Question about selling photos of events

[LuckyDucker]

Hi all,
My daughters are in HS choir and for the past couple years, my wife (mostly) and I have gone to several rehearsals and shot candid/fun pictures of the choir directors and kids - at the request of the directors. The wife makes a slide show on DVD so they can play it before the performances and during intermissions. It is also copied and distributed with a full video DVD of the performances that are for sale by someone else.

We haven't charged for this in the past, but rather have used it to promote my wife's face painting site. Last year, we put some on her facebook page and had a lot of kids and parents asking for copies. So, this year, we are planning on doing the same thing, but I'm thinking about putting the photos online (smugmug/zenfolio, etc) so people can easily order copies - possibly to help raise money for the choir department.

Similarly, I've gone with my wife to some of her face painting gigs to take pictures for her website. Lately, some parents have also hired me (for a small fee) to take random pictures throughout the party for them since they're too busy playing host. I just burn them straight to cd before we leave and always ask (verbal) permission to post a few on facebook/website, and never been turned down. She gets a few referrals when the clients tag their kids in the photos. I also thought about putting these online for sale.

Anyway, are there any concerns about either of these scenarios? Do we have to have model releases or anything like that? I am far from a professional photographer, so I don't know what the logistics of doing something like this. In both cases, I simply want to make it easier for parents/clients to order printed copies. Not looking to make a killing.

Thanks for any feedback.

[LuckyDucker]

Tap, tap, tap.... is this thing on?

[RKDauph]

I have been shooting my daughter's high school lacrosse team for 3 years and placing them into a password protected directory on SmugMug. I haven't had any issues with the team, school or parents. The girls and parents have to give out the password to friends and family. So I cannot be accused of exploiting their daughters.

I do allow them to download a 400x600ish 72 dpi image and they have the option to purchase prints. I didn't do it to sell prints but as with most things the more you do the more they want - for free.

To date, in over three years (more than 75 games), I have sold a grand total of $145 in prints. Good thing I wasn't trying to make money - huh?

Not much help here, just wanted to share my experience with shooting high school for family 'teams'.

[LuckyDucker]

Thanks for your reply, Ray.

That helps a lot. I really just want to be able to put them up online somewhere so they can download them themselves and/or order prints if they'd like to, without much interaction from me. I'm really not looking to make money from this. As it is now, after posting on facebook, I get emails from parents asking for larger copies, then there's generally a couple emails back and forth trying to get the right images, etc. and then the parent still has to get them printed, if that's what they want. I'd like to cut me out of that process.

[texkam]

I shoot the PWSHS Band as a volunteer. My understanding is, if you are charging and if you are on PISD property, you are a vendor and no longer a volunteer. Consult the district for the hoops you must jump through. You already have access OK from the choir director/s as a volunteer, but they should be made aware of your change in status. Good luck.

[RKDauph]

Originally Posted by LuckyDucker

Thanks for your reply, Ray.

That helps a lot. I really just want to be able to put them up online somewhere so they can download them themselves and/or order prints if they'd like to, without much interaction from me. I'm really not looking to make money from this. As it is now, after posting on facebook, I get emails from parents asking for larger copies, then there's generally a couple emails back and forth trying to get the right images, etc. and then the parent still has to get them printed, if that's what they want. I'd like to cut me out of that process.

You're welcome - SmugMug has stopped a lot of the email requests - unless I forget to un-right-click-protect (my default) on the gallery - boy do I hear about it then....

I have paying clients who don't make that much noise...

And Mark made a good point about the status change.

[LuckyDucker]

Interesting, I wouldn't have thought about that. Thanks Mark! We have some rehearsals coming up. I'll check into that.