Quinceanera ttd ...should I or shouldn't I?

[KeepsakeGirl]

I'm not sure I'm going to offer these sessions afterall. Not having had children yet, much less teens, I never realized just how NEEDY they can be at this age.

What SHOULD have been a 3 hour session ended up taking WAY too many hours because they got hungry, thirsty and they were in MY car so all of a sudden all these liability issues started going through my mind that I *should* have thought of before but didn't :

What if they got hurt in a wreck?
in the water?
while walking across the road?

And having to assist them out of their dresses into dry clothing made me worry about allegations ( being a girl that should be ok but you NEVER know these days and being a business owner that is just NOT going to happen again w/ out a parent present ~ this time I did have another adult female with me).

So this begs the question for those of you who shoot teens:

1) do you always require a parent to be present?
2) what type of waiver do you have them sign to release you from liability?
etc etc.

I am NOT doing another one until I get this all in writing because I know I'm lucky it all went well.

[Photomontage]

If I was you, I would require a parent to be present. I would also bring someone on my side, like a spouse or friend.

[adirty1]

I always had a parent there of the model under age and always had a female working with me. I have a special model release for models under 18 that states they under age and a parent must sign for them.

I would have them meet me at the location and made sure I was never alone with them thus the parent and my female assistant. you can never be to careful. my insurance covers them when they are on set. Even with adult models I would rather have them meet us on set then drive them. I am covered but I would like to limit as much risk as possible.

If you are dealing with water it would be a good Idea to get your cpr cert and if you are going to do lots of water stuff maybe your life guard cert too or shoot some place that has one on duty.

[AndrewCCM]

Be sure you have at least some liability insurance. It usually is included with your business insurance policy. But I'd double check.

The other suggestions are good as well.

[princessmocha]

wow..i have been thinking of adding this into my biz...but now i have to think really carefully.........HUGE HUGE responsibility.....not sure if i am ready yet....think think think.....

[PeteQ]

Anyone under 18 HAS to have a parent or legal guardian and yes, I check the license. Too many issue there to even get into.

Two, your liability insurance may or may not cover you. Be sure your insurer knows you do location photography as well as studio. Regardless of any waiver you have them sign, rest assured if someone trips in the stream, studio, or driveway, they will be coming after you.

I mean how many times do we see folks suing a bungee jump company? So much for that piece of paper that basically states: "Yes I know this is extremely stupid and dangerous and I shouldn't do it under any circumstances, but I want to and I won't hold anyone but myself responsible if I get hurt". Yeah, right. Those places and the water parks are great hangouts if you want to meet lawyers, they are the ones with the Burberry suits.....

[KeepsakeGirl]

Originally Posted by princessmocha

wow..i have been thinking of adding this into my biz...but now i have to think really carefully.........HUGE HUGE responsibility.....not sure if i am ready yet....think think think.....

THAT is how I felt after it was all said and done. the sessions are on hold until further notice.

[NathanJK]

Personally I'm planning on avoiding Quinceanera's in general. I've been "burned" so to speak and they simply dont pay well enough for me to put up with the crap that go's along with it.

[Murph]

I will not do them (unless I am forced at gunpoint, i.e. family). They just had one in Seguin where the girl's grandfather paid $60,000 for the quincenera and what made it worse, was reports are that the girl who is a MAP (Mexican American Princess) had no clue. She apparently goes through life with the attitude its "all about me". But $60,000?! Whoa....

Erica, watch the liability, and I suggest a lawyer on a retainer.

[fran reisner]

And another good question to ask yourself... was the time, frustration and effort worth the money you made?? I think it's smart to avoid the kind of jobs that really burn you out. Don't want to be losing our passion now do we??

[KeepsakeGirl]

Originally Posted by fran reisner

And another good question to ask yourself... was the time, frustration and effort worth the money you made?? I think it's smart to avoid the kind of jobs that really burn you out. Don't want to be losing our passion now do we??

Amen to that!

[DeLeon]

I always have them meet me on location, and for females I ALWAYS have my wife with me. If they are under 18 I will not do the soot unless a parent is there. As far as changing goes, that has never been an issue with me. I take one of these with me on location, and I don't have to worry about them while they are in there changing.

[KeepsakeGirl]

Originally Posted by DeLeon

I always have them meet me on location, and for females I ALWAYS have my wife with me. If they are under 18 I will not do the soot unless a parent is there. As far as changing goes, that has never been an issue with me. I take one of these with me on location, and I don't have to worry about them while they are in there changing.

now THAT i need for all my TTD!

[onewingedangel73106]

still learning acronyms TTD?

[OTRphoto]

heehee - I had to think about that one too..
Trash The Dress