Do you ask kids/parents to take photos?

So for now I have illustrations drawn in marker of all the designs I can do, but I'd like some good photos. I don't really know many kids to practice on and only have my husband and dog in the house here with me, haha, which won't showcase things too well. So I'm wondering, when you do events, is it ever ok to ask the kids/parents if it's ok to snap a photo of them to display on your website? Or does that come off as weird and creepy? I'm worried that if I ask them to sign a release form it'll scare people...

What have you guys done?

If the parent is not otherwise occupied I ask if I can take a photo. No one has said "no" yet. If the parent is busy, I just take the photo. I use them in my menu book if they are good. So far no one has had a complaint about it and some repeat customers are thrilled to see themselves as "models". If anyone ever does complain, I'll just take their pic out of the book and hand it to them.

There are people who use a release form. I have never done that. Not to say that I shouldn't. I usually just say, "Do you mind if I take a picture?" In the past five years I have never been told no. I know there are people who guard their childrens pictures from the internet, but I haven't met one. I figure at worst they ask me to remove it and I would do so.

Oops, I think we typed pretty much the same thing at the same time...

Agree! I just ask and snap a photo to use. It hasn't been a problem at all. I post almost all the photos on my restaurant fb page and tell the parents/kids to check them out.

I sometimes take pics of kids at events, but I'm usually too busy for that. Most of my pictures are of me, my husband, my kids, my nieces... there are a few of other kids, but not many. I do ask parents to email me pictures from events and parties to share on my facebook page and website. If they've sent me the pictures, that is permission enough in writing.

debranewmanart wrote:If the parent is not otherwise occupied I ask if I can take a photo. No one has said "no" yet. If the parent is busy, I just take the photo. I use them in my menu book if they are good. So far no one has had a complaint about it and some repeat customers are thrilled to see themselves as "models". If anyone ever does complain, I'll just take their pic out of the book and hand it to them.

I'm pretty much the same

I used to have the hardest time getting pictures. My daughter likes to be painted, but she won't go for certain designs, and she's young so some designs take too long for her to sit through. I had such headaches with getting enough pictures... until i added a CD to the birthday party contract (mailed out 3 days post event) this year.

As soon as the kid is painted, I take 2-3 pictures using my digital camera. When I go home, I clean up the images slightly (usually just remove red eye) and burn a copy of each child's picture onto a CD. I then mail out one copy to the client labelled "Taylor's Tenth Birthday" or whatnot.

I have a clause in the contract saying that any photos taking by Tamariel Paints can be used for our advertising purposes, but that we never disclose the name and location of the child/adult pictured.

Additionally, I've found that most of my birthday events are either outside, or in a nice sunny location and I get great photos.

I've gotten good feedback from the mom's that they love that someone got pictures of the kids, and that it makes a good 'thank-you note' for gift givers. Some mom's immediately post the pictures to their Facebook page, and I've gotten follow up gigs from the original client's friends (which is better than when I put things on my page. When I post the pictures, my fans see them, but my fans already know I'm a face painter. When the mom posts, her friends see and ask about the face painting. Also, I've found that many parents won't tag themselves or their children when they see them online in my album, but they will if they put it online in their own album.

I have a photo release and a camera on a tripod with remote. It takes no time at all to say "SMILE" and push the button the the remote. I don't even have to reach for the camera or get out of my chair.

I'm to busy to even think to carry my camera to an event. Most of the time, I just ask the parents to tag me on Facebook Plus it's free advertising when they post a pic of my work on their facebook Sometimes, it turns into another future gig from one of their facebook friends

Great idea Melody, have you ever had the camera knocked over?

Creative Lady, no I haven't. I set it up right behind me so it points right at the kid. The only one who could knock it over would be me.

MelodyFPL wrote:I have a photo release and a camera on a tripod with remote. It takes no time at all to say "SMILE" and push the button the the remote. I don't even have to reach for the camera or get out of my chair.

This is such a fantastic idea. My boyfriend and I just got a beautiful fancy DSLR and I never want to bring it to parties because I'd be touching it with icky face painting hands! But the tripod and remote would be perfect! I think that will be my next investment!

Great ideas! I like the idea of including a CD and putting a clause into the contract. A tripod is great, too, but I need a good camera first, haha! Maybe Christmas...