns all rights to images of him/her. that is f.i. why a model release usually transfers all rights of the image of the person to the photographer, details may vary.

it's always better to sort these things out before the shooting starts...afterwards it may be become awkward discussion, especially when prices are to be discussed....

perhaps I'd correct the skewness of any of the 3 images; qua colour I like no. 2 th best...

it's almost the same discussion going on at every gallery site on the web, be it for photographs or other kind of art; that's one of the reasons why I finally restrict posing of my photographs to my personal site, leaving some pieces for discussions at f.i. RR (which is - as said earlier - far better than most of other sites I've seen so far)....

@Doug: these images are as shot by the camera. the reddish tone is based on automatic white balance - which is most often not appropriate in artificial light. but to do a manual white balance adaption on a stage - with changing lights - is impossible. so postwork before print is necessary here...

of the 2 versions posted here I prefer this one - mostly because of its clarity and because colouring still preserves kind of b/w character. it's hard to say only based on the impression via the screen of an ibook - but i dare to choose this way...

splendid composition indeed; but I hope the picture quality will be appropriate....

perhaps you have a co-enthusiast to do things together, f.i. sharing a model or a studio - but if  even this doesn't work you have to stick to good books (magazines follow to much the waves of fashion, I even do not trust test reports....)

having seen tons of colour slides of a died uncle thrown away after his death (well, some years ago...) I'm not so hard expecting a "very long" lifetime of my digital data:

1. true, self burnt consumer CDs last only some years (at least include always a final comare step after burning).
2. my elder CDs are duplicated on DVDs (1 +R, 1 -R version at least), at least for photos, audio files and documents
3. the working versions are actually held on mobile disks (like momobay)
4. a selection of one year's photos is printed (well: wet chemistry) on quality photo paper (13x18 cm, some fewer on 20x30cm)
5. less quality than a paper print, but acceptable: a selection of photos - perhaps per year again - in a printed photo-book like a port-folio

Besides the durability of CDs and DVDs (what has to come next? remember well the move from ZIP drives to CD not too long ago) - which will require regular copying actions - is the durability of the digital format itself: jpg, tif, raw (which one??), dng,....This emphasizes the importance of initiatives like PASS, now: EVERPLAY....

I'm sceptical about learning the non-technical aspects of photography from a book or magazine. for technical basics (like shutter speed, aperture, film types, colour management, lense types and characteristics etc.) books are necessary and good reference (e.g. Andreas Feininger, The Complete Photographer ). for the more artistic aspects it is good to join a local class or workshop with a "good" photographer (in Germany at least there are now also plenty of local photo clubs sharing knowledge and equipment at fair prices...)

feeling flattered or honoured (how to decide?) to be included again; compliments to all those whom I'd have missed otherwise; and thanks to Doug for keeping this exercise up..

these are quite different portraits; if I had to choose the one with less chances is the upper left (mainly because of the cut ellbow, perhaps you have another crop as light and expression are appealing as well...)

success...