National League Licence

gibtheo

gibtheo

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Steven
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Hi guys,

Weird one this week. Hopefully somebody knows the score...

I've been photographing at a National League club recently and as per the licence rules, I email more than 24 hours before kick off with my licence number and request permission to attend. As a gesture of good will I agreed to give the home club 1 image, to use as they wish, but on the condition it's credited, linked to my gallery and not sent to papers etc.

This weekend the media person of said club said that she thought it was reasonable that I should send at least 2 and ideally 6 pics for their programme. I asked if they have a club photographer, to which she replied 'yea, but he's not very good, your photos are better and he doesn't have the kit that you have'. I was a bit surprised at that response! She then said that it's a bit late in the season to implement now, but from next season she might make it a rule that any photographer wanting to come in a shoot there (under National League licence) would have to give 6 images to the club. I was getting ready to shoot the game so just said I'd talk to her later.

I haven't got back to her yet, and I guess I'll try my best to handle this diplomatically but can a National League club give you conditions of entry as a photographer if you are under a licence from the league?! I didn't think so but maybe I'm wrong?

Hope everyone has had a fun weekend and got lots of nice pics!

Steven
 
I've come across this once or twice.
Not checked the National League agreement but it seems to me that it's always up to them whether they let you in or not, however unreasonble their terms are. If you don't want to meet their terms then I can't see that anyone can force them to let you in. I agree with you that they're bascially taking liberties here and it doesn't reflect well on the media person that they're so ready to slag off their own photgrapher, especially to another snapper.
This certainly couldn't happen under the DataCo licencing system in the higher leagues but even there, the fact that you have the licence doesn't force any club to let you have access to a particular game. Mind you, don't get me started on that one...
 
Thanks for the response. Yea, just to be clear, I'm always grateful to be allowed entry, and I have never even had a cross word with anyone at any club I've been to (yet!). I certainly won't be demanding to be let in and refusing to cooperate but 6 images to be used in a programme seems a bit bit much to ask. There was probably about 4 photographers at the weekends game so that's 24 pics from that game if they get 6 off each! I'll have to go through the terms of the licence more closely and see what it says. I really don't want to be awkward but also don't want to have the p*** taken out of me!

I did think it was a bit harsh to talk to me about another photographer like that. No need really.

I'm interested in your last comment! haha
 
Let them have six crap photos then thay will go and ask another Tog and tell him that they want to use him because your crap.:D
 
No criticism of you intended at all - they are definitely taking the p***!!
Maybe they've ended up with a photographer they don't rate because they've also p****d off one or two good ones in the past and no self-respecting tog wants to work with them...
 
According to the licence....

'Entry shall be free and subject to (and save as set out in) this Agreement no conditions of entry shall apply which are particular to those gaining access for photographic purposes'

I guess that means that they can't demand pics from you as a condition of entry. It's not clear however, whether they can just outright refuse you entry to start with. I guess they could? Obviously it shouldn't come to this point but it's important to know where you stand I guess. Any thoughts? I may well give the office a call when I have time just to clear this up.
 
As has been said, that's a flippin' cheek! I don't think just having a licence entitles you to entry, I think the club can decline (if too many people want to turn up, for instance). If you want to keep it sweet, perhaps remind them of the wording, but say you are happy to include a couple of shots as a goodwill gesture? In my experience it is fairly common practice for the home club to provide a few images to the away club if they don't have a snapper present so they can have something for their programme, but that's usually an arrangement via the programme secretary. I've done it on a number of occasions. Which club? PM me :-)
 
If it becomes a problem then contact the league.. I know the head of the league has changed a few times but when I had a problem of entry (different to this) the league jumped in and helped as they stated they are trying to encourage photography at this level.. not put people off .. because it's good for the league..

i am guessing thats still the case as the only criteria to get a licence seems to be the ability to ask :)
 
Good advice guys. I gently reminded them of the licensing, agreed to give them one pic for programme use 'as a gesture of good will' and somebody else in the club got back to me to thank me very much. I've really enjoyed going there and they have treated me very well in general, I think it was just a case of them not really knowing the issues around licensed photographers.

True words Kipax. I hope that my photos help to attract a bit more attention to the clubs I go to, and I hope their fans like seeing images from their games. :)
 
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