EU photographers: Do you use release forms for documentary work?

Hey everyone,

I’m a documentary photographer currently based in Portugal, working on a long-term project for my master’s thesis (focused on surf and beach culture). The work is intended for exhibitions, a photobook, and general portfolio/promo use.

I’m trying to understand how photographers across Europe handle release forms in documentary practice, especially for images that end up in books or exhibitions.

Coming from a North American context, I’m used to a more permissive approach to photographing in public. Here in Portugal (and more broadly across the EU), I’m finding the legal and ethical landscape around image rights and identifiable people a bit more challenging.

• Do you typically use release forms for this kind of work?
• If so, in what situations do you use them (portraits, all identifiable subjects, only certain cases, etc.)?
• And if you’re willing to share, could you show or describe the template/structure of the release form you use?

I’m currently drafting my own and would really appreciate seeing how others approach it in practice.

Thanks in advance.