Little League not returning e-mails??

So i emailed a couple of the local little leagues up here just to make sure it's ok if i shot a couple games, and to check and make sure they dont have a "league" photographer. I have not gotten a response (it's been 2 weeks) and i was wondering what to do, and how to handle this. Any suggestions??

Same here when I tried last yr. Best bet is to call if you know the number or show up at the games and talk to folks there.

Thanks bobby, i guess i should just call them. Do the leagues generally care??

KJEphoto wrote in post #7398003
Thanks bobby, i guess i should just call them. Do the leagues generally care??

What I had found is that most have some photog or the other. They did let me take practice shots for my own use. I didn't try selling, maybe I should it is just that I was busy with my work.

I was able to go to couple of local high schools and shoot football asfter asking to shoot. I will be trying this spring one weather gets a little better.

One thing that you need to remember about Little League is that, at the local level, most of your League Presidents, Treasurers, Board Member's etc are people with normal jobs that have volunteered for their position. This time of year is extremely busy for them as they have sign ups, coach background checks, a million parents emailing/calling and then getting the fields ready to go.

A phone call is usually the best way to get a hold of them and keep trying, they'll get back to you eventually! But always remember, they can be some of the most stressed out people this time of the year

Hey all,

Let me start by saying this - my wife and I have been associated with our local LL for around 9 years. I would suggest that you fill out a 2009 LL Volunteer form, make a copy of your driver's license and take it to one of the sign up locations/dates. On the bottom left corner of the form check "other" and write in photography. This will let the league know what you want to do and show that you aren't just going out to pictures of kids for your own personal enjoyment in this world of being overly cautious around the kids.

It is best to be open about your intentions, + if you want to go around the kids on a regular basis, it is VERY important to fill out the volunteer form.

Gary W.

Gary W. wrote in post #7447496
Hey all,

Let me start by saying this - my wife and I have been associated with our local LL for around 9 years. I would suggest that you fill out a 2009 LL Volunteer form, make a copy of your driver's license and take it to one of the sign up locations/dates. On the bottom left corner of the form check "other" and write in photography. This will let the league know what you want to do and show that you aren't just going out to pictures of kids for your own personal enjoyment in this world of being overly cautious around the kids.

It is best to be open about your intentions, + if you want to go around the kids on a regular basis, it is VERY important to fill out the volunteer form.

Gary W.

+1 on this, cause in my neck of the woods, when you sign up to coach or volunteer for whatever, they also do a background check. That way everybody would know you were on the up and up.

I have never felt the need to alert anybody that I was going to shoot. But, I never did it with the intent of selling, I always stayed within the fan areas and never entered the field (without asking), and my kids were always playing. I didn't shoot only my kids, but would sometimes shoot their friends and would occasionally give 4x6s to their parents who were also friends of mine.

If I were to do it at other times that my kids were not playing, I would have been more official about it.

Hey all,

I just put it out there as a CYA scenario...

You are out there taking pictures of Timmy, and his team mate, Johnny, gets into the picture. Timmy's parents get the photo from you and end up putting on their family website. Johnny's parents see it and don't like that Johnny's picture is on there without their approval.....or it's on YOUR website to promote your selling of the pictures....

Just saying, better to be official if at all in doubt.

Gary W.

Remember that Little League has strict rules on what you can do with images that show there logo, it's on there official site. With that said many little leagues are not actually associated with Little League Inc. so they have different rules. Call the contacts and follow up, you'll probably find they either have a photog already - forgot about your email - ignored your email - the person you emailed isn't volunteering anymore - etc.

When you're new it's hard to get in, if you're known not as much. Every league I approach I ditched the email route and send them a kit in the mail - it shows a little more than just sending out a "hey, hire me" email.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #7447797
I have never felt the need to alert anybody that I was going to shoot. But, I never did it with the intent of selling, I always stayed within the fan areas and never entered the field (without asking), and my kids were always playing. I didn't shoot only my kids, but would sometimes shoot their friends and would occasionally give 4x6s to their parents who were also friends of mine.

If I were to do it at other times that my kids were not playing, I would have been more official about it.

There are some youth leagues that don't even allow that, it's rare but they exist. Some have the no camera policy as these are not public events and the leagues have the right to say no shooting.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #7447875
There are some youth leagues that don't even allow that, it's rare but they exist. Some have the no camera policy as these are not public events and the leagues have the right to say no shooting.

Every little league game my boys have ever played in, and my oldest son is 20, was played at a public park. I don't see how any league could stop someone from shooting pictures at a public park that's owned by the city. I've personally never had any problems shooting pictures, but I've always done it as a parent shooting his kid and some of the kids whose parents I was friends with.

skintero wrote in post #7457096
Every little league game my boys have every played in, and my oldest son is 20, was played at a public park. I don't see how any league could stop someone from shooting pictures at a public park that's owned by the city. I've personally never had any problems shooting pictures, but I've always done it as a parent shooting his kid and some of the kids whose parents I was friends with.

Search this forum and you'll see a bunch of posts disproving this theory, search the laws and you'll find more. Just because it's a public park does not mean the league games there are public because they could be renting it from the city, as well as you may not have the right to use there players in the league or logos without permission for anything. It all depends on the deal and what type of league, etc. It's very much not something that is across the board.

MJPhotos24 wrote in post #7457374
Search this forum and you'll see a bunch of posts disproving this theory, search the laws and you'll find more. Just because it's a public park does not mean the league games there are public because they could be renting it from the city, as well as you may not have the right to use there players in the league or logos without permission for anything. It all depends on the deal and what type of league, etc. It's very much not something that is across the board.

I've never shot anything other than my kids games and never had a problem. I'm speaking strictly from the parental side of shooting pictures, not from the side of someone trying to do it for money. Being military, I've shot little league in several different states and never had a problem. My son's little league last year actually had an online site where you could upload game pictures. That's where I posted the pictures last year. I guess I've been lucky. I'd have to pull my kid if someone from the league came and told me I couldn't take pictures of my own kid.

skintero wrote in post #7457484
I've never shot anything other than my kids games and never had a problem. I'm speaking strictly from the parental side of shooting pictures, not from the side of someone trying to do it for money. Being military, I've shot little league in several different states and never had a problem. My son's little league last year actually had an online site where you could upload game pictures. That's where I posted the pictures last year. I guess I've been lucky. I'd have to pull my kid if someone from the league came and told me I couldn't take pictures of my own kid.

Yea, it's happened but is rare...hopefully never will for most.