High School sports

Ok here is the deal. I was given permission a month ago tho shoot the school sports by the AD. Now he has contacted me and said I can not as directed by the superintendent. They say its for safty reasons and had parents complaining about it. Also he said he didnt know I would be selling them. So where do I go from here to make them see it my way. That I'm not here to hurt anyone and just do a service for the parents. I have had several ask me to come to the games. Also more have asked about it after they saw me shooting an all seemed very positve.

that is very strange. i would possibly try to schedule an appointment with the superintendent and present a proposal of some sort that explains the benefits of you shooting the games. i would just approach it as professionally as possible as to not step on any toes and burn bridges. for all you know he might get pressured so much that they call you back and give you permission because the parents keep requesting you.

HammerCope wrote in post #13151062
...the AD. Now he has contacted me and said I can not as directed by the superintendent. They say its for safty reasons and had parents complaining about it. Also he said he didnt know I would be selling them. So where do I go from here

Ask the AD and/or the superintendent to provide the necessary steps.

If you need to complete an application, then complete the application.

If you need to have a background check, then do the background check.

If you need to provide proof of insurance, then provide proof of insurance.

If you need to provide a business license, then provide a business license.

If the superintendent's district or the state athletic league is already under contract with a photographer for coverage, then you'll need to comply with their terms.

If coverage is only allowable for a pre-approved list of media outlets, then you'll need to make arrangements with one of the approved media organizations and comply with their terms for individual sales.

They only have the one local paper that covers the games. Its a small town of less than 8 thousand. An he only shows up at the varsity games. I've been shooting 8th grade on up. No business licence is needed in this state. I did tell some parents that if they want me to keep shooting to contact the superintendent.

You can either keep guessing and ask all the parents you want to contact the superintendent.

Or you can ask for the real reason and ask for the real approval process.

Regardless of whether there's coverage at the game or not, rules are rules, liability is liability, contracts are contracts, and the process is what the process is.

Ask what the restrictions are and what proper process is.

Or don't.

HammerCope wrote in post #13151280
No business licence is needed in this state.

http://www.revenue.ne.​gov/business/bus_regis​t.html

http://www.revenue.ne.​gov …/regs/slstaxreg​s.html#058

Yes I do have a tax permit. Sorry I thought you were talking about another type of licence I had head people from other states talk about. I do plan on talking to them. If I can get in sometime. In this town sometimes its not all about rules its about who you are. An for the most part I am no one. They make a lot of things up as they go.

HammerCope wrote in post #13151062
Ok here is the deal. I was given permission a month ago tho shoot the school sports by the AD. Now he has contacted me and said I can not as directed by the superintendent. They say its for safty reasons and had parents complaining about it. Also he said he didnt know I would be selling them. So where do I go from here to make them see it my way. That I'm not here to hurt anyone and just do a service for the parents. I have had several ask me to come to the games. Also more have asked about it after they saw me shooting an all seemed very positve.

We have had EXACTLY the same thing happen where I live all the way across the country.

I think the schools are scared-stupid of people on the sidelines who lack insurance.

I have no evidence, but I suspect that nationwide insurers have notified school systems that they will NOT cover certain types of incidents under the umbrella clauses starting this year.

It is the only change I can think of which would cause your system to do precisely what mine is doing right now.

By the way, our system is also eliminating the presence of ALL non-school groups at all events. For example, the BSA had tables at Meet the Teacher Night. No longer.

Oh I plan to talk to her. I just wanted to see if there was anything I was missing that could help me get the job done. As I have done rodeo and many other sports in the area. Just neve rhad to deal with the schools.
I was also told by another phoographer that he has lost many schools in his state do to mommyographers getting jellious that the cant go on to the sidelines. So now the school only lets one per game on the sidelines and that is the local paper.
Thanks for everyones help anythhing else comes to mind let me know.

HammerCope wrote in post #13151459
In this town sometimes its not all about rules its about who you are.

I think you'll find when it comes to injury liability and child safety, it's a lot more about rules instead of who you know.

Ask the rules... not on an internet forum... ask the District. The superintendent already said no to your ad-hoc attempt. Trying to circumvent the process further will not make your situation better.

Once you go through the proper approval, you'll also benefit from not having unauthorized people on the sidelines.

Well I talked to the superintendent today. I comes down to that if I was giving the photos away it would be ok but I'm not. So since I want to sell them I am not allowed. The said the newspaper is the only one to sell the picture of the students. Only thing is the newspaper guy only goes to varsity games I have been doing them all from 7th to 12th. I think I still think I got a chance. I talked to parents and a school board member at the game and they like the idea. So i will just keep trying.

Sorry, but that sounds completely nutty. You can take the pics, but make no money. Its obviously not about actually taking the pictures. Why should they expect you to 'work' and 'give' your work away? Why is the newspaper guy the only one allowed to sell pictures, I wonder. How will he feel when you start taking pictures and giving them away - that will certainly ruin his business - if he has any. No probs with him selling his pics to the paper, if that's his living, buy why can you not sell pictures to the parents? Or am I missing something here?

The school does not let people make money off their students. Is what I was told. Just as they don't let a pizza vendor set up in the parking lot.
The newpaper guy works for the paper. He does not sell them to the paper. The paper just let's you purchase pictures they print. Basicaly it comes down to they are not making any money from what I sell.

But I still don't get the logic - the paper can make money off the students, but someone they have given permission to photograph can't. Set your fees at less than the paper charges, how can they argue? Or are they expecting a cut?

I can't set them that low. Yes I think its that they want a cut like most things that come to the school.