Taking pictures of children for an adoption agency - advice needed

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smilezoomclick

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paulb
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hiya

i recently started as a fundraiser for an adoption / fostering agency in the south east.

as part of a re-brand they want to increase and improve the photography library to ensure we are no longer using stock shots that don't reflect the brilliant work of the charity.

i am going to pitch for the work but i'm worried about not being able to gain consent to take pictures of children which will then be used in our marketing materials. for example, our social workers deal with some terrible cases, so it's possible that some images will be used against very hard-hitting case studies. that's quite an ask for a parent

does anyone have experience of this kind of thing? we have a couple of nurseries so the location is not a problem. is it possible to use an agency where parents have signed up to let their children be photographed for things like this?

all advice appreciated!

thanks
paulb
 
hi paulb

I have example consent forms and policies which I can forward to you for pretty much exactly this kind of thing - I'll PM you :thumbs:

but there is a LOT to consider...
 
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My first port of call would be the agency's solicitor to make sure that you aren't breaching any of the relevant legislation, such as the ACA 2002 or the CYPA 1933/2008.

Following that, if you need to keep anonymity of the subject, then shoot in silhouette.

As for the sign offs from parents - you need decent blagging skills!
 
I did something similar for Hampshire fostering.

Looks like Ben can help you out with the forms but one thing you must do (If you haven't already) is get an enhanced disclosure. These can take upto 3 months to complete. You may be lucky and get one done quicker.
 
smilezoomclick said:
is it possible to use an agency where parents have signed up to let their children be photographed for things like this?
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Sure. Just go to a child model agency. Google will help if you don't know any.

DemiLion said:
As for the sign offs from parents - you need decent blagging skills!
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I'd be very wary of suggesting blagging or in any way misleading parents. Explain up front what the job is, get parental sign off and you won't have any issues. Using an agency, parents will be aware of the work before applying and can choose to put their children forward or not.

Merc said:
one thing you must do (If you haven't already) is get an enhanced disclosure
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Why?
 
[QUOTE="]
I'd be very wary of suggesting blagging or in any way misleading parents. Explain up front what the job is, get parental sign off and you won't have any issues. Using an agency, parents will be aware of the work before applying and can choose to put their children forward or not.[/QUOTE]

Exactly where did I suggest misleading parents in the slightest? blagging = persuading.
 
JonathanRyan said:
And "or" is a conjunction to connect dissimilar items.
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Except that, in this case, it implies that blagging is a sub function of misleading by the use of 'in any way'.

A little off point however!
 
DemiLion said:
Exactly where did I suggest misleading parents in the slightest? blagging = persuading.
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blagging can also mean lying ( or armed robbery come to think of it :lol:)
 
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Merc said:
Ione thing you must do (If you haven't already) is get an enhanced disclosure. These can take upto 3 months to complete. You may be lucky and get one done quicker.
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as johnathon said why ? - whether a disclosure/CRB is required will be down to the policy of the agency, so if they havent asked for it theres no need to have one.

looking at it from a management point of view the photographer is not going to have any contact with minors/vulnerable group without another adult being present, nor are they going to have any prolonged contact with a specific minor/vulnerable person , so under the CRB guidelines disclosure should not in fact be necessary
 
every adoption ad that I've ever seen has used a child model rather than actual children in the adoption process, and stated as such.

Any child model agency will be able to advise re: access, and the legal problems with using professional young talent.

If using the actual kids... +1 to what Mark (Demi) said above...
 
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