How would you have handled this situation?

DisrupTer911 wrote in post #14678844
what if he was a professional photographer for an architecture magazine but just was out and about to shoot some pictures of the stunts and volleyball for his own personal use and not to sell them...

asking if you're a pro is a misleading question b/c I can be a professional photographer for one thing but an enthusiast of another.

That's technically true, but I'm sure the OP was being asked if he was there on [Self-]assignment, not whether photography is his job or not. This kind of distinction is lost on most people who know little of the business of photography.

Well, if I'm a professional architectural photographer, and I'm at a volleyball match taking pictures for my personal use, then the answer is; I'm an amateur, because I'm not a professional sports photographer.

I just believe that answering the question would have been the way to go.

PixelMagic wrote in post #14674274
Shortly after a huge thunderstorm rolled through and they had to suspend the event.

Well if you have the ability or connections to order up a thunderstorm, then you are in my book, most definitely well beyond the level of a professional photographer and as such shouldn’t be trifled with by event organizers or sponsors.

Wayne

Heh...I wish I had that power. That was the last day it rained around here. Since then its been extremely hot...including 9 straight days of temperatures over 100 degrees.

Channel One wrote in post #14682833
Well if you have the ability or connections to order up a thunderstorm, then you are in my book, most definitely well beyond the level of a professional photographer and as such shouldn’t be trifled with by event organizers or sponsors.

Wayne

I learned to not fight it. If it's their event then it's their event.

PixelMagic wrote in post #14674274
A few weekends ago I stopped by an event called Spike 'N Splash in Racine, Wisconsin. It was held on North Beach - a public beach owned by the City of Racine and admission was free and open to everyone. The event consisted of watercraft racing sponsored by UWP and beach volleyball sponsored by the EVP Tour.

I was interested in the freestyle stunts by the jet ski riders so I was shot that for a while using a 1D Mark III with a 400mm f/2.8 lens and 1.4x converter on a monopod. Meanwhile I noticed a local male volleyball player in a match so I walked over to watch him. Since I know people how react to large lenses I had my camera and lens pointed at the ground.

While watching the match a guy who I assume is affiliated with the EVP Tour came up to me and asked, "Are you a pro or an amateur?"
I replied, "What difference does it make?"
To which he said "If you're an amateur we could work something out but if you're a pro this is a private event and you can't photograph it."
I just shrugged and said, "Well, I'm not shooting anything" and he walked away.

Shortly after a huge thunderstorm rolled through and they had to suspend the event so I ran back to my car and drove home. But in the brief time I was watching there were at least 10 other people with DSLRs/kit lenses taking photos of the volleyball. I had dismissed it from my mind until a few minutes ago when I read this thread, so I'm curious to know how you would have reacted.

Doesn't sound too private to me.

Let us not forget that professional sports organizations do retain rights to limit who shoots and/or with what equipment...which is why we might not be able to get into an NBA game with a lens FL that exceeds a certain length.

Similarly, as a pro shooting as a representative of a publication, you might need an authorization pass to do so. Or as a pro shooting to use the photo for some client's commercial publicity, you might need a release from the team or venue.

As an amateur, the requirements are typically looser (barring FL restrictions that might be imposed).

Your mileage may vary

Had a similar situation this weekend at Fair St Louis where Third Eye Blind was playing. A short email to the even coordinator asking if I could bring my professional "looking" detachable lens camera for my personal pics and a statement that I understand that I will not try to sell the images resulted in an email that I printed and took with me.

I do think a lot of the trouble is because certain pros may pay for or arrange exclusive coverage and a guarantee that no other pros will be "working" the event. I don't think they mean to ask "are you a pro?" But "Are you here in a professional manner with intent to make money from your photos?".

A public venue is not public if a private organizer contracts an event in a public area. For all practical purposes they have "rented" the area. Even my daughter's marching band competitions have a person claiming rights to the photos of the event. I do a similar agreement even on weddings. I would just answer the question honestly. No reason not to.

KirkS518 wrote in post #14679292
, then the answer is; I'm an amateur, because I'm not a professional sports photographer.

I just believe that answering the question would have been the way to go.

that's what I would have said, (but I'm really an amateur !)

kfreels wrote in post #14688003
...A public venue is not public if a private organizer contracts an event in a public area. For all practical purposes they have "rented" the area. Even my daughter's marching band competitions have a person claiming rights to the photos of the event. I do a similar agreement even on weddings...

KFreels, what kind of agreement you do on weddings? Just curious.