Taking pictures in a Gym - Costs & Permission

[rammy]

Hi,

The company I work for has seen the snaps I have taken for leisure and are interested in commissioning me to do some shots for the offices.

I've been asked by my company to take some promotional snaps for an internal HR brochure. Most of the snaps will be of meetings, people at desks etc. One of them will be an employee using a rowing machine at a local gym.

Can anyone advise if I need to get permission to take pictures in a place like this? Who do I ask, the Gym owner if I can take snaps? Would I have to pay them for this?

What would you charge per picture? They are looking for four images for the brochure and then a portrait shot of each director (there are eight of them)?

Thanks for help.

[robertwgross]

Shooting portraits of company executives? Think of it as a good way to earn some extra cash if you do a good job. Also think of it as a way to lose a good job if you don't.

---Bob Gross---

[defordphoto]

Good point, Bob! Rammy: I certainly hope your not referring to your photographs as "snaps" out in the general public. That totally gives away that you're a rookie.

But, yes, ask the gym owner for permission. Who knows, maybe that will lead to another job, either a photo shoot or when you lose your above job. ;) Anyway, also be careful not to shoot any other patrons or you'll need a model release. All pros always carry model releases with them at all times anyway.

[E.C.Giorgio]

Hi Rammy,
I concur with RFM Sports comments! You do need to get permission from the gym owner. I had a "nightmare" assignment years ago. A Fitness Club wanted me to do some shots for ads in a local newspaper. I thought "this is a piece of cake" NOT!
I made sure that i took these shots after the club closed, i don't like dealing with club patrons trying to get into the shots! Well anyway, i hired a couple of fitness models for the shoot. I wanted the best bodies & faces i could get for the job! When i got to the club the "head" trainer (jerk was more like it) said he wanted to be in the shots and brought along with him 2 women. When i said i didn't want them in the shots an argument erupted, he & the two women were not "photogenic" and would ruin my shots.
Needless to say, i had to use him & the two women. However, i did use my models and shot the assignment. I did need "model releases"! Now to prove a point after i was done i showed the "proofs" to the owner and asked him whom he would prefer to use in the ad, the trainer or my models. He chose mine, and was pissed with his trainer for getting involved. Now my point is make sure you get a "written contract" and a deposit up front, it keeps the "jerks" away and you can be more creative. Anyway, have fun on your assignment! manny g.

[rammy]

Thanks all for your comments. I've not been taking pictures for that long (approx 1 yr)and have only recently starting sharing some of my interesting shots.

I'm not sure what a model release is? and don't think I have the skills to do staged shots in the gym, until I have more experience, so I have not taken up the request.

Thanks very much for pointers though, I will surely consider permission and such in the future.

[defordphoto]

Google: "model release"