Advice needed

[400dabuser]

someone i took a photo of, a friend of mine, came back to me and asked me to take pictures of his children, i know i need written permission to do so, where can i go to get a document that states that permission from both parents have been given, this is for UK legal matters.....or do i give this a miss and not bother about it?

[showngo]

Do a search on the forum, there is a lot of model releases on here that take into account children, also I have found a few on google just searching for model releases. I think istock also has one to download on their website.

[400dabuser]

ok, thank you, now i got the right wording for the form

[400dabuser]

oops, i know its got postcode (uk posting system) but does this cover uk legal matters, i dont want to sign and get them to sign something that doesnt cover uk laws

[Cybnew]

Personally, since he asked you to take pictures of his children, I wouldn't worry about it, If the children had come to you and asked...it would be one thing, but as long as he is supervising I don't see a need for a release from him unless you plan on selling the photos to someone else.

[400dabuser]

Personally, since he asked you to take pictures of his children, I wouldn't worry about it, If the children had come to you and asked...it would be one thing, but as long as he is supervising I don't see a need for a release from him unless you plan on selling the photos to someone else.

ok, but i was intending to cover myself if he somehow wanted to lie about the permission he gave to me

[Cybnew]

You could get a release to protect yourself from that...do you see him doing this to you?

[400dabuser]

You could get a release to protect yourself from that...do you see him doing this to you?
the good thing he is a friend, also, there is a possibility that the parents, him and his wife would be in the picture

[Box Brownie]

I am not sure how relevent you may find my thoughts.

Firstly I have taken pictures of close family's children - these were informals i.e in the context of days out and at family meetings and are simply that 'in context' images of the kids at the time of the family get togethers.

Now you say he is a friend but you are asking about a formal release/permission. What is it about the arrangement that gives you the concern that this needs to be on a such a legally 'covered' arrangement? If you have such concerns then in the UK AFAIK any photographer/teacher/entertainer etc that intends to work with children professionally has themselves checked and registered with the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) - I have seen this "certified" checking noted on some UK pros websites. Indeed I have also read that such childrens portrait sessions always will have a female assistant present.......chaperone, witness, monitor et al.

When I read your OP the way you phrased it made me think that the parents were separated or divorced. You do not want to be in the middle of that!

Just remember the axiom "there are no such things as friends in business". In this context if you have doubts about doing this just politely decline.

Edit: you open with and mention later again UK laws. Which ones & what are you surmising you need to cover yourself against?

[400dabuser]

i know that there are no friends in the business, what the portraits are for is for their personal use afterwards, i wont be either printing out and/or framing it, just taking photos of their children and them if they are going to be in the portrait(s)

[Mike-DT6]

Has the world gone mad whilst I haven't been paying attention or something?

Is there actually a law that says you need written permission to take photos of a child when the person who is required to give written permission is the same person who actually asked you to do it?

What are the implications when out doing street photography and you happen to capture someone under 18 years old in the frame?

Mike

[Box Brownie]

Has the world gone mad whilst I haven't been paying attention or something?

Is there actually a law that says you need written permission to take photos of a child when the person who is required to give written permission is the same person who actually asked you to do it?

What are the implications when out doing street photography and you happen to capture someone under 18 years old in the frame?

Mike

I come back to my question of the OP, I would welcome knowing just which laws are involved in this apparently innocent & normal event. What has spooked him to even think he needs the signed 'release' to take the pitures which he says are simply (?) going to be given to the requesting parents on a CD (implied here as he says no prints will be done). Is there something unusual about the poses and setups the parents are asking him to do?

Yes, there may be legitimate concerns about photography in certain uses & quarters but to have the paranoia & the risk of litigation creeping into such everyday parts of life is saddening, or am I being naive???