Model Release form questions

[dphotomania]

Hi All pros! I am planning to do some sport shooting for kids around my neighborhood. They have baseball games and hockey games. Do you have any ideas how I can get model release form sign by all kids parent?

If I dont have a model release form sign, can I still sell the photos to other kids thats in the game and has a signed form?

Thanks again

[defordphoto]

When dealing with ANYONE under 18, ALWAYS get model releases from their parents. If you do a quicky search on Google, you'll find plenty of hits that will give you what you need and then customize them for yourself.

[dphotomania]

I do have the forms, but I aam just wondering how is it possible to get it from all the parents. They might not be there. Is it possible to get one from the team caoch?


Thanks

[PhotosGuy]

The coach MIGHT be able to give you permission to take the pics, but the parents MUST sign for minors in order for you to use them for advertising, etc. I'm not sure if you need a release to sell pics to the team members, but if you PUBLISH them to a web site, or SHOW (PUBLISH) them to other people, then you'd better get the releases.

[cmM]

here's an interesting article by Victor Perlman, aattorney for the American Society of Media Photographers:
http://www.popularphotography.com/assets/download/57200311838.pdf

As for release samples, a search on google should give you a start.

[robertwgross]

Suppose you go to shoot such an event. Suppose that little Billy is in view, and you capture a perfect image. Afterward, Billy's parents are there, and they love the shot. You can sell them the print of their Billy without much problem, assuming that the venue management or team or league has no care. I would not bother with a release. However, one trick is to have a little form where Billy's parents accept the print and sign for it. Hidden in that form is the release text.

Now, another case. Little Billy is in view, and you get the perfect shot again. However, Johnny is in view behind Billy. Now you have a problem. You wouldn't want to sell the photo to Billy's parents, because Johnny's parents might object. You might get Billy's parents to sign the hidden text form, above, but you don't have anything on Johnny.

It gets more complicated from there on.

So, the way to set it up is to work with the team coach or organizer. When each kid registers with the team, they probably have to have all parents sign a release that they will not sue the team if their kid gets hurt. Well, you have the coach hide your photo release text in his form, and then after all of the team's parents are signed in, the team coach gives you a copy of the results (for your files). Then, in return, you agree to shoot X, Y, and Z photos to give to the coach. That way, he stays on your side.

---Bob Gross---

[Jackal]

here's an interesting article by Victor Perlman, aattorney for the American Society of Media Photographers:
http://www.popularphotography.com/assets/download/57200311838.pdf

As for release samples, a search on google should give you a start.

Today, I was saying to myself how I'm tired of businesses using fisheye shots of people's faces in ads and how they are everywhere, uncreative, and annoying. I open that article.......and it's the same face that this "graphic design" company down here is using in their logo. lol

Thanks for the article. I needed to read up on this.

[dphotomania]

Thanks Robert! That is the exact answer I was looking for. Boy I love the Pros. They have all the answers.

But do you think it works if I get promission from the coach to take the pictures first. And give the kids a forms for their parents to sign and give it back to the coach. Once I get all form or some forms, I will only post up the kids pictures with the release. Because I might not be able to get to talk to the coach until that day.

Or can I put the picture up on the web, but not sell any prints yet. When they want to buy the prints, they have to sign and fax or email me the form. Does this work??

This also comes to mind when I was typing. What if I am taking a wedding party. I have to sell the pictures to the G&B and their relatives. And while you are taking pictures of everyone, it is hard to get all release forms signed by everyone. Even if you get half of the guess to sign, it would be pretty hard to remember who is who. Then what should we do in this situation. Not sell any prints to the G&B that include others??

Thank again.

Suppose you go to shoot such an event. Suppose that little Billy is in view, and you capture a perfect image. Afterward, Billy's parents are there, and they love the shot. You can sell them the print of their Billy without much problem, assuming that the venue management or team or league has no care. I would not bother with a release. However, one trick is to have a little form where Billy's parents accept the print and sign for it. Hidden in that form is the release text.

Now, another case. Little Billy is in view, and you get the perfect shot again. However, Johnny is in view behind Billy. Now you have a problem. You wouldn't want to sell the photo to Billy's parents, because Johnny's parents might object. You might get Billy's parents to sign the hidden text form, above, but you don't have anything on Johnny.

It gets more complicated from there on.

So, the way to set it up is to work with the team coach or organizer. When each kid registers with the team, they probably have to have all parents sign a release that they will not sue the team if their kid gets hurt. Well, you have the coach hide your photo release text in his form, and then after all of the team's parents are signed in, the team coach gives you a copy of the results (for your files). Then, in return, you agree to shoot X, Y, and Z photos to give to the coach. That way, he stays on your side.

---Bob Gross---

[robertwgross]

But do you think it works if I get promission from the coach to take the pictures first. ...

Or can I put the picture up on the web, but not sell any prints yet. ... Does this work??

This also comes to mind when I was typing. What if I am taking a wedding party. I have to sell the pictures to the G&B and their relatives. And while you are taking pictures of everyone, it is hard to get all release forms signed by everyone. Even if you get half of the guess to sign, it would be pretty hard to remember who is who. Then what should we do in this situation. Not sell any prints to the G&B that include others??

First of all, the team shots. The coach is not the parent of the kids, so the coach can't sign for them. Only the adult parents can. The only way to do that is to get the coach to stick your "photo release clause" into the registration form that he has for the beginning of the season. Parents will not object to signing that for the coach. If some photographer suddenly approaches them, they might be suspicious, and they should be. There are lots of strangers out there with bad intent.

Second, I don't think you want to publish anything at all, and that includes web or print, without a release in advance.

Third, the wedding isn't so much of a problem. Written into your agreement with the B&G is a release clause. So, if you get a shot of the B&G, no further permissions are necessary. If you get a shot of the B&G and Uncle Harry, you are not going to be publishing that shot anywhere in a public place, so there isn't any problem. The B&G will get their photo album and Uncle Harry shows up in one of them. Big deal. Uncle Harry is not going to object. Now, if you had a shot of dunken Uncle Harry grabbing his crotch, and you sent that to the local newspaper, you might have a problem on your hands.

---Bob Gross---

[dphotomania]

Thanks Bob! I understand you 100%! Thank you But I still dont understand why our government is giving us (photogs) so much problems taking and selling photos.... Geeeessss... I guess our human rights is working against us (photogs)

I really hate to have a very nice photos that everyone wants but 1 person in the photo doesnt want to sign the release forms. Then no one gets to see or print that photo. :rolleyes:

[defordphoto]

People have a right to their privacy. I agree with these laws. I don't think you would want someone making massive money over a photo they took of you.