What You Need to Know About a Piano Lesson Photo Release (&Video)

What you need to know about your piano lesson photo release (and video release) | composecreate.com

If you take pictures or videos in your studio and plan to include them in publications or on the internet, it is imperative that you inform parent of this and get their consent in a piano lesson photo release. Every policy should include some kind of statement that includes all of the uses of a student’s name or photo that you may use in a public setting. Here is an example of a piano lesson photo release statement as a part of a policy:

Pictures and videos of my students may be posted on my studio website or included in studio publications with no names attached.

The “with no names attached” is a commitment you can make with your families to help them feel more comfortable with the posting of their child’s pictures. However, if you will be posting names (student of the month, schedules with last names especially, etc.), then you will need to take this phrase out and be aware that you may have fewer parents willing to sign your agreement. [I allow parents to cross out this entire paragraph if they choose not to allow this. Scroll down to see why.]

Why won’t some parents sign a piano lesson photo release?

What you need to know about your piano lesson photo release. | composecreate.comPrivacy is important to most everyone, and especially important to our most vulnerable: children. Besides the general protection that some parents may want to give their children, some families may have an even more compelling reason for not wanting their children’s pictures or names anywhere on the internet. If you are accustomed to sharing your own children’s pictures on social media, then this may seem over-protective. But here are just a few important reasons that parents might want to keep their children’s photos and names private:

  • Adopted children may need anonymity and need their location protected.
  • Foster children are especially vulnerable and their identity, photos, and location sensitive information may need to be protected.
  • Many parents simply want to protect their precious children from unnecessary exposure and at worst, internet predators.

While most of our students will not have these issues, it is not our place as piano teachers to judge whether parents are being over-protective or permissive in their handling of their children’s privacy. The most important thing we do is teach piano to the student from whatever family they come. Whether or not we are able to post all of our students’ pictures on our website or their videos on our YouTube channel should not be a deal-breaker.

What about allowing parents to “opt-out” of a piano lessons photo release?

Options for a piano lesson photo release form | composecreate.comThis is actually the best and most considerate option you can give your families. Instead of placing a blanket statement in your policy about what you plan to do with photos and videos, asking them to indicate yes or no regarding the use of pictures and videos is much more considerate of their parental responsibility. This is how many schools and child-care programs handle this issue. It truly gives the parents a choice in an area that should be their choice!

On your registration form, you can include the following:

I give permission for you to use:
__ A photo or video of my child with no names attached
__ A photo or video of my child with names attached
__ Only group photos with no names attached
__ None of the above

So how do you handle those that opt out when taking group pictures?

In the example above, you can see that the third option allows parents to indicate that they would allow a group photo (like a recital photo), so many times this takes care of that issue. However, especially if you have adopted children or at-risk children and the parents are adamant about no pictures, you will need to discuss this with those parents and ask if they will talk to their children about the after-recital-picture that you want to take but will need to take with (for your own reminiscing) and then without them (to be able to post this). Perhaps they will give you alternative ideas about how to approach this without making the kids feel left out. Keep an open mind, but in the end, if there are no other options that they can give you, taking the picture without them or not taking it at all are your options.

Summary: Here’s your plan for an effective piano lesson photo release

  1. If you have a website or want to post any pictures to social media, decide that you are indeed going to have a piano lesson photo release.
  2. Decide how you are going to use the pictures and videos.
  3. Decide if you want to state your intentions as a blanket statement in your policy (easier) or as an opt-in or opt-out (more considerate) in your registration form.
  4. After families sign your yearly agreement to terms, make a list of all your families and what each family has chosen. You will need this to reference if you want to post pictures or take pictures at your recital.
  5. When you get annoyed, just remember that parents have a tough job and they are just trying to protect the privacy of their children. In the end, our job is to teach piano, so don’t let their decisions about this stress you out!

What do you think or what do you do? I’d love to hear! Don’t forget to download your FREE Complete Piano Policy Guide to make sure you’ve covered all the bases!

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19 thoughts on “What You Need to Know About a Piano Lesson Photo Release (&Video)”

  1. I wonder if some parents might be OK if their child was Photo shopped out somehow in the group photo, much like the news covers up portions of photos that may be disturbing. Not the most aesthetically pleasing, but another possibility.

  2. My sister and I have done the photoshopping thing before, and it has worked pretty well. We have found that if we discuss it with the parents ahead of time, and the parents instruct their child to go to the end of a row for the photo, it is easiest to photoshop them out. This way, the student does not have to feel singled out by not going up for the photo. Also, this way the parents and teacher may have a copy of the photo that includes all the students for a memento. But we agree wholeheartedly that this is absolutely the parent’s choice, and even if it makes things less convenient for us, it’s well worth it to find a solution that makes the parents completely comfortable. If a parent wants to be 100% sure that their child is not in the photo, then we simply tell the student (ahead of time, so as not to call attention to it at the event) they may go back and sit with their parents in the audience while we take the group photo. Thank you Wendy for all your wonderful ideas and advice!

  3. In my policy letter I ask permission and give assurance that I will never post their full name. They may respond by initialing one of three options: 1) yes; 2) no; 3) on a case-by-case basis. In my studio the (few) parents who choose “case-by-case” or even “no” are often new families to my studio and by the end of the year when we make the “year-in-review” video are willing to change their mind. I have not yet come across any parent who outright refuses to allow pictures (though, as you mentioned, there are valid reasons for doing so which I would unquestionably respect if it came up).

  4. I also have some families with a parent working in law enforcement, who cannot have public photos of themselves or their children.

  5. That’s a great point, Nancy! Another example of good reasons that parents wouldn’t want their child’s picture on the internet. Thanks for commenting!

  6. My families don’t “sign” their contract – they just accept my policies by enrolling online. How would approach the photo release in my case? Give them the option to contact me if they have concerns about the photo release portion of the policy?

  7. Great question, Debra!

    In your case, I’d simply put in your policy online exactly what you would prefer the photo release to be. Then any families who have a concern can just talk to you about it. Most will not have a concern, but if they do, they usually will say something.

  8. Any ideas of how to handle a student who cannot legally have any pictures posted, but the family has so far shielded her from knowing that? I would like to take a studio picture at the next recital, without making the child feel excluded??

  9. Hi Vanessa!

    That’s a great question and a very interesting and tough dilemma. I don’t have any special insight, but here’s what comes to mind first: I think it’s absolutely necessary to have a conversation with the family about it telling them that you could take a picture with the entire studio and then blur out her face out, but there’s a risk of her seeing that if she sees your website or social media and you have it posted. You could also take pictures of smaller groups of students and then only post the ones without the student. Either way though, I think you need to have a conversation about it with the parents. Maybe they can tell you more about their situation and maybe they have a solution as well!

    Obviously, I’m not giving you any legal advice, but I think that conversation with the parents, asking them to brainstorm with you, might bring more insight into the situation.

  10. Karen S Bree, NCTM

    Thank you for this article, Wendy! It’s very timely for me, as I’ve just taken over the role of web manager for our MTNA state-affiliated website, and am trying to clarify our policy. I’m sending a link to this article to our president. You once again have provided just what I needed!

  11. I have the full 4 options on my photo release because I have several friends with foster kids and they need to know I care as much about protecting their kids as they do. For group photos, I ALWAYS include them, but use a cute smiley emoticon over their face so their still included and protected!

  12. I do have a statement in my policy that parents sign, however I always text the latest video or photo I plan to post to the parent for their approval. It also keeps them involved as they view it.

    This is an excellent and much needed post, Wendy. Videos & Photos have become the norm for special piano moments and we all need to be educated in order to protect the child and ourselves. Thank you! Speaking of permission… …may I have your permission to share this post with our MTNA state’s facebook page? 😀

  13. Yay! I’m so glad to hear that it is just what you needed, Karen. Thanks for sending the link to your colleagues!

  14. That’s a great idea, Kara! That way, no one feels left out. Another option is to significantly blur the child’s face. I’ve had places do that for me. Thanks for sharing the idea!

  15. Hi Paula,

    That’s lovely that you allow parents to approve any picture that you post and a great way to keep them in the loop if you don’t mind the extra step!

    I’m so glad you found the article to be helpful. YES! You are always welcome to share a link to any blog article and a comment about it on your MTNA state’s facebook page! Feel free. I’m here to help and sending them to my site to read the article is always helpful to me. Thanks so much!

  16. Louise Yvonne Frye

    Hi Wendy, I really appreciate you sharing all of this important information for teachers. We really need to be sensitive to how parents feel about exposing their children to the internet, and also the medical emergency information is a great idea, something that is most often overlooked.
    Thank You

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