Anthony Mazur is a High School student in Texas who recently discovered his love for sports photography. He shoots for the schools yearbook, travels to games on his own dime and shares the photos on his personal flickr account. Or should I say “shared” the photos on his flcikr account.
Recently Anthony was called down the principals office where an administrator had his flickr page pulled up on the computer. He told Anthony he had to take the photos down and if he didn’t he would face an In School Suspension. Last night I had the chance to skype with Anthony at his home in Texas to get the full details of the story. Check that out above as well as my commentary on the entire situation.
Anthony has started an online movement called #IamAnthony to bring awareness to his situation. Please show your support any way possible by spreading the word to bring light to this situation.
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Ridiculous….
so he used school camera in school event and laiter want to sell photos?
For anyone whose curious, he finally got the rights to the pics and the school promised not to make any students sign a contract, good job Anthony!
http://www.splc.org/article/2018/03/anthony-mazur-lawsuit
This is the kind of shooting they should encourage at U.S high schools!
Talk about a nation of morons.
He reminds me of a younger version of Tony Northrup.
You need permission from the event holder…yearbook or newspapers are granted permission and a photographer is given access..all photos are not his, even said equipment is not his…just get proper credentials and permission upfront and all will be good
I work at a high school and use my own equipment to take photos of various school events. I only ever give access to the pictures to the students in them and give a copy of all of them to the school. I'm exceptionally careful about it. If I wanted to use an image of a student for anything or post one anywhere, I'd most definitely get their permission if they're in high school or their parent's if they're in junior high school. I live in Japan and don't actually know the laws around photography here but that's how I'd want someone who took a photo of my kid to behave. As for Anthony, the school's approached it the wrong way entirely but I think he should have confirmed with someone in the school's faculty so he had someone to cover him just in case.
This is actually a joke! I had something very similar in college but it was not photography related. What I see the problem being here is that the Anthony is using the schools equipment, making a few bucks, and the school not getting a kick back. It’s actually disturbing that a a school would hold back a student from taking initiative and being an entrepreneur. Jared said it the best the school is a being a bully! I wish this young photographer all the best and I hope to read more about this in the future.
Threaten with the IRS? Lol… Okay he is a minor for one and 2 what's he making a few hundred bucks a year… I can see the side where he is being directed by the school with school equipment to take the photos for events in a yearbook as being proprietary to the school. So I would get my own gear quit the yearbook or school paper and still go to these public events shoot the shit out of them and sell them. The school would not have a leg to stand on and if they threatened again I would have a lawyer slap them with an embarrassing lawsuit with media attention.
I know this is an older video, but I will say that when I went to college for film and video production, they were extremely specific that we could not do anything for profit if using their video equipment because they were publicly funded. It was actually a huge, huge deal. I'm not sure if the same situation would apply in this case or if laws vary by state not.
an adult needs to go into the pricipals office and close the door. What a pussy
Get a life ,
Never forget that public school is one plank from Marx's Communist Manifesto. 🙂
Wonder if there is a contracted photographer like life touch there pushing the issue and offering school kick back on sales…. seems petty to attack this young man over a few bucks unlesz there are bigger bucks at risk here…
If canon hired you to take photos for their upcoming 5d mark v and you end up selling the photos yourself, is that okay? Same situation with the school!
They say – "We're going to put this in your school record."
You respond – "Please let me know when you do so my parents have a written record of your actions… and the resulting damages of your actions."
You will find in life government workers (govvies) will try to influence their environment with everything short of actually writing something down and being accountable for the result. Actions have consequences. Smart govvies know this… dumb ones don't. I'd call their bluff.
@Jared Hi, I know this is an old video (2015) that I'm commenting on (2017); but, may I offer some thoughts?
Here's the big nasty secret of schools and pictures: yearbook pictures is a huge profit. Photo companies are BRIBING (yes, I used "BRIBE" and that's not exaggerating) schools admins for these contracts. Yearly bribes are common to maintain these relationships. Anthony is competition for the studios and these studios just made a call to the school admin to put a stop to Anthony.
I had the pleasure of working for a company in Ohio that does this. I was a shooter, not on the front end (business or sales side). I got a huge education on this very practice from a local published (Amherst Media) photographer with +30yr experience in Northern Ohio.
Jared, if you want more info about how school photography business work, let me know. I can get you in touch with the photographer who gave me the insight.
My other observations:
1, "Work for HIRE"… this is where the School has grounds ONLY if they had this policy in place a head of time. It's not uncommon for employer or contractor to own your creative work IF….IF that was the agreement everyone enter into. See "Sanrio, Hello Kitty". Using school resources….that has strong merit (but, again….IF THIS WAS a policy in place long before Anthony was born.)
2, Hypocrisy and inconsistency of the school: Jared already stated the points
The school eroded their own "Standing" on the matter.
3, It's Texas, what do you expect? Their school system, their anti-science voters & parents are full of crap. Texas is the ONLY state that cry and whine like babies to get Evolution removed from textbooks. Textbooks companies edit science books to appease the cry babies of Texas and the remaining 49 states get the result.
Stop. Lawyer time.
Schools been doing this type of stuff for years. They don't want you to profit off of their so called "property"
A talent release form would've prevented this from happening
Weak! Just watched the whole video. Looked it up online, and there is no follow up and/or no resolution. Feel like I just wasted 20 minutes
Photos should be sold or published with permission!!
Got shot down for the same reason only difference is our district has contractors that profit off it
School is for not only learning but growing. Photography is more than just taking photos, it involves a possible future in photography as a profession where you make a living. That too is part of learning and growing as a photographer and an entrepreneur. When I was in High School, the photos I took, I entered into a number of contests under my name. Copyright laws more than likely would apply to the actual photographer of a photo and not a school.
However when a student is on an assignment from an instructor for a school job, technically that assignment for school could be considered in a court of law as all school property considering photographs. Other than that, the photo would be the students only.
I find it funny, how a school of learning is not allowing a student to be an entrepreneur.
Respectfully, Mr. Polin, I disagree with you here. The difference between this young man and a newspaper is that newspapers are covered by the first amendment. As news outlets, they've got the right to shoot public events and post images online for news purposes.
With this young man, everything hinges on what sort of agreement he may or may not have signed with the school. He doesn't necessarily own the rights to his image did he's shooting for the school, depending on what type of contractual agreement he or his parents may have signed.
The privacy argument does fall flat, as these are public events that he's shooting. But the school may in fact have a right to stop him from profiting from his pictures. Again, it depends on what type of agreement he had with the school, which wasn't covered in this interview.
News photographers often don't own their own images either. They typically belong to the paper they work for if they're on staff. It all depends on what contract he has.
what a load of crap ! Sue the School for harassment!! Then Buy yourself new camera gear with the profits!
Shooting pictures with a camera that is owned by the school at school functions for the school yearbook and then selling the pictures for profit is bad form (even if it's not against policy). I'd go get a camera not owned by the school and then they really have no control over what you do.
You have nothing to loose but your chains!
stuff is just nuts, when I was in school they were still being like that to kids. It is a shame that kids are not treated as people by schools. Great interview/video.
THE SCHOOL IS HAS A POINT . HE HAS NOTHING IN WRITING .. BUT IT IS NOT
FAIR. THE STUDENTS SHOULD GET THE RULES ON PAPER SO THERE
IS NO MISTAKE THEN THEY CAN STICK IT IN THE THERE FASE
Technically, it's true. He is kinda working for his school so his school has the copyright to the images. But then again, it's his school and not a firm or whatever, should be a little flexible to their students I think.
damn disgrace
You go Anthony! Don't be intimidated by these fools. You are not "work for hire" and the principal is clueless! If they threaten transcript blackmail, then fine, tell them that is what attorneys are for. Holding these fool's feet to the fire, if you truly want photography as a profession, will do way more for a budding career then any transcript blackmail.
The fact that the school promotes the picture taking and puts them up on their website themselves and then threatens you! There are attorneys that would jump on that so quick it would make your head's spin. Talk about prima facia case. Could you imagine the cost to the school district's attorneys to defend that pile of shit. They would settle in a heart beat, including leaving your transcripts alone.
Good luck Anthony!!!!!!
So, I read most of the comments. One thing I didn't see mentioned… Or I think is potentially the "issue" for the school. Is that Anthony is part of the "yearbook"… So when he is walking the halls with a camera (either the school or his own), students natural assumption is that he is shooting for the School Yearbook….not to be posted online. If there was some random kid walking around taking pics of students….the students might not want pics taken of them, without knowing what it was for…They might even think he was a creepo…BUT since he is in the "Yearbook", students may have believed "Hey, take a pic of me…I want to be in the Yearbook…)…BUT NOT online….Point is, perhaps some students complained to the school… because they felt misled… because they only posed (or allowed a pic to be taken) because they want to be in the Yearbook…hopefully that makes sense…
This is a double edge sword. Usually the school will have the photographer (in this case a student Photographer) sign some kind of agreement with the school when doing this for the school. Such as using school equipment or boundaries/guidelines as to what is the considered school property. In many cases it is recognized that the subject is the owner of THEIR Image, While the photographer is the owner of the negative. The subject has the say so as to how their image is viewed and in some cases where it can be viewed, or the ability to be sold for profit. Many musician, Actors/Actress, and notable people have this agreement. In general if you are a photographer for a company (the school being this case) using their equipment for their school & yearbook, the school would have said rights to the photos and some kind of agreement would be signed. Good example I am a Freelance photo journalist using my own equipment, who shoots for an Ezine, I recently applied to photograph an event, for the E-zine. They get first rights to the photos and print, I am recognized as the owner and may use them for other things, but if I am shooting under their tag they have first access to them. The Event I wanted to cover stated during application for media access, that they get all rights raw files & rights to the photos. I could not use them without their permission or sell them for profit. They asked if I agreed. I said NO. (as I am requesting Media Coverage, the E-zine I shoot for has the right to the photos as I was requesting Media Coverage under their Name & Pass.) The agreement with the Ezine is that we are more than willing to share with the EVENT any photos felt to be of interest yet I was denied Media Coverage because I said NO. So if when the student signed into the class or Audiovisual Department there more than likely was some kind of release. Just as there is for any other Extracurricular Activity. With all the paperwork we sign as parents during start of school, it may have been overlooked possibly in the child's packet,& excitement. Re-evaluation may need to be taken. It isn't without saying that this student may not have had such agreement, but yet possible he did and was overlooked.
I am a high school student taking Photo 2. I take both sides here. I believe if I were to actually read through my handbook or whatever contracts/policies I have been issued it might say that I have no right to do what Anthony did. So what I do to prevent legal matters from arising, I have my own camera at hand in my locker, and photo release forms for both minors and adults. Let them say something to me.
If these administrative assholes think they can just ignore/deny their requests, I'd #lawyerup Sue the assholes for defamation of character, and emotional damage! 🙂
#IAmAnthony
Regardless of the grey area in the law here (I doubt think it's as clear as everyone here claims it is), I think being able to sell your prints is part of the learning process. He is in school and he is there to learn, so why extinguish the drive he has to learn the marketing side? Should have been used as a teaching moment instead. And honestly, how much money would this kid be making? It might pay for gas in his car, maybe the insurance, but it is hardly worth the school's resources to fight it. I'd even be ok with the school drawing up a contract asking for a small cut, because that's real life as well. But they really need to make things clear with their students. You can't just make up rules to fit the situation.
I think the problem here is that Anthony isn't on a list of "approved photographers". The school is trying to act like a professional or college sporting event, where these events have certain photographers to shoot the event. Many professional and college sporting events limit the type of cameras allowed at their events because of this. Is this right? I think not. However they do this on a regular basis. The school needs to get their story straight I think.
This is sad! Anthony is being bullied in this deal. I'm with you Jared, tin these days when kids are getting themselves into so many problems her's a kid who found his niche, is trying to make something out of himself yet the school wants to snuff out his fire. I hope that you are able to contact Mr Cuban on Anthony's behalf. I hope he get's a contract that allows him to roll in dough! Continue to stand up for yourself Anthony you are going places.
What this is all about is school officials
Worried that they won't get their kickback
From the studio that is shooting their yearbook and sports packages.
As long as he had access to the equipment without any conditions, and he wasn't being hired to shoot the yearbook with the school's intent to sell the yearbook then he has no problems. The school has no right to suspend him in any way they are "willynilliley" coming up with reasons he shouldn't do it for profit with no hard evidence. He owns the content maybe they realised they could make profit from what he is doing who knows. Whatever the reasons they have no right because there was no prior agreement or regulations. My advice? Keep doing your research, keep being responsible and cover yourself, keep selling your photos, then buy your own gear. Stick on that appeal process and keep up the good work bringing this to your nation's attention. As long as you are within reason you have no reason to fear what will go on your record. Just as fro said, you will see that your success in this matter will hold much higher value than anything on a record can show. Go forth with integrity, respect, and knowledge #IamAnthony
If a kid uses school supplies (brushes, paint, paper etc..) and is told to create or capture art onto paper and lets say it turned out wonderful … I'm sure the school would be proud to announce it.?? Now lets say that piece of artwork goes viral and people want to buy it…Does this mean he can't sell the artwork.?? And it has nothing to do with minors and all of that.. schools love the publicity with their sports etc.,, its all over the TV & News…
* No this is something different. This maybe personal for an unspoken reason..??
**I would be more concerned with what was said at the 3:50 min mark… well I mean my attorney would.
THE SCHOOL – If you are going to educate a kid (for the wrong reasons) on how tuff the world can be on his dreams, you had better hope you don't get educated on how tough lawsuits can be. Good luck Anthony.
This is pretty dissapointing to hear. As a high school photography teacher myself, I think the this school has missed a fantastic educational opportunity. I'm not sure if the legalities differ in Ontario Canada from those of Texas, however considering the state's gun laws this just seems ridiculous. If the school was concerned with the privacy issues of the students they could have produced a release waiver that Anthony could have used, though I'm not sure it's even necessary. School portrait photographers aren't required to have parents sign privacy waivers before shooting every kid in the school and claiming copyright of all of those images.
I personally supported a similarly ambitious student by paying him to shoot my wedding. I can't think of anything more positive you could do. I gave him real world job experience, photos for his portfolio, and money to help pay for gear. I don't know how anyone in the educational field would think it appropriate to stifle a students entrepreneurial endeavours in this fashion.
If the school were in the right, they wouldn't have needed to use the underhand tactics of bullying and threatening, says it all
If the principal can see this comment, FUCK YOU
If he didn't sign anything, and he isnt infringing on anyone's privacy, and if he used his own equipment. Then he OWNS his own photos. Its a public event, as long as he didn't sign any agreement saying that he cant sell it. And I'm pretty sure its national IRS law that states if you make under $200 a month, you dont have to file for taxes. Not to mention he's (Im assuming) underage for taxes. So all of that is bull. +Jared Polin
you need to top up your skype credits
Go talk to a lawyer. Keeping in mind that the Supreme Court has already said, in the past, that basically students have no rights.
I'm surprised that he doesn't have a line of lawyers lined up outside his door actually.