Discouraged...:(

[masdog]

Yesterday I contacted the local high school about possibly getting onto the sidelines for football, basketball, and soccer games. I got an email to give him a call today, and now I'm discouraged.

In order to shoot a high school event, I have to get written permission from the parents of each athlete who is participating in the event. Apparently there is some state statute regarding this.

Oh well, this means I need to keep trying, right? One day, I will get in somewhere. Perhaps I should contact the local paper and see if they need someone to shoot high school games. That might be the route to go. I don't plan on giving up because of this one setback.

[Liz]

Well, as I see it you have 2 options - you said that yourself. You can either call all the parents or go to the newspaper.

If I were you (and I'm not ) I would go the newspaper route (pun intended) first because this would give you a bit more "clout."

Above all - don't be discouraged. That is one ugly feeling. I know because I've been there.

At any rate - call the papers. See what happens. If they say no - ask the person you're speaking to if you can talk to one of the photographers. Then ask him for advice - what is the best/easiest/more assured way I can do this. Tell him you're a really good photographer - maybe he will let you go with him at some point.

Just a suggestion. Smile.......better days ahead. Honest! ;)

Liz

[Old Timer]

Liz has some great advice here. Anything worth having is worth going the extra mile for. Keep probing and find the key that unlocks the door. That really sounds like lame rule. I have never heard of anything like that myself. I have shot at lots of high school fields and have never been denied access. I just act like I know what I'm doing and go right on to the side lines. I will usually know one or two of the other photographers there and am excepted by them and no school official ever challenged me. It also helps to carry something close to pro equipment. Doesn't have to be a Nikon D2X and 300mm f2.8, but don't go with P&S.

Hang in there your break will come.

[mjs1973]

Wow, that just sounds odd to me... I have never looked into it, but it just doesn't sounde right. Of course, there are a lot fo strange laws on the books. Anyway, I'm with Liz. Contact the local paper and see what you can find out.

Getting persimsion from all the parents would be a huge pain in the but, but like OT said, anything worth doing is worth going the exta mile for.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[SmartWombat]

We have similar rules over in the UK.
Paedophile paranoia.

Parents can't even film their kids sponrts days, or soccer matches, without permission from the parents of all involved.
That means the opposing team too !

Ludicrous.
Our nanny state supportign the schools who are scared someone may sue them.

Litigious blame culture, another US export.

OK, rant over, soapbox free for someone else now.

[masdog]

Thank you for all the good advice. I haven't given up just yet. I have a friend who is the IT guy at another high school in the area, and he's putting in a good word for me with the Principle and the Athletic Director. He also said he would put me in touch with their yearbook guy. I'm not holding my breath for anything, but its better than nothing.

I also got some advice to stay away from high schools and try colleges. So I contacted the AD at my school (our Athletic department is between SIDs at the moment) and I'm hoping to get an answer tomorrow. I was very clear with him that I'm just doing this to build a portfolio and that I had no intention of selling the images, so I'm hoping for the best. I'm also going to send an email to some other nearby schools that have a football program and see if I can get in for that.

[Liz]

It sounds more hopeful......at least your options are increasing. ;)

Keep us updated. Your website has some nice images! Just tell them "I'm the man" ;)

Liz

Thank you for all the good advice. I haven't given up just yet. I have a friend who is the IT guy at another high school in the area, and he's putting in a good word for me with the Principle and the Athletic Director. He also said he would put me in touch with their yearbook guy. I'm not holding my breath for anything, but its better than nothing.

I also got some advice to stay away from high schools and try colleges. So I contacted the AD at my school (our Athletic department is between SIDs at the moment) and I'm hoping to get an answer tomorrow. I was very clear with him that I'm just doing this to build a portfolio and that I had no intention of selling the images, so I'm hoping for the best. I'm also going to send an email to some other nearby schools that have a football program and see if I can get in for that.

[Trevor Ash]

It sounds like he just doesn't want to be liable and/or too lazy to help you out. Try another school?

[masdog]

I am trying a few other places. I have a friend at another school district who is in very good with the administration, and I am also trying to get access at my college and a few other universities in the area.

And SmartWombat, I know how you feel. Why people are so uptight about their kids, I have no idea, but I think the media is responsible for that.

[JSPhoto]

Unfortunately some parents are overly protective. My personal feeling, and one that may be of use in a court case is:
If your out in public EXPECT to have your picture taken!

And MOST schools ARE public schools!

Everytime you go to the convience store down the street your video taped. When you drive down the road your video taped.... do they get permission, NO - why? Because you should expect it!

Parents I have to deal with are a pain in the ---. Normally complaining that I didn't get their kid in the paper. So far no problems with the website, well other than one girl who didn't like her expression in a shot....it's still there though and now she just laughs about it.

As it turns out many schools in Indiana are going to this idiotic thing about getting permission from students to publish their photos on websites. I don't get it, the kids are posting pictures themselves of each other without "written permission".
Life as a photographer is tougher, and forcing many out of the business. I know 5 that quit in the last month alone!

JS

[swmdrayfan]

What used to be a fairly innocuous thing has become something viewed as sinister, thanks to the proliferation of internet porn and predators, identity theft, and post- 9-11 trauma. Everywhere people turn they're told to protect themselves and their families from the outside evils of the world. Everyone's looking over their shoulders and around doors in fear of the unseen. Just a couple of days ago I took a photo of a cute little girl doing the 'Chicken Dance' on the field at a ballgame. I asked her mother if she would like a copy and would she be there the next day. She said she could, and I said I could email it to her instead. I got a wary glance, but the mother gave it to me, and later that evening emailed the photo. I haven't heard back saying she'd recieved it, so don't know if she even opened the photo. Guess I can't blame her. I guess the point is...in the new millenium we're learning to deal with a whole new set of rules.

[masdog]

Well, I tried contacting my school to see if I could get sideline access, and so far, I haven't heard back from them. I did a little digging and found out they just hired a new SID, so I should probably stop up there and ask him in person. I also emailed the local paper's photo editor two days ago and offered to help shoot sports, even if it is for free. Hopefully, I will hear back from him in a few days.

[Lionheart]

Ummm....isn't this the United States of America? Land of the FREE and home of the BRAVE? So why do Americans tend to live as if this was the Land of the legally handcuffed and home of the paranoid bi-polar schizoid xenophobes? Just ranting about the over the top knee-jerk response legislation that is so prevalent today and the paranoid mentality that drives it.