Volleyball photos + an issue

Hello all. Need some advice here. I'm hired by many parents to take photos at volleyball games. Recently I got a complaint from a parent about some of my pictures. Seems totally unreasonable to me, but please tell me what you think:
She said that she was unhappy that many of my photos included "below the waist", as she put it. She said she thought it was outrageous that I'd have pictures that featured crotches (what a weird thing to say?). I was shocked. Apparently many of the players have an issue with the mandatory spandex shorts. She was upset that my photos included this part. I basically told her, look, I just record the event that takes place, in this case a volleyball game. There's nothing in these pictures that isn't seen by everyone else in attendance. If the issue is with the detail in the shorts, don't blame the photographer!

... and I really dislike how photos of football players, basketball player, baseball players, soccer players, hockey players, and men's volleyball players, also show everything below the waist.

My advice... just keep taking those great shots and ignore her comments.

thats obnoxious..there totally fine imo.

Sounds like she needs to be complaining to whoever chose those shorts. They are definately suggestive, especially being so tight as well as where asics has chosen to stich their seam.

As far as "above the waist" I don't see too many sports shots that are just above the waist. Usually if it isn't full body it's right above the knee and up with some occasional close ups.

She is a blockhead, old, stuck in her ass backwards ways, and you should tell her to piss off. They are good shots of an athlete taken by your parents off all the people. Maybe pissed off she never got to play the game.

Volleyball shorts have been a target for high schools for years. When I was there, athletes always wore uniforms on specific game days for school pride. When the volleyball girls wore their shorts they were deemed to not fit the school dress code, despite the school issuing them out to the players as a uniform. Ironic enough?

As far as the parent goes, I say forget them. If she doesn't like them, she shouldn't buy them. End of discussion. You're work looks good & there's nothing wrong with it.

If the players and parents are upset with the uniforms, they should go to the Athletic
Director with the problem, not the photographer. Keep shooting. Those who are
interested will buy. You could also offer Sportrait pics and mix in with the game
action. The pics look good.

Joemt.

I totally agree with all the replys at the end of the day if she dosnt like them THEN DONT BUY THEM! I think your shots are perfect an exactly the kind of shots i would want if i hired you

Stevie.

- Put the images in a password protected gallery

- Not include that parents daughter in the gallery (password protected or not)

Are your shooting in California? California had recent issues with images being re posted to different websites.

If I was her (the player) I would be a little uncomfortable about the pictures, but this has nothing to do with the photographer but the actual outfit. As a parent (although of a 2 year old boy not a girl) I would be uncomfortable as well if that was my daughter. As the photographer though, I wouldn't change my shooting at all though. I would consider making cropped shots available to parents who are concerned and would consider password protection on the website.

These spandex shorts are an odd part of the volleyball world. They are worn at every level and I've never had problems with parents not dealing with it. If she doesn't like it, evidently her daughter doesn't play other levels outside of school. Its a common thing. If she is complaining, stop taking pictures or her daughter. End of story. Their complaints should go to the AD not you.

Just tell her that they are your best sellers on www.smokinsexystrikers​.com and you need those sales to pay for the candy required to lure girls to your home to shoot for your private collection. If you grab your crotch like a baseball player when you say it you will almost guarantee that she will have a stroke and your problem will be solved.

Geez!! Parents never seem to be at a loss for something to complain about. I agree with everyone else, keep doing what you are doing and disregard her. Hopefully her daughter is not a swimmer or gymnast or she will be lobbying to have all people in attendance at a meet wear blindfolds.

What I find ironic is that even with the revealing nature of volleyball shorts, it still is generally tame compared to some of the outfits I see 14 and 15 YO's wearing to sit in the stands.

Who buy the prints?

JeffCanon wrote in post #8342546
Who buy the prints?

LOL! Good point!

She's an idiot - you did the PC method of telling her you're just capturing what is happening at the event = done and don't worry about it. It's not a photographers job to change what they see at an event, in fact if you did and were doing this in an editorial sense you'd probably lose your job.

I've coached v-ball from 7th-12th grade. "Many" of the players do not have issues with the spandex, most make fun of them and that's it. "Our team is tighter than the spandex we wear" is a common v-ball t-shirt/slogan. This is a parent who has problems, not you or 99% of the girls. If they were that worried about it they wouldn't play. This parent probably went to the AD or whoever and complained to, got nowhere so has to pick someone to b**ch at.