Does anyone know the answer to this?

[CAJ1]

There is a half marathon being run in my town this weekend. I ran it last year but can't do it this year, however my other half will be doing it. I was thinking while I'm waiting on him I could take my camera along and take a few photos.

I know there are photographers at races that take pics and sell them to participants of the race. I was just wondering if anyone knew if there are any rules around doing this?

Thanks

PS: Ed - a photography section on here would be great :)

[mazie]

I don't know the answer CAJ, Might be worth calling your local council, you might need a licence to sell to the public.

PS: Ed - a photography section on here would be great......Yes, Ed it would

[wolf63]

Maybe go to one of the specialised running websites - they will maybe have some sort of forum.

I ran in my younger days - only the one time but I did run. It would have been around 1977 or 1978. Terrible experience. ;-)

[sherrardk]

Could you contact the organisers?

[CAJ1]

Thats a good idea Mazie, I will do that tomorrow, thanks :)

PS: Ed it would be really good, I could stop cluttering up Chatterbank with my photography questions!

Thats a good idea too wolf, off to investigate.

lol, I also ran a full marathon, at about mile 23 I thought it was the worst experience and worst idea I'd ever had! Mile 26.2 made it all worth it...relief, sense of achievement and the feeling that I wanted to collapse - I was in tears lol!

[CAJ1]

Tried that sherrardk but no response as of yet, fingers crossed they get back to me soon

[mccfluff]

no, you can take whatever pics you want, its a public race. so no probs. i work for a local paper and we have the midlands fun run, so each year we send our staff photographers to take pics but we do print and sometimes pay for photo's taken by others.

[CAJ1]

Thats great mcfluff, thank you very much.

Do you know if you are to sell a photo to a newspaper if you have to get the permission of the people in it?

[TheWinner]

I can't see any problems with taking pictures of your OH and others. Other people do it all the time. Professional photographers take pics of occasions and sell their pictures, but you don't have to buy. Think of professional photographers at weddings etc, and relatives that also take pics and pass them on. There is no comparison to a professional photo and one taken by me (for example). I take it you just want to take pics to record the occasion for your OH, rather than take pics to sell them on.

[Buenchico]

With very few exceptions (which aren't relevant here) anyone is free to photograph whoever/whatever they like as long as they're in a public place, on their own property or on property where the owner has given permission for photography. (It's irrelevant as to where the person/object being photographed is. It's the position of the photographer which is important).

Unless he/she is working on behalf of another (e.g. a staff photographer for a newspaper), the photographer will own the copyright in the photographs he/she takes. He/she is free to sell those pictures to whoever will buy them, or to display them wherever and however he/she wants to (e.g. by uploading them to a website). The only exceptions would be if the images were either 'defamatory' or in some way suggested endorsement of a particular product or service by the people in the photographs.

However, if you sell either products or services from a public highway (which includes footpaths and verges), or to people who are on the public highway, you require a street trader's licence from the local council.

Chris

[ChuckFickens]

You've got that one ready to copy and paste, haven't you, Chris? :)

Entirely correct of course.

[Buenchico]

CAJ1:
If you had to get the permission of people in photographs to sell them to newspapers, the 'paparazzi' would be instantly out of a job!

You only require a 'model release' from someone in a photograph if the picture has been taken where they were used as a 'photographic model' or where their image was to be used for product endorsement. Even then, the use of a 'model release form' isn't a legal requirement; it's simply a way of ensuring that the people in the photograph don't try to sue for a share of any money received by the photographer.

[CAJ1]

TheWinner, I am looking at seeing if I can get a few pics and maybe sell them to the paper/participants as well as getting a few shots of my other half. I never thought of it that way before!

Chris, that is a fantastic and informative answer as always. Much appreciated, thank you

[TheWinner]

Hi CAJ1, Then I would say, record the event on photo for your OH, but don't look to sell on to others.

[mccfluff]

well chris had answered that one,

we would only buy a photo if it was extraordinary and something the staff photogs had missed but to be honest, as a local event i would doubt it