I started this blog three and a half years ago. With a certain amount of naivety it must be said.
If I took a picture of a child that wasn’t mine that I wanted to blog then I asked the mother, father or whoever was looking after the child at the time if it was ok to blog the picture. I can’t think of an instance where anyone refused. I’m not sure if it makes a difference or not, but it was mostly mothers I had contact with.
It seems, however, that that wasn’t enough. I’ve posted some pictures of a couple of children where I had permission from the mother to post. The father, however, has recently informed me that he is not happy for the pictures to be on my blog.
I understand his point of view. I didn’t ask his permission and they are his children too. Lesson learnt. From now on you will only see pictures of me and mine, or children where I have permission from both parents. Probably in writing.
While understanding his point of view, however, I can’t say that I’m not upset about it. This is my blog. I’m careful about what and who I post on it. If you know us personally then of course we’re identifiable and so are our friends whose pictures I put up. If you know us personally though, why would I worry?
I’ve put a lot of time and effort into this little blog and am quietly proud of it. It’s been three and a half years in the making and it charts our history in, I think, a charming way. To have someone ask me to take pictures down feels to me like a criticism of my judgement.
Anyway, that is neither here not there, so as you wander around my space you’ll see some pictures with children blanked out. I won’t take pictures off (unless they feature only a particular child) and I won’t re-write our history. I’ve also taken off links to another blog that I know features pictures of the children.
I just hope that’s good enough, (given that legal action has been mentioned).
Personally, I don’t see why YOU need to get permission from both parents. As far as you were concerned the mother was acting as spokesperson for the whole family, they shoud have got the husband/partner’s permission if she thought it was necessary. You wouldn’t get the signature of every member of a company on a contract.
As for legal action…you serious? Don’t worry about it hun. You’ve done nothing wrong. Probably an issue between the two of them.
M2M
What an arsehole. Sounds like a right bully given that his wife clearly can’t be allowed to give permission for such an innocuous little thing.
Of course, legally speaking, if the children are in a public place then anyone with a camera is perfectly entitled to photograph them and publish them anywhere they damn well like. In this instance you took the photos and you own the copyright and you only need a model release if you want to sell an image of someone to be used to endorse something – anything that would imply they support something or hold an opinion on something. So yeah, threaten away…. twat.
I’ve only just discovered your blog, Barbara, and it’s a beautiful gift for your children. They will love to look back on it as they grow up. Sounds like it’s been a crap week, but just remember that it’s all been worth it… Lovely, lovely, lovely. J xx
Ugh. Bad situation all around. Love to you.
UGH.
And *hugs*.
And love.
xxx
Insensitive idiot. Him, that is. I understand that people get antsy about this sort of thing but you’d already cleared this! Obviously someone working out some major issues…
It does sound like something he should be sorting out with his wife, but either way, he does have every right to enforce what he feels is right for his children.
The people calling him names should cop themselves on a little bit.