British Expatriate Network

I read, in another forum, that parents are not permitted to take any pictures at school events in the UK now !

I'd like to have someone tell me I can't photograph my child!
The place is getting as stupid as here.

apparently it's to stop paedophilias from getting their hands on pictures of children.

When my children were at a UK school we weren't allowed to take photos because it was believed to be a distraction to the children (which I agree with) and that you can buy photographs of your children in their costumes for the school play or whatever it was they were doing. That was 8 years ago.

Arh, now we're getting there! "you can BUY........" :roll:
So I can't take pictures of my child, but some other f@#$&#@ perve can!

I think the general idea behind it was that it was actually difficult to allow parents to photograph and to stop anyone else who happened along - who can see who is behind a camera in a darkened auditorium or school hall. Some schools are just so big, and not all parents turn up at parent evenings to make themselves known to staff members.

Personally, I would rather have paid a small fee to have pictures of my children than know any Tom, Dick, or paedophile was able to take random pictures of them for whatever foul purpose.

No, as I understand it it is actually a European Union rule regarding the paedophilia issue. I was just letting you know what our school did in the UK and this may still be an option today - I don't know. It does seem to depend on which school your child goes to. The school my sister's children go to allow parents to take photos and video because I get copies. Their school is a charter school if I remember correctly. Don't know if that makes the difference. My SIL says that they don't have photos of their children doing any performances because of this particular law. I have no reason to doubt what she says but for all I know she could have received ones that you can buy through the school.

Our schools here don't allow photographs or videoing of the school musical. Video because of copyright laws but you can buy a video through the school of the school musical. No photograph taking is because of it being a distraction to the children - which it is. No photographs are allowed to be taken during concerts either but we can take photos before and after the children have finished. However, you sometimes get one or two that spoil it for the rest.

Some other f@#$&#@ perve ... ?

Are you saying you are a f@#$&#@ perv ... ?

:?:

OK, am I missing something here? Does "Back to Basics" include taking sports back to the original Olympic era (naked)? Does the nativity play include realistic nude birth scenes? Pervs can take photos of your clothed children anywhere. Should we ban cameras altogether?

Am I wrong in not worrying about it if the children are unaware and unharmed? Maybe some saddo gets his kicks from used baby diapers. Should I stop throwing them out just in case?

I'd love see that rule. Not least because I'm highly skeptical that such a thing exists as it is well outside the remit of EU law.

I'm afraid there is a lot of misinformation out there about the EU. It is morelikely a local or even national policy from the education department.

Just an interesting side point, my Sons School was going on a Field Trip to the local old peoples home for an Easter Egg Hunt, I had the permission slip to sign, but there was a "No Photos" option to check, if I did not want any of the pictures taken to include him.

They are quite strict about that where I work. If you sign up your kids for the summer camps, there is a check-box as to whether you will permit your child to be photgraphed during their activities - for advertising brochures of their website.

I recall a couple of years ago that my department sent out some high school kids that were with us for a media summer camp, to do some photography around campus and they were given something of an earful by the camp counsellors when they started taking photos of the kids doing their activities.

Sad really - it was an innocent mistake.

Personally, I feel like monster about it. If you followed through with it, you'd end up dressing your kids like Michael Jackson's.

Actually it has gotten more stupid than here...

Any event I have shot at (horse riding primarily) would never think of suggesting this "rule", however, I have heard from a few UK pro's who cover MX events that the same is happening at those events in the UK as well.

To boot, in the UK if you want to take shots of kids at events I think you have to go and get "cleared" at the local copshop to be licensed...

Also, if you're shooting on public property here, nothing can stop you taking a picture of whatever you want to..

Andrew :)

That would be the difference between the First Amendment and Art 8 ECHR - right to privacy and family life.
Here you have a right to photograph whatever you want, there I have a right not to be photographed without consent...

The same/similar exists here, hence you can use any image you take for editorial use, however, for any other use releases are required (and why I carry them with me when i shoot - just in case I need to get a release...)

Better add this to the "my favorite thing" thread then eh?

:lol:

That is the biggest difference in law and society in general between the two countries. In the US a personal freedom trumps all - in the UK it's a question of whether it infringes on other people's well-being.