Photo and media release: know what you're allowing
Schools, sports clubs and camps ask permission before they share photos or videos of your child. The form is short, but it decides where your child's picture can appear. Read the options, choose what you're comfortable with, then sign it here.
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Questions worth asking
Names with photos?
Some forms allow the child's full name next to a photo. You can ask for first name only or none.
Public or private?
A private parent app is different from a public Instagram page.
How long?
Check whether the permission lasts one school year or until you withdraw it.
Signing a media release
Two minutes, one decision.
Read each option
Newsletter, website, social media, local press — they're often listed separately.
Tick what you allow
Only tick the uses you're happy with.
Sign and return
Sign, date and send the form back to the school.
What a media release covers
It gives the school or club permission to take and use photos, video or recordings of your child — for example in newsletters, yearbooks, the website, social media or local newspapers. It can also cover the child's name and their schoolwork.
Saying no, or saying yes to some things
In most schools signing is optional, and saying no shouldn't affect your child's participation. Many forms list each use separately; if yours doesn't, you can add a note such as “yearbook only” before signing, or ask the school for the options.
Families with safety concerns — for example a custody or protection order — should tell the school directly, not just through the form.
Changing your mind
You can usually withdraw permission later by writing to the school. It stops new uses, though photos already printed or shared can be hard to take back.
Media release questions
- Do I have to sign it?
- Usually not. Ask the school what happens if you don't — in most cases your child's photo just isn't used.
- Does it cover photos other parents take?
- No. It covers the school's own use. Photos parents take at events are a separate matter the school may set rules for.
- Can I sign for my child's sports club too?
- Yes — open the club's PDF here and sign it the same way.
- What does it cost?
- Free to try. Downloading your signed PDF costs €2.99 a month or €24.99 a year, and you can cancel anytime.