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Photography Policy

Last edited: Fri 28 Aug 2020

QO and British Orienteering are keen to promote the sport of orienteering and support parents and guardians in celebrating and publicising their children’s achievements. We appreciate the direct and indirect risks to children and young people if images are not used correctly.

QO adheres to the BOF policy on the taking of photographs at events. This provides a sensible balance between the benefits and risks associated with the taking and use of images. If you are unsure about acceptable practice, please speak to the event organiser.

Full details of BOF policy may be found on their website in the policy document “Safeguarding, Image Taking and the Use of Images” from which the following are the salient features:

  • There will be a standard statement on the website for all events at the foot of the page stating “QO has an agreed policy on the taking of photographs at events, based on national guidance. This provides a sensible balance between the benefits and risks associated with the taking and use of images. If you are unsure about acceptable practice, please speak to the event organiser.
  • If, for any reason, as a parent or carer of a junior member of the club you do not want your child being photographed at club events, and therefore potentially appearing on the QO website or Facebook page, please inform the club membership secretary/chairman. Individuals may also request that images are erased.
  • Standard practice is not to give the full name of people who appear in photographs, unless there is some special reason and agreement to do so, such as a trophy winner. Club photographs use images which promote the best aspects of orienteering, focus on the activity rather than the individual, avoid images showing the full face and body of a child and avoid images which could be prone to misuse.
  • Individuals taking photographs on behalf of QO do not personally store the images taken.
  • We will exercise judgement and follow the above guidelines when uploading photographs of individuals onto the website as these obviously then enter the public domain.
  • Event officials (via the Organiser) will keep an eye out for anyone taking photographs. Where necessary, they should gain re-assurance they are acting appropriately. If anyone is not acting appropriately, at that point the event organiser can warn them that we may need to follow it up and may also need to refer their behaviour to the police.

Although - following BOF guidelines - the onus is on the individual to “opt out” of photographs being used it is sensible and polite practice for our photographers to regularly check with parents at events that they are happy with photographs of their children being used by QO.

See also our Safeguarding Policy.