Childrens Party Photos and Using them on website

[teenypops]

I want to get more photos on my website - essentially more of the kids having fun and less of just the equipment.

I have been a bit nervous of taking my own pictures and then just posting them onto my website or Facebook page.

Does anyone know the law around this - of course the 100% squeaky clean thing to do would be to get acceptance from every parent of every child attending my parties , but this is never going to happen.

Would appreciate any advice on this.

[STEVE HANLEY]

[ of course the 100% squeaky clean thing to do would be to get acceptance from every parent of every child attending my parties , but this is never going to happen.]

Why not? we do

[teenypops]

Why not? we do

How do you manage that?

[SoundONE]

There is no law against posting pictures of children on the net and there is no law to prevent you taking pictures of children in public. The problem is these so called do gooders and a lot of misconceptions. At my kids school they don't allow photos or videos of the kids plays etc, yet they then try and sell a dvd of it to you that some outsider has filmed.

Taking pictures of kids is a totally different thing to child pornography in the eyes of the law, but still some people wont see it like that, I remeber a couple of years ago a guy taking pics on the beach a guy acused him of taking pics of his kid, I don't know if he did or not but, i suspect he wasn't actually but he may have looked like he was in a shot, anyway he decked him right out. Now in the eyes of the law he had done nothing wrong and was assalted yet no one on the beach stepped in to help in fact some cheered.

So I would be carefull of taking pics of kids and posing pics of kids, if you ask the permission of the parents most are going to say it's fine anyway, that's what we do.

[Paul The Party Dj]

Photos of children are an issue no mater what the law says. I've run children's indoor play areas for the last 12 years and we have faced parents who have seen other adults taking pictures who have been very upset - you don't want to create a situation that has to be dealt with however small.

I'd suggest getting photos from the back of the room so that all the kids are in silhouette and not identifiable.
If you have a minute to spare you can see the kind of shot I mean on my front page - it's the last picture on the main frame with the caption "So ... How Would You Like Yours?" http://www.thepartydj.co.uk/

You could also use pictures of kids from your own extended family and friends with the parents consent - and get it writing. It would probably be wise to add a statement that says something like "all pictures on this page are used with the full written consent of their parents - we do not take photographs at our children's events."

Good luck.

[teenypops]

Thanks guys - so the way to go is to always get permission, but what I have trouble with is how do I get the permission of all 30/40 kids parents coming to a party, chances are I won't even see them all.

How do you guys go about collecting the consent.

My thoughts were with yours Paul - use pics of your own family friends.

Many Thanks

[SoundONE]

Taking pictures from the back can be seen as even worse almost like you doing it on the sly, so that nobody notices you, let's hope that guy from the beach isn't there.

Best to say to the party organiser, you would like to take a few pics of children being entertained, ask them if they would be willing to ask the parents as they drop the children off, if anyone objects to a few pics, I doubt anyone will because they will want to see what happened at the party. The party organiser will most likely be very friendly with most of them, so that will help your cause too. Then for future gigs when they book you menion you would like to take a few pics of some smilling faces, while being entertained could they ask all the other parents permission for you when giving out the invites, again most will say yes.

If anyone does say no then go with the birthday boy/girl, great pics are of kids with headphones, get the birthday boy girl up and say you can be the DJ and mix the next track in, ask the mother again is it ok to take a pic because this will make a great pic, little joey or whoever has a big grin on their face because they are now the DJ, his mum/dad will be very keen for a pic.

You will also notice at a lot of these parties the parents actually take pictures, you could also ask if they would email you some for your site, give them a card with your email address, then you can write picture taken by birthday boys mother etc.

You will certainly find a lot more people in favor than against, but without people giving you consent, it's a no.

[teenypops]

thanks so much guys - exactly as I thought, but always good to get a bit of a sense check and great to know how you go about it.

thanks again

[katman]

This whole political correctness thing with regards to taking photos of children really annoys me.

I have virtually no photographs of me as a child teenager or young adult because when I was growing up photography was expensive and cine movies were very expensive and silent.

We now live in an age where both photographs and video are effectively free once you have bought the camera as you dont have to buy film or pay for developing unless you want actual prints but personally I would rather see my holiday photos on a 42" TV than a tiny 7x5 print.

Sadly because it is generally regarded that any one photographing children at play must have sinister motives, we are now being denied the opportunity to document our own children and their friends in the school play, messing about on the beach and growing up. The ACTUAL threat of inappropriate behavior or danger is very small yet the public perception thanks to the "do gooders" is that the risks are very high.

What makes it all the more gauling is that just like anti piracy measures on music and DVD, the only people it actually hinders are decent people. Those with criminal and immoral intentions will still achieve their objectives one way or another.

Rant over.

[teenypops]

This whole political correctness thing with regards to taking photos of children really annoys me........

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