Photographing Sports in the USA

[djotaku]

After seeing some awesome sports shots from a member in the forum who works for a Campus Newspaper, I was curious - can regular people take and publish shots from sporting events? I know that in the USA, you can take pictures of anyone in a public place. But if it's just one person, you most likely need a model release form. If it's a crowd, you usually are ok. But for most good sports photography, you want only one to two people in the shot. So at that point, would you need a release form? I am not asking if people do this - people do a lot of "illegal" things without realizing it. Is there actually any law on this?

Also, I know that generally speaking you can't photograph minors. But let's say your kid is into sports and you take a picture of him making an awesome play. There are some other peoples' kids in the shot - can they force you to take the shot offline?

Thanks!

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by djotaku

After seeing some awesome sports shots from a member in the forum who works for a Campus Newspaper, I was curious - can regular people take and publish shots from sporting events? I know that in the USA, you can take pictures of anyone in a public place. But if it's just one person, you most likely need a model release form. If it's a crowd, you usually are ok. But for most good sports photography, you want only one to two people in the shot. So at that point, would you need a release form? I am not asking if people do this - people do a lot of "illegal" things without realizing it. Is there actually any law on this?

Also, I know that generally speaking you can't photograph minors. But let's say your kid is into sports and you take a picture of him making an awesome play. There are some other peoples' kids in the shot - can they force you to take the shot offline?

Thanks!

Normally, if they, (adult or minor) is in a public setting, then they are fair game to have photos taken of them. Best to check with parents/coaches when you are out shooting children's sporting events. Then it wouldn't come as a surprise for them to see a picture of their kid online. As I always say, "When in doubt...ask." Most parents would be flattered to have a good shot of their kid to purchase.

[jdepould]

The internet in and of itself isn't commercial use, so releases aren't required, regardless of age, so long as the person was in a setting where they had no "reasonable expectation of privacy," and photography was permitted. Editorial publishing (news-type things) doesn't even require releases.

People like to think they have a right to privacy in public. They also like to think their children are somehow forbidden to be photographed in a normal setting. They're both erroneous (and irritating) assumptions.

[djotaku]

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think that publishing has to do necessarily with making money.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by djotaku

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think that publishing has to do necessarily with making money.

So what is it that you are asking?? Is it okay to publish pictures of people???? Well, if you have a press pass from a newspaper, magazine or news organization it's okay. So, you going to publish these photos for free somewhere?

[djotaku]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

So what is it that you are asking?? Is it okay to publish pictures of people???? Well, if you have a press pass from a newspaper, magazine or news organization it's okay. So, you going to publish these photos for free somewhere?

Yes, basically on flickr. If I shot pictures of people and put it on flickr - could they force me to take it off?

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by djotaku

Yes, basically on flickr. If I shot pictures of people and put it on flickr - could they force me to take it off?

jdepould is right in his posts. jdepould The internet in and of itself isn't commercial use, so releases aren't required, regardless of age, so long as the person was in a setting where they had no "reasonable expectation of privacy," and photography was permitted. Editorial publishing (news-type things) doesn't even require releases.

People like to think they have a right to privacy in public. They also like to think their children are somehow forbidden to be photographed in a normal setting. They're both erroneous (and irritating) assumptions.

They are in public domain, so pretty much fair game.