> Even though I paid them to take the photos, they own the copyright, unless a release was expressly stated in the contract. I think it's the other way around.

> Even though I paid them to take the photos, they own the copyright, unless a release was expressly stated in the contract. I think it's the other way around. If copyright assignment is not expressly stated in the contract, and you are paying someone to create the work, then it is considered a "work made for hire" and the copyright is assigned to the person who paid.