Protect your images

First off, I am not an attorney. Please contact an attorney regarding any legal or copyright questions. The information here is based upon my own experiences.

The last thing you want is people/companies/agencies using your work without permission. Even with licensing contracts your images can be used illegally, without your permission. You can help protect yourself by copyrighting your images through the U.S. Copyright Office.

You can copyright your work one image at a time or as groupings. Current registration per grouping costs $45. Here are some examples of filing groupings.

Images shot quarterly
Images shot per client
Images shot for portfolio
Images shot yearly

For the forms and instructions at the U.S. Copyright Office go here.

Photo Attorney Carolyn E. Wright has a very informative article here.

So tell me this:
When will your images be copyrighted?