Publishing photos taken at a public event
Discussion
I know this has been discussed on here before, but does anyone know for sure the legal status of photos taken at a large public event, e.g. a festival.
The reason I ask is that I have a possible (Paid!) opportunity to do some photography at an upcoming local event and want to make sure I do not get myself into trouble!
A quick google suggests that if it is a crowd shot which includes adults and children then it is fine "as long as they have a reasonable expectation of photographs being taken at the event and it is clearly a public event'
It is also clear that a parental consent form is required in order to publish pictures of under 16s if it is more of a portrait type shot.
Does anyone have knowledge and experience in this area, or a link to a definitive statement?
Thanks in advance!
(and in case you are all wondering - I have not made it big, just helping a friend trying to get into journalism!)
The reason I ask is that I have a possible (Paid!) opportunity to do some photography at an upcoming local event and want to make sure I do not get myself into trouble!
A quick google suggests that if it is a crowd shot which includes adults and children then it is fine "as long as they have a reasonable expectation of photographs being taken at the event and it is clearly a public event'
It is also clear that a parental consent form is required in order to publish pictures of under 16s if it is more of a portrait type shot.
Does anyone have knowledge and experience in this area, or a link to a definitive statement?
Thanks in advance!
(and in case you are all wondering - I have not made it big, just helping a friend trying to get into journalism!)
There are no issues at all in the UK, most especially not for editorial use.
If the event is public and there would be no expectation of privacy in attending it then the punters are fair game.
You DO NOT need parental consent for publishing images of minors, they come under the same rules (or rather lack of rules) as adults. That is, if they are in public then you can take their pictures and publish them.
Despite popular belief these days there is no such rule as getting parental consent to take or publish pictures of minors when they are in public.
As a rider to that, there is a law about publishing kids who are wards of court or some such but this is highly unlikely to be a problem.
The only comeback for anyone is on libel or defamation grounds. I.E. if the image is captioned "here are a bunch of drug addicts at xyz festival", then obviously if these people are just normal punters and not drug addicts then you can expect a law suit.
It is it captioned "the public enjoying xyz festival" then all is fine.
All that said, if you are doing this as a commission then check with the client if they want you to get releases. If they do then just ask people who you shoot individually to sign.
A P.S. on this one. If it is a magazine commission then the mag probably abides by the "self imposed" press guidelines about publishing shots of minors. They will blur them if necessary.
If the event is public and there would be no expectation of privacy in attending it then the punters are fair game.
You DO NOT need parental consent for publishing images of minors, they come under the same rules (or rather lack of rules) as adults. That is, if they are in public then you can take their pictures and publish them.
Despite popular belief these days there is no such rule as getting parental consent to take or publish pictures of minors when they are in public.
As a rider to that, there is a law about publishing kids who are wards of court or some such but this is highly unlikely to be a problem.
The only comeback for anyone is on libel or defamation grounds. I.E. if the image is captioned "here are a bunch of drug addicts at xyz festival", then obviously if these people are just normal punters and not drug addicts then you can expect a law suit.
It is it captioned "the public enjoying xyz festival" then all is fine.
All that said, if you are doing this as a commission then check with the client if they want you to get releases. If they do then just ask people who you shoot individually to sign.
A P.S. on this one. If it is a magazine commission then the mag probably abides by the "self imposed" press guidelines about publishing shots of minors. They will blur them if necessary.
Edited by awager on Monday 10th May 20:36
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