Little League Photography - Would I be wrong?

[cprice72]

It is that time again for my kids little league pictures. We live on a small military installation and the problem is that the photographer that the installation uses is terrible.

The package that we normally purchase costs us about $50-60 USD (if my memory serves me well - my wife normally does the purchase) and we receive 1ea 8x10 team picture and 1ea 5x7 picture for my son and daughter. The problem is that the photos that we receive are low resolution, noisy, and what little post is done is terrible. My kids were on the same team last year and when we received the prints of their individual pictures you could not even tell they were teammates because my son's shirt looked more orange than red.

Being that we are military - we are friends with most of the other parents and they know that I enjoy photography. Would it be a bad idea for me to bring my camera and take shots of the other kids on the team (after the normal photographer makes his money) and a team picture and offer a digital copy to the other parents at no cost? My intention is to not take business away from the photographer that the installation uses, but to just offer the parents some decent shots of their children that they can enjoy.

I am really hesitant about this - because this has the potential to go south - what are your thoughts?

[outamyway]

Maybe you could take some photos of your kids in uniform posed like they would be in the photos that you normally get and see how they turn out. Let a few of the other parents see them and find out what they think. One of two things could happen;

1. you become the team photographer
2. the regular photographer sees this, thinks he's going to lose some income and starts
caring again about the pics he's taking of your kids

Many people (regardless of profession) get in a rut and stop caring about their job. Sometimes a little wake up call is what they need to get back in gear. If that's not the case here and he's just a bad photographer then he shouldn't be doing this anyway.

$.02


p.s. I think it's more wrong to continue paying $50-60 for shoddy product.

[tasmo2]

My sons photos last year were ridiculous in cost too, and this year I had full intentions of doing the same thing you are talking about.. BUT we got our package prices and they went with someone different and its 12 bucks for 1 8x10 group, 1 8x10 individual and some 5x7s and wallets!

I don't think its bad, because if they are going to charge an arm and a leg they should do better! You might even go so far as to underbid them and get the whole job! (okay that makes me sound ruthless.. and im not, but if they aren't doing a good job... )

[anfanglove]

Maybe you could talk to the official photographer that you would like to take pics of your kids. I dont know it may be a bad idea, but at least we could hope that the photographer would understand and let you take some pictures of the kids.

just sharing, one of my friends who became an official photographer of an event felt annoyed by some people with cameras taking pictures without asking for permission first.he thought that it was kinda rude. just for precaution, so that this kind of thing wont happen, i think maybe you could try asking the photographer if you could take some pictures or not.

[SoxAddict]

I like outamyway's idea. It's much more wrong to be paying for substandard work.

Either way, you definitely don't need permission from the official photographer to take pics of your own kids!

[anfanglove]

well, i dont know about the local culture there, so, maybe its ok to do it without permission, if its ok, then you can just do it , precious moments and you probably dont want to miss those

[Jim Poor]

If you're talking about piggy-backing off the scheduled shoot, then I say don't do it. If you want to schedule a totally separate day & time, then go for it.

I'd recommend talking to the parents and seeing about getting rid of the sub-standard photographer. Then, either you could take over or get someone who does a better job.

[cprice72]

Originally Posted by outamyway

Maybe you could take some photos of your kids in uniform posed like they would be in the photos that you normally get and see how they turn out. Let a few of the other parents see them and find out what they think. One of two things could happen;

1. you become the team photographer
2. the regular photographer sees this, thinks he's going to lose some income and starts
caring again about the pics he's taking of your kids

Many people (regardless of profession) get in a rut and stop caring about their job. Sometimes a little wake up call is what they need to get back in gear. If that's not the case here and he's just a bad photographer then he shouldn't be doing this anyway.

$.02


p.s. I think it's more wrong to continue paying $50-60 for shoddy product.

Yeah I dont know what the problem is - maybe it is a rut. I was looking over the price sheet again today and it looks as if now he is offering reduced resolution for a lower price. Leads me to believe that he has been giving away reduced for full prices since we have been stationed here.

Originally Posted by tasmo2

My sons photos last year were ridiculous in cost too, and this year I had full intentions of doing the same thing you are talking about.. BUT we got our package prices and they went with someone different and its 12 bucks for 1 8x10 group, 1 8x10 individual and some 5x7s and wallets!

I don't think its bad, because if they are going to charge an arm and a leg they should do better! You might even go so far as to underbid them and get the whole job! (okay that makes me sound ruthless.. and im not, but if they aren't doing a good job... )

Nah - I have no desire to bid on this job or become the event photographer for the installation. I just enjoy shooting my kids and having nice shots that I will be able to look back on in years to come. My intention is not to push him out of his gig - but I think outamyway is right - maybe he will see me taking pics and realize that I didnt purchase a package. Maybe that will help.

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

If you're talking about piggy-backing off the scheduled shoot, then I say don't do it. If you want to schedule a totally separate day & time, then go for it.

I'd recommend talking to the parents and seeing about getting rid of the sub-standard photographer. Then, either you could take over or get someone who does a better job.

Not piggy-backing - just bringing my cam and take shots of my kids and their teams. The reason that I need to on the same day is that I am going to miss the entire season and this will be the only time that they all have on their uniforms. I now think that we will probably bite the bullet and purchase a team shot from him - just shoot my kids in their uniform the next day so as not stir the pot with a whole league full of parents.