I'm a freelance photographer and would like some idea of a good cover letter to use to photograph like normal people, girls, etc. but want it to clerify these pictures will only be used for my use and professional use and not be used in a manner to hurt that person in anyway. Basically I want them to feel comfortable about taking the pictures and not need to worry about them ending up where they shouldn't and a place for me to sign and them to sign the agreement somewhere at the bottom with me keeping a copy and giving them a copy. And I do have business cards stating what I do. Thanks hopefully someone can help me here.

What you need is a model release, not a cover letter.

You only need a model release if they are to be used for commercial advertising, e.g. to advertise toothpaste or vacation brochures, go on the cover of a novel or CD or video, (or to sell for stock, for that type of purpose) etc. You usually don't need a release if your photos are only for your own portfolio, or if the photos are for editorial use. There are many examples online. Download a few of the examples, and then use them for inspiration for writing your own release.

Interesting thing about copyright - you can't copyright the text of a contract because legally a contract is not a "creative work" but merely listing the terms the parties are agreeing to. You *can* copyright the layout of a contract (the layout has creative aspects, the font used, the spacing of the fields that are filled out, etc.). So you can't just use someone else's form as is, but you can use their contract terms without violating copyright to make your own form with your own (creative) layout.

One thing about your release, if you title it Standard Model Release then your models will be less likely to object about signing it - because it's a "standard" release.

For a release to be legal (stand up in court), both parties keep a signed copy AND there must be an "exchange of consideration". Professional models are paid. Non-pro models may be paid a nominal amount ($1) or you may agree to send them a CD with jpegs from the shoot or a print in exchange. Always give them consideration (money or a print or CD of image files) because otherwise your release isn't worth the paper it's printed on. I highly suggest you get this book: Legal Handbook for Photographers: The Rights and Liabilities of Making Images by Bert Krages. It covers model releases and so much more.