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BetterPhoto Member		Daycare Portraits I was just offered a HUGE job. My friend is the director of a daycare in town, it is a daycare chain. They have asked me to do portraits for three of the chains. That's around 100 kids ranging in age from 6 months - 5 years old. AHHH! I'm freaking out! This is huge for me. Anyway, I'm putting together some packages for them but I was curious if any of you, who have done daycares before, ask the parents to sign model releases or present them with a form stating your policies? Or do you waive these things due to the sheer number of subjects? Most of the parents probably won't be there for the actual portrait sessions, but some of them may very well take some time off work and show up. I'm putting together a #9 envelope that will serve as payment collection and order form all in one (like they used to do when I was in school). I was also going to have the daycare send home, with the order envelope, a brochure. The brochure is an adaptation of the Portrait Party brochure but geared towards the daycare and not a party. Any suggestions on how to handle kids who miss the session because they are sick or don't attend the daycare on that day? My friend also mentioned a package of some kind for parents who want "sibling" portraits, any ideas there? Any other suggestions or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. We're looking at the beginning of October for these sessions. I know, that's not very far away! They didn't give me much time. I'm all paniky now! Anyway, thanks so much! To love this question, log in above September 20, 2006

Mark Feldstein		Steady Tammy, it sounds like your glue is melting. Yes, you should have the parents approval of allowing their kids to be photographed AND model release language built-in to the same letter, signed and delivered to you BEFORE you start shooting. And remember, if the daycare people intend to publish any of those photographs for publicity or advertising purposes and you know that now, you need to tell the parents that in advance because then the nature of the work changes from portraiture to advertising/marketing use and that entitles the parents to compensation on behalf of the kids. As to the logistics, I leave those up to you and it sounds like you've got plenty of homework to do, especially along the lines of the "Portrait Porta-party." ;>) Errrrr, so-to-speak. Good luck. Latah. Mark To love this comment, log in above September 20, 2006

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