Youth Sports Photography

I am currently in the process of beginning my own business shooting youth

lacrosse locally. I have permission from the league to go to any/ all of the

games and shoot and sell images. My question is what do I need to do in order to

protect myself from getting into problems with parents who maybe dont want

images of their children online? Are there release forms that I need to have

coaches and league administrators sign? I was thinking that I would give each

team their own gallery on my site and then password protect it with the coaches

last name so that only people associated with the team are able to access the

images. Any advice is much appreciated because I am also trying to gain

permission to other youth leagues around the area this summer and I would like

to make sure that I am covering all of my bases to avoid an unhappy situation!

Thanks!

I don't think you need to be so worried about it. You're not doing anything shady here--just

covering public youth sporting events. Of course if a parent asks you not to post photos of

their kid, then don't. But otherwise you should be clear. There are tons of these kinds of

photos online. I just don't think there's any significant risk for anyone involved.

Victoria -

 

Most sign up sheets for sports leagues include language to the effect that photos may be taken and posted for varying purposes. (At least locally they do.)

 

Check with the league, see if they have that language or not. If not get them to sign a release and then put your photos behind a password that you give to the league to distribute to the parents / guardians.

 

I have not had any issues, but have heard from others on this forum that have had custodial parents tell them not to publish or sell images of their children, due to restraining orders etc...

 

Dave

I regularly shoot for two private schools and one youth soccer league. After the shoot I post the images to galleries on my website that requite a login to view/purchase. No one asked me to do this, and when I tell people that I do it for my own piece of mind, they all seem to be very supportive. No one has ever questioned the practice.

I do some local youth sports and I do not really like the online selling. I do it just because I get a few orders from it, but I get more orders by selling onsite. I set up a tent and a few computers during the last few weeks of the season. Parents stop by the tent, view the images (sorted by team), then choose which ones they want to buy. I have samples of posters and other items that I try to sell. It seems to work well.

 

The reason I dont like the online only method, is because too many people forget to go online and look at the pictures and/or purchase. More people stop by the tent than visit online.

"There are tons of these kinds of photos online. I just don't think there's any significant risk for anyone involved."

 

True, but when it comes to Lacrosse especially Girls Lacrosse, I would ask.

Ya I am worried more about girls lacrosse or just younger sports in general. Just because when they are kids and recognizable I think that is possibly when people could get in trouble.

No matter what you do you will always have a parent or two that will complain, but keep in mind for every parent that complains there are many more that would miss out on some great photos of their kids if the paranoids had their way - and they want you there as much if not more than the paranoids want you gone.

 

No need to jump through hoops for these folks.

 

I say shoot what you want, and in the FAQ on your site let folks know how they can request a photo be removed.