photographs

[kitkat2507]

Hi There, wondered if someone might be able to advise on the following, I opened a copy of the local free paper at the weekend to find a photograoh of my DD at playgroup with the CM. Should the CM have known this photo was being taken for the local paper, I had no idea and have actually when in the past been asked if photos could be taken for publications lealfets etc said No. Does the newspaper need permission, should the CM have asked my permission? thanks everyone

Should the CM have known this photo was being taken for the local paper,

Yes, I would have thought that the photographer would have asked people present before taking the photo. May not have known before that point though.

I had no idea and have actually when in the past been asked if photos could be taken for publications lealfets etc said No.

So does that mean you have signed a photo permission form on which you indicated that photos were not to be taken for publication purposes?

Does the newspaper need permission,
Don't know. If on a public street then no. If on a private premises then I would have thought they would. However they would assume that an adult present was in the position to give that permission.

should the CM have asked my permission?
I feel they should have. Though if you had previously denied permission, then they should not have involved your child in the picture.

You childminder should not have allowed the photograph to be taken without your prior consent.

However, I've been to playgroups and events where photographs are taken by the organiser and then the best are emailed to a range of local newspapers in the hope of some publicity.

Furthermore, I've been to events where the organisers have asked for permission (signed) to take photographs. Equally i've been to events where i wasn't.

The permission form that i use for photographs is a standard one produced by the NCMA that allows for many different circumstances and allows parents to omit certain catagories. If your childminder believed the photos were for 'in house' purposes she may not have realised that they could potentially be used in the local press.

I cant tell from your post if the picture was posed or not. If it looks like your childminder isnt aware that she is being photographed, perhaps she isn't.

I'd recommend that you speak to your childminder and find out exactly how the photograph became public.

I am a CM and I have specific instructions from some parents that their children are not to have photos published in newspapers, magazines, websites, etc. I would definitely not knowingly allow it and I would be wary of any photographers when we go out, but it is possible that they could get caught in a 'public' shot.

I had a mindee at a children's centre re-launch and lots of photos were taken, I wasn't concerned as I have permission, but the parents were thrilled when they saw how much fun their lo was having with me.

You may want to have a chat to your childminder if you really object, asking her to be more careful, but try and see it from a positive point of view and see that your lo was being cared for and happy (i hope)