Are there laws about photography?

In the United States, copyright laws provide photographers with the rights to any media captured by their equipment; but other laws exist that determine whether a photographer can legally distribute the media they capture.

Photographers can legally capture and distribute media that is not if and/or does not include trademarked or copyrighted materials. (Photographing the page of a book, for example, is legal; however, distributing the photograph is a violation of the copyright protections afforded to the copyright holder of the book you photographed.)

Photographers do not have the legal right to distribute media of or containing a person that has not given the photographer permission to use their 'likeness'. In the event of this happening, you could be held legally responsible for any and all defamatory acts that slander the individual in the photograph. 'Release' contracts are agreements between (a) person(s) and the photographer that allow the photographer to distribute certain media containing the subjects legally and without repercussion.

You may not legally capture media while trespassing or in public areas where the use of a camera or video recording device may not be permitted.

Contrary to popular belief, a photographer's camera can be seized in the event the photographer is violating a court order restricting them from capturing a person, building, area, or otherwise; disturbing the peace and/or refusing to cooperate when a law enforcement officer requests the photographer to leave or stop capturing images; capturing unauthorized media of government facilities or private buildings; and in the event that the media may violate child pornography laws.