Photographing Swimmers Policy
Spencer Cobby Photography Photographing Swimmers Policy
This policy applies to all photographs taken on film or digital camera (including mobile phones) and all sorts of moving pictures
including video recordings and video streaming. The following is in line with the ASA Swimming policy for photographing swimmers.
Spencer Cobby Photography rigorously applies the “ASA Recommended Best Practice policy” to all photo shoots and digital content produced and displayed.
1. The publishing of a photograph of a swimmer under 18 either on a notice board or in a published article or Spencer Cobby photography website or video recording (including video streaming) of swimming competitions (‘Publication’) should only be done with the parents consent and in
line with ASA guidelines.
2. A parent or guardian has a right to refuse to have children photographed. The exercise of this right of refusal should not be used as grounds for refusing entry into a swimming competitions or swimming lessons. Therefore any photo that may go to press or on a noticeboard, be it through a member of the club or official photographer, should have received parental consent before publishing/displaying the photo, preferably in writing.
3. Under ASA guidance on the taking of photos, once a parent has signed the Swim Schools Photography Book Register we are happy
for them to take photos in the belief that their swimmer is the main subject of the photo. However, another person can
object to a parent/carer taking a photo if they believe their child, not the child of the photographer to be the main subject
of the photo.
4. In the case of open meets and other competitions where the host club or school has an official photographer present, all parents
attending should be made aware of this in the meet details. If photos are to be published anywhere, the individual parent
should be given the opportunity to with hold their consent. Their right to do so should be specifically drawn to their
attention.
5. Published photographs may identify the swimmer by name and swim school but should not state the swimmers place of residence
or school attended.
6. It is recommended that individualised photographs should not be kept on a club’s website and certainly not with
identifying names as this could lead to a child being approached and placed in a vulnerable position.
7. The videoing of children during club sessions is not recommended. Any videos that are taken would have to be justified as
to why this video has been made, (e.g. to assist in stroke development). After videoing, unless it can be justified as to why
the video is to be kept, the video should be destroyed once it has served its purpose.
The ASA guidelines for publication are as follows. All photographs must observe generally accepted standards of decency in
particular:
- Action shots should be a celebration of the sporting activity and not a sexualised image in a sporting context.
- Action shots should not be taken or retained where the photograph reveals a torn or displaced swimming costume.
- Poolside shots of children should normally be above the waist only in a swimming costume, though full length tracksuit
- shots are approved.
- Photographs should not be taken from behind the starting blocks at the start of a race or exhibit young swimmers climbing
out of the swimming pool.
For futher information please see the current ASA-Photography-and-Photographing-Swimmers-Policy