File:Barbara Randolph edited.jpg

http://www.soul-source.co.uk/soulforum/gallery/image/85130-barbara-randolphjpg/

• This photo was produced prior to 1978 and has no copyright markings nor any photographer's marks.
• The uncropped image at the link above shows it to clearly be a publicity photo.
• It was created for distribution to the media and the public. The image was meant to attract attention and publicity for the personality pictured-personal apparances, records, etc. The aim of this image was exactly the same as the publicity shots/stills done in the film industry.
• Dating the photo based on Ms. Randolph's year of birth (1942) and her appearance on the cover of Ebony Magazine as a model in October 1962, this publicity photo appears to have been taken in the same time frame. It surely was taken prior to 1978.

Film production expert Eve Light Honthaner in The Complete Film Production Handbook, (Focal Press, 2001 p. 211.):

"Publicity photos (star headshots) have traditionally not been copyrighted. Since they are disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain, and therefore clearance by the studio that produced them is not necessary."

"There is a vast body of photographs, including but not limited to publicity stills, that have no notice as to who may have created them." (The Professional Photographer's Legal Handbook By Nancy E. Wolff, Allworth Communications, 2007, p. 55.)

Creative Clearance-Publicity photos

"Publicity Photos (star headshots) older publicity stills have usually not been copyrighted and since they have been disseminated to the public, they are generally considered public domain and therefore there is no necessity to clear them with the studio that produced them (if you can even determine who did)."