Volleyball photos + an issue

Just keep getting great shots and don't worry about the parents who complain. As long as you aren't purposefully getting racy shots, you should have nothing to worry about.

Great pictures! Where can we see more? Do you have a website set up somewhere? (or flickr, etc?)

I've been involved with club VB for years ... boys and girls. Boys will wear anything .... girls .. well.. not so easy. For the most part they want the most stylish uniforms they can get. Spandex is an issue , but often , the slimmer girls will wear whatever , while the heavier girls request a longer style of spandex. This style is quite short. If there is a body image problem , the girls will not like any of the spandex shorts. Generally , the better VB players are athletic looking also , so they like the more " revealing" cuts. (You don't see those girls on the beach with the most conservative cut of bikini either.)

Seems to me , the cut becomes an issue in HS ....before that , it's whether they wear spandex or shorts. All the games I've seen though , and most of the girls are worried about doing their job and what the players on the other side of the net are doing , not their shorts.

KennethGomez wrote in post #8339881
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!

Just do what I did after reading your issue several times.... just ask one of the opposing players to lend a hand (or elbow)...
Seriously, after seeing these in camera, I just laughed because of the irony of getting two shots like this that covered up any *ahem* complaints about the coverage of the uniforms.

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I've had three daughters play HS and Club Vball... taken thousands of pics over the years and never had anyone say anything close to that. I like the idea of saying "I record the event as it happened"... then to myself I would say... "Hey Lady... this is 2009 not 1959"

Maybe this uptight parent would prefer this?

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LOL....too funny!!!

I agree with the others. Not your issue. I am sure she didn't go around that night making sure that everyone in attendance only watched the match from the waist up.

Nice job with the shots

Those uniforms are crazy. I would probably edit or remove the shots that remind you of the hoof of a humped desert dweller.

Haven't read the whole thread (maybe someone has already brought this point up) but hope mama doesn't have a boy that is wrestling.

Would she complain as much if they were in swimsuits and got their picture taken? Probably not.... Everyone needs something to **** about

Let list the h.s. uniforms this mom could take issue with: gymnastics, swimming, track and field, cheer, wrestling ...I think you get the idea. She has to deal with her issues. Your pictures look good and I'd continue to record the event in the way it is meant to be recorded.

+1 Put the images in a password protected gallery

If she does not like this I would:
1st off, you had mentioned parents, not just her. This brings up a few issues, IMO. who are you shooting for? Do all parents care? or just this one out of 5 or 6?

If they all feel the same, then you should crop waist up. That is what they are paying you for.

If she does not want these online, ask for an email stating in writing the exact photos of her daughter that she wants taken off the public internet. Make her list photo number and player number. Make her do all the work.

I always shoot what the parents want. If they do not say so prior to the season, then my way is the best way. If they state, i.e. swimming or wrestling photos - no "bulges" below the waist; I make sure they are not in any photo.

Finally, I have had one friend shoot for a mom like the one you described. After hearing her numerous complaints, (i.e. her daughter's bad side; her rival on the team is in some photos; her field hockey uniforms shows under her skirt!!) He wrote VOID on the check, mailed it back to her with a nice letter saying the contract could be met by either party involved. This disagreement was unresolvable. He took down the gallery.

With in a week, she brought him cash. She now pays him almost double to cover all games. Almost triple. He moved out of state and she she still makes sure he is her guy. He also throws out any photos that could be risque, but still shoots every player unbiasedly.

That is not always going to happen.