Model release for a youth sports league.

[rrpruett]

I am in talks with a league to shoot at games for the next season and I would like to make sure they have a model release in their sign up form, that states we can use the pictures for the website and I can also sell the pictures. I do not want to have to worry about getting other players in a shot that we put up on the web or offer for sale.

I have not had this happen but I do not what any parents to come up and say that I was not contracted to take picture of that player. Does anyone have any examples of a model release that could be put in a league registration form? Also I am sure that the league does not want to worry about posting images of players on their website.

Thanks

[blinking8s]

More than likely the league already covers this in their release forms...

[rrpruett]

Currently they do not have this covered.

[blinking8s]

I dont really know, Ive shot about 10 youth league events in the last year, hired on as a shooter by a company with the contract, neve rhad a single parent question anything...if they had a release setup or not...they must be some loophole or something

[jeff_b]

Who are you doing business with, the league or the individual players? Sounds like the league to me. Your contract with them should stipulate your rights to the images you take. Additionally, print an abreviated model release on every order form or envelope you give to the players if you are taking individual portraits.

[rrpruett]

The problem with only having them sign the form is the pictures I get of other players in the shot that do not have a contract with me. That is what I am trying to avoid. If I get the league to put the release in the sign up form then all the players in the pictures will have signed the form. My contract will be with the players to take pictures of them not the league but I want the league to put in a model release so I am covered for all the players in the pictures. Also I will kick back some picture to the league for their web page so they would also want the release for their use.

[PhotosGuy]

If I get the league to put the release in the sign up form then all the players in the pictures will have signed the form. My contract will be with the players to take pictures of them not the league but I want the league to put in a model release so I am covered for all teh players in the pictures. Well, if it is a YOUTH league, then they're signatures won't be worth the paper they are signed on. Parents & legal guardians must sign unless the pics are only to be used for an editorial use.

The Substantive Law Behind Model Releases
http://www.simslaw.com/model/model_releases.htm
Model Release Question
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=118362

Model Release Resources and Samples
http://www.inertramblings.com/archives/000779.html

Team Photos -- Techniques and Results
http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=112409

[rrpruett]

The parents sign the sign up form not the kids.

[PhotosGuy]

You're a little late there, Rick! http://photo.klein-jensen.dk/smilies/rotfl.gif

[IndyJeff]

Your being way too paranoid about this. First off do you have a written contract with the league? If not then your not contracted by anyone.

Just shoot the games and if someone doesn't want their little precious photographed they will let you know. At that point you just stop shooting that kid or any play they may appear in or, inform the coaches that because of one parent you can no longer shoot the game.

I have done a lot of youth sports, everything from 8-10 year old boys baseball and girls softball up to high school. Only once has the subject of posting little darlings picture on the internet come up. The father called a "friend", who I am sure was his lawyer, and was told the only thing he could do was ask me not to post her pictures or pull her from the game. I had already informed the coach that I couldn't shoot his game and explained why. It didn't take long for the mom brigade to find out who the offending parents were. They confronted them and explained that they were wanting pictures of their kids and either let me shoot or pull their kid from the game. The father then informed me that his wife was wanting pictures too so please come shoot the game. I forget now how much they ordered but it was around $50-$75 if I remember correctly.

If they don't want you to shoot the kid, they will ask you to stop. Or if it is after the fact, all you have to do is pull the kids picture from your website. You won't get a surprise summons the next week at worst a cease & desist letter.

[rrpruett]

Your being way too paranoid about this. First off do you have a written contract with the league? If not then your not contracted by anyone.

Just shoot the games and if someone doesn't want their little precious photographed they will let you know. At that point you just stop shooting that kid or any play they may appear in or, inform the coaches that because of one parent you can no longer shoot the game.

I have done a lot of youth sports, everything from 8-10 year old boys baseball and girls softball up to high school. Only once has the subject of posting little darlings picture on the internet come up. The father called a "friend", who I am sure was his lawyer, and was told the only thing he could do was ask me not to post her pictures or pull her from the game. I had already informed the coach that I couldn't shoot his game and explained why. It didn't take long for the mom brigade to find out who the offending parents were. They confronted them and explained that they were wanting pictures of their kids and either let me shoot or pull their kid from the game. The father then informed me that his wife was wanting pictures too so please come shoot the game. I forget now how much they ordered but it was around $50-$75 if I remember correctly.

If they don't want you to shoot the kid, they will ask you to stop. Or if it is after the fact, all you have to do is pull the kids picture from your website. You won't get a surprise summons the next week at worst a cease & desist letter.

IndyJeff while I appreciate the comments, actually I am not being paranoid at all. If I can have the league put a simple statement in their registration form that is signed by the parents covering me why would I not want to do that and not have to worry about the situation you described above and stop shooting a game or doing extra work by taking pictures off the web or whatever. That is sound business not paranoia. Alleviate problems before they become a problem especially if it is easy to do. To stop shooting a game or to have to go and do extra work after the fact is not a good option when you can get an approval before season starts. Don’t you think that is a much better idea.

To answer your question on who is contracting me it is both. I shoot for the league and parents. Parents sign up for me to take pictures of their players and the league for promotional stuff.

[IndyJeff]

To answer your question on who is contracting me it is both. I shoot for the league and parents. Parents sign up for me to take pictures of their players and the league for promotional stuff. [/FONT][/SIZE]

So you have a written contract with each set of parents and one with the league correct? Hence you are contracted and shouldn't the release be in your contract? Then there is no need for another signed agreement. Why add extra paper work. Who will keep the releases on file anyway? What are you planning to do with the kids pictures that you would need a release for anyway? What if a parent doesn't want you to have a release where you could sell little Johnny's image for an ad campaign for Nike?
As far as it being sound business, adding paper work, filing and cataloging of such is adding extra work which means extra time and of course ....time is money lol.

[IndyJeff]

To answer your question on who is contracting me it is both. I shoot for the league and parents. Parents sign up for me to take pictures of their players and the league for promotional stuff. [/FONT][/SIZE]

So you have a written contract with each set of parents and one with the league correct? Hence you are contracted and shouldn't the release be in your contract? Then there is no need for another signed agreement. Why add extra paper work. Who will keep the releases on file anyway? What are you planning to do with the kids pictures that you would need a release for anyway? What if a parent doesn't want you to have a release where you could sell little Johnny's image for an ad campaign for Nike?
As far as it being sound business, adding paper work, filing and cataloging of such is adding extra work which means extra time and of course ....time is money lol.

More than worrying about having a signed release I would be worried about the league using the athletes images for "promotional stuff". Check with your states high school athletic association over rules regarding the use of athletes images.The use of an athletes image to promote a venture may indeed result in that athlete being declared inelgible for sports participation in high school athletics. While not all states have rules governing such applications of images, the NCAA does and the athletes used would be declared inelgible unless that promotion was done by the high school where the athlete participated and it is for a school related event. Been there and know all about it.
Of course for this to become a problem a very savvy parent would have to have a copy of the promotion saved in print, approach a governing body and file a complaint that the athlete is inelgible. Then you might have to start worrying about being sued for ruining a kids chances at playing sports in hs and college and not informing the parents of the consequences of signing the release and using the images to promote a private league. Far fetched? Yes but entirely possible.

[rrpruett]

Thanks Jeff. point taken

[IndyJeff]

LOL Rick I don't know how I did it but that posted twice.