Would you let a photographer use a photo of your child for advertising?

My daughter was photographed during the annual christmas figure skating show and the photographer called us a week later asking to use one of the photos of her in his advertising. We think she's beautiful, and have been approached before to have her photo taken, but really concerned with modeling? Would you let your child model if you were asked?

I think some people are paranoid. We let our daughter be photographed and her picture was used in a nursing recruitment ad for Children's Hospital for over a year. We did not ask for compensation as we were just "supporting the cause." This is NOT the image that ran, but the photographer gave us this as a thank you for letting Sarah model for the ad. http://www.flickr.com/photos/samfeinstei...

As far as letting a photographer use her image, that's up to you. My wife's graduation picture was in the window of the studio where our senior pictures were taken for the whole summer. It was hand-colored and used as a sample for what could be done for a fee. After the summer passed, he gave her family the portrait as a thank you.

If you are in a small town and not afraid of some perverse use of her picture (and why would you be?), then go ahead and enjoy the notoriety and exposure. Maybe it will be a one time thing, but maybe it will lead to a little income in the future.

If the photographer is a pro, he/she will have a model release for you to sign. You can read the release and be sure that you are comfortable with any terms and conditions.

This could be the start of something good. Report It

I was a model as a child and my mom allowed me to do it as long as it didnt affect my self esteem and when i was uncomfortable with it we stopped or chose not to go to a shoot. Just talk it over with your daughter and see what the best solution is.

Make sure you sign a model release form, so you will know that the pictures wont be use inappropriately.
If she is beautiful why not?

Merry Xmasssssssss

It is nothing wrong in doing that. Just pay attention to what will be advertised and in what form. Also - for how long.
Try to make a written agreement with this photographer that would ensure the use of the photo only in the specific purpose you agreed on. And if he is gonna use it and have a financial profit - you can ask for remuneration also.

As long as you are compensated and it is not used in controversial promotions. You can specify all this on your model release.

I would conult a lawyer 1st, if you are that concerned

Which do you mean... your child appearing in the photographer's self-promotion, or your child as a professional model?

They're entirely different questions.

The way you have described the situaton, the photo has already been taken. There is no modelling involved. If he is a pro and if he arranges things the way most of us do, he has the right to use the photos for self promotion as a contract matter with whoever commissioned the shoot. What it sounds like he is doing is also what most of us do, asking permission as a matter of good form and good business.

If he is not a pro yet, or is just starting out and needs to build a portfolio and there is no contract because he shot it for personal reasons (like practice shooting those types of situations), whether he can use the photograph or not will depend on the nature of the show. Ask him for a model release specifying what the allowed uses of the photograph are and any other conditions that seem applicable and appropriate.

It sounds like you are concerned with getting you daughter into modelling. That really isn't a photography question, it's a parenting question. You will need to look into modelling as something ongoing, learn what's involved at what level and make your decision from there. There is a lot to consider.

Letting your daughter pose for a photographer who thinks he can get a good image of her and asks to take her picture isn't the same thing. If the photographer is legitimate, something you will have to look into, then, if you feel comfortable with that, work out an arrangement under contract that is satisfactory to all concerned. Almost all of the time, the arrangement will be for pictures of you daughter in return for your permission to photograph her.