Photography and filming in sports and activities

Everyone should always be asked if they are happy to have their image taken or filmed. They can either give or decline consent at any time and their wishes should be honoured, regardless of previous consents.

Who needs to give consent?

If the child is under 16 years, consent must be obtained from a parent or carer before taking any photos or videos.

If the child is over 16 years, and they clearly understand what you are asking, then they may give their own consent. However, it’s good practice to inform parents that photographs or videos of their child may be used or shared. In most circumstances, parents have legal parental responsibility for their children up to the age of 18.

If a child is under 16 years and separated from their parents (for example if they are a looked after child) you should seek consent from someone who holds parental responsibility such as the child’s carer or the local authority.

It’s good practice to speak to carers and local authorities for looked after children aged 16-18 years as there may be complications or implications that the child does not want to disclose.

How to gain consent

Children, young people, their parents and carers should understand what they are consenting to before any images are taken. Make them aware of the following:

• that a photo or video is being taken
• what it is going to be used for, and how it may be used in future
• how long you will keep their photo or video for, the reason for keeping for this length of time and what happens once this period ends
• how you will store and process their image
• how the child or parent can withdraw consent if they change their mind, and how you respond to this request

Consent must be positively given with an awareness of the above, and this consent must be recorded.

It's also good practice to make sure children and parents are aware of the potential risks associated with sharing images and videos online. This includes the growing risk of genuine images being misused to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The IWF has released a parent guide to AI abuse, which you might find helpful to share. 

Revisit consent forms regularly, involve children and families in conversations and communicate how you are putting safeguards in place to protect their child's image online. 

Be clear that if a child’s photo or video has been used online or in printed publications it will be very difficult to recall it if consent is withdrawn.

Download our photography and video consent template form

What to do when consent is not given

If a child, young person, parent or carer does not give consent, you have a responsibility to put in place arrangements to ensure that their image isn’t taken. Whoever is photographing or filming (for example an official, colleague, parent, spectator, or photographer) should be able to easily identify which children should not be subject to any photography or filming.

Before taking any photos or videos, think about whether you should be doing so. Some people prefer not to have their photo or video taken and may not have given consent.

If you are following your policies and procedures, have established the purpose behind taking the photos or film and have gained consent, you should also consider:

• what device will be used and how it stores data
• who will be taking the photos or filming and what training they have had
• whether you have a robust contracts or agreements in place with commissioned photographers, videographers or marketing agencies
• whether members of the public will be in any public spaces
• if spectators or other participants, parents and carers will take photos or film

Which devices to use to take photos or videos

You should only use devices and equipment which belongs to your sport, club, activity or organisation. Avoid using any personal equipment to take photos and videos of children. The organisation device should be set up in line with your policies and procedures to safely store data.

Taking images or videos at sport events or activities

If you’re organising an event and activity and want to capture the action, consider the following for:

Large scale events or activities

It's not always practical or possible to get consent for every young person taking part. In these circumstances, organisers should make all participants, parents and carers aware that images will be taken, and what they will be used for, and give them the opportunity to give consent or opt out.

You can do this when people register for the event, you can add a line explaining it to tickets for the event, and should always publicise it with signs at the event itself.

Large events are more likely to use an official photographer or filming service. The organiser should make sure that these individuals follow your organisation's contracting process.

Open event or sites

If your event is taking place in public space, members of the public are entitled to take photos in public areas regardless of any organised events or activities which may be taking place. Organisers have no right to impose any restrictions on other members of the public accessing or using the same public spaces.

You may also accidently take photos which have members of the public in them, including children. Make sure you have event signs clearly displayed so everyone knows photography or filming is taking place.

Read our events held in public parks and spaces guidance.

Elite level events and competitions

These events are more likely to take place in a public arena and in some cases to have a public profile. Organisers must have the athletes, parent or carers' consent for images being taken and any information that will be published alongside them.

Ground rules for interviews, and for filming and photo sessions should be agreed with the athlete, parents or carers, and media representatives. Sports organisations should help to manage these issues as part of their overall support of elite athletes’ welfare.

For further information see our safeguarding talented and elite athlete guidance.

Who should take photos or videos for your sport or activity?

Only people authorised by your organisation, who have an appropriate reason for doing so and have received appropriate training, can take photos or videos. This could include a member of staff within your sport or activity.

Professional photographer or filming organisations

If you are considering using a professional photographer or filming service, you should set out the following as part of your contracting process:

• agree who is informing children and parents or carers
• seek consent from children and parents for taking and publishing films or photos
• issue the photographer with identification to be worn at all times
• provide a clear brief to the photographer about appropriate image content and their behaviour
• agree who will own the images, who will have access to them, how they will be accessed and for how long they’ll be retained and used for
• set out areas where no filming or photography should take place (toilets, changing areas, first aid areas)
• inform the photographer how to identify children who don't have consent
• don’t allow unsupervised or one-to-one access to children and young people

Parents, carers and spectators taking photos and videos

If parents, carers and spectators wish to take photos, videos or livestream, make sure you have a photography and filming policy statement which is shared before any events. This policy will outline your sport or activities rules around taking photos, videos or livestreams and help to prevent people from misusing or sharing images and videos without consent.

Using drones during sports events

Drones are increasingly common at large events, including those being used to take photos or film by the event organiser and those being flown by members of the public for fun. 

If you wish to use drones at your event, make sure you know what your legal duties are by visiting the Civil Aviation Authority website. 

If you see a drone flying at your event and you are concerned about it, follow the recommendations on the Civil Aviation Authority website.

Promote safe use photography and filming

Proactively promote guidance about those specific areas where photography is and is not permitted, such as toilets and changing rooms.

See our template photograph and filming policy and codes of conduct.

Before sharing any images, videos or livestreams of children and young people make sure you consider how widely images may be shared once they are in the public domain. Think about how long they will be available and the effect that this could have on the individual.

Generative AI means that genuine photos of children can be altered or manipulated and images shared online may be copied and used to create fake content, including inappropriate or sexually abusive imagery. This risk should be considered when deciding what images to share publicly.

Promoting your organisation

Choose images that show everyone taking part in your sport or activity in a positive light, as well as promoting the best aspects of your organisation.

This may mean:

• only use images of children in suitable dress or kit, including recommended safety wear such as shin pads or gum shields
• recognising that competition kit may look visually great, but their practice kit may be more appropriate for sharing online or publishing
• representing all children and young people who participate in your sport equally

Appropriate images

Look at your photos and film through a safeguarding lens. For example, what may appeal to a social media follower may not always be an appropriate or safe image to use. It’s important to:

• remove names of children and other sensitive personal data along with the images, unless it’s considered necessary such as for elite young athlete promotion
• provide clear guidelines as part of training for all staff which include, use of the images, consent, and retention, storage and confidentiality
• use images or footage that focus on the activity rather than the child
• avoid showing a full face and body of a child in activities that require minimal kit, such as gymnastics and swimming. Instead, you can show above the shoulders or submerged in water.
• avoid compromising or inappropriate angles that could be prone to misuse

You could also consider using models or illustrations and graphics if appropriate rather than young club or team members.

Sharing on social media and online

Think carefully before using any images showing children and young people online or on social media.

Consider why you want to use the image or video - once an image is shared online it has a digital footprint and can be difficult to recall and delete. 

Tagging young people in images and videos when posting an image of them on social media, could potentially put the individual as risk.

Advising parents and spectators on sharing photos and video

Consider asking parents, carers and spectators not to share any photos or videos on social media. Other people's children can be identified from these images, and they may not have consented to having their image taken or shared online. You can explain that sharing images could place some children and families at risk.

We have developed a video and posters for you to help parents understand the risks of sharing images online.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) also has more information. 

Surveillance cameras and CCTV

If your venue uses surveillance or CCTV, then everyone who uses the venue to take part in your sport or activity should be made aware of this.

NSPCC Learning’s has further guidance on CCTV on their photographing and filming children webpages.

What you need to know as a safeguarding lead or welfare officer in sport to reduce the risk of AI-generated child sexual abuse material, respond safely and support a child's safety and wellbeing.

AI and images of children in sport

Photos and videos help sports organisations celebrate children and promote their work. But once an image is online, someone can copy it, add details that identify the child, or change it using artificial intelligence (AI). AI tools can turn an ordinary photo into almost anything, from swapping your kits or altering results to a realistic nude or sexual image.

The image may be fake, but the harm is real.

Creating, possessing or sharing sexual images of children, including those created or altered by AI, is a criminal offence. People may also use them to bully, threaten, groom or control a child. 

AI can be used to change images in different ways. You may hear people call these images AI deepfakes, or deepfake images. When AI is used to create sexual content involving a child, we use the term AI-generated child sexual abuse material (AI-CSAM) because it reflects the abusive nature of the content.

Reduce the risk of children’s images being altered with AI

You cannot stop every possible misuse of images, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk.

1. Make your policies and procedures stronger

• Name a lead for image safety. This could be the safeguarding lead or another member of staff. Make it clear this person can be contacted when anyone in the club has a query regarding the use of images. This person should be suitably trained. 
• Know what happens to each image. Record who takes it, where copies are kept, who can see it, where it is shared and when it will be deleted. Delete images you no longer need. 
• Update your risk assessment. Be sure to cover AI changes, public social media accounts, livestreams, event photography, player profiles, image libraries, personal devices and outside access. 
• Update your online safety procedures and expectations. Say which devices and accounts people can use, what information can appear with an image, how children can opt out, how long images are kept and how to report a concern. 
• Control the use of AI tools. Staff, volunteers and suppliers must not upload children’s images to AI, face-editing, background-removal or image-enhancing tools unless your organisation has checked and approved the tool. Use our digital checking tool to help make decisions about this and read our guidance on responsible use of AI in youth sports. Use our AI safe use policy template.
• Put the rules in contracts with photographers. If using photographers or videographers, make sure they meet your rules and expectations. Do not allow them to use children’s images to train AI or create new images. They must report any loss or misuse straight away. 
• Train all staff and volunteers. Staff, volunteers, coaches, photographers and communications teams should practise how to respond, who to contact and when to call the police. 
• Make reporting easy. Give children and adults simple ways to raise a concern. Include out-of-hours contacts and explain when to tell the national governing body. The NSPCC Helpline can also be contacted for advice and support or the Internet Watch Foundation have a reporting form that can also be used. See below for what to do when you discover an image has been misused.
• Check and improve data protection. Review permissions, the legal reason for using images, account access, and incidents at least once a year and after a major change or concern. 

AI technology, safeguarding risks and legal frameworks continue to evolve. Review your policies and procedures regularly: at least every 12 months or after a major change in legislation, an incident or emerging risk. 

2. Be careful when taking and using photos of children 

• Check if you need the image. Before taking a photo or video, be clear about why you need it. Check whether you could use an image that makes the child harder to identify. It’s quite difficult to remove all traces of your sports club from images, but you can use action shots, backs of players or group photos that focus on the activity, where suitable. Illustrations or graphics could also be used. Avoid close-ups, poses that could be taken out of context or revealing clothing.
• Follow data protection law and ask permission. Tell children and their parents or carers what you will take, why you need it, where you will share it, who may see it and how long you will keep it. Always ask the child if they’re happy to be photographed, even if the parent has given permission. A child or parent agreeing to have their photo taken and used doesn’t mean they’ve agreed for that image to be changed or used with AI tools. Tell families, spectators, journalists and photographers what they can and cannot do at events. Have a private way to protect children who must not be photographed. 
• Share as little information as possible. Do not publish a full name, fixture location, club name, travel plans or training time with an image. It’s hard to remove all information but publish as little as possible. 
• Use approved systems. Do not keep images on personal phones, personal messaging apps or personal cloud storage. Only give access to people who need it. Remove access when their role ends. 

When it comes to editing photos that feature children, think about whether the changes are improving the picture or changing the child. Edits like adjusting lighting, colour or sharpness are generally lower risk because they improve image quality. But changing an image of a child is not low risk and organisations should avoid altering a child's appearance or using tools that create new content from the child's image. 

Before editing, make sure you understand what your software or app does by default and where the image is saved. 

If you discover an image has been misused

Act quickly and calmly. Children may feel embarrassed, anxious, scared or worried about who has seen the image and what might happen next. Alongside taking safeguarding action, provide reassurance and appropriate emotional support. Only share information with people who need to know. Put the child’s safety and wellbeing first.  

1. Keep the child safe. Call the police if the child is in immediate danger. Tell your safeguarding or welfare lead straight away. Reassure the child that this is not their fault. 
2. Do not make another copy. Do not download, save, print, forward or screenshot a suspected sexual image of a child. Do not put it in an email, case record, presentation or staff chat. This creates a “copy” and could be interpreted as production of the material, which is a criminal offence.
3. Write down safe details. Record who raised the concern, when they found it, the website or platform url address, the account name, and any threats or contact. Record any actions already taken.  
4. Protect possible evidence. Keep useful account logs, messages, publishing records and access details. Do not delete or change them before getting advice. Only let the people dealing with the incident see them. 
5. Report it. Report suspected online child sexual abuse material to the police and the Internet Watch Foundation. Report it to the website or platform on which it appears. Follow any reporting rules set by your governing body. 
6. Help the child ask for removal. Children and young people in the UK can use Childline’s Report Remove tool. Help the child to use it, but do not take over their account or make a copy of the content. 
7. Choose one person to lead the response. This person should keep in touch with the child and family, police, national governing body, data protection lead and communications team. Protect the child’s identity and avoid public statements where you can.  
8. Check whether the image came from your systems. If it may have come from your account or device rather than a public platform, tell your data protection leads straight away. Check whether you need to tell the Information Commissioner’s Office or the people affected by the breach. 
9. Keep supporting the child. Where you can, involve the child in decisions about next steps and tell them what is happening. Agree together how you’ll support their wellbeing, manage other children’s behaviour, deal with online contact, remove their photos and handle communications. Signpost the child and family to Childline, who can provide counselling and support. The NSPCC Helpline can also provide the family with advice about keeping their child safe.  

For more guidance on using images of children in sport, read the rest of our photography and filming guidance.

Frequently asked questions about AI and children’s images in sport 

Should sports organisations stop using photos of children? 

Most organisations do not need to ban all photos of children. Images can celebrate children taking part and help families understand an activity. Use fewer, carefully chosen images for a clear reason. Focus on the activity rather than the child. Delete images when you no longer need them. Do not share an image if you cannot manage the risk or the child doesn't want you to use it. 

Should organisations ban Meta glasses (or other wearable cameras) when people are working with children? 

Limit the use of smart glasses that have a camera. You may not need to ban people from possessing or wearing them in every setting, but the same rules for phones and cameras should apply. Nobody should use them in changing rooms, toilets, overnight accommodation, or other private places. The Information Commissioner’s Office says organisations should look at why, where and how smart glasses are being used, rather than treating all uses as safe or unsafe. 

Does this advice apply to older children in mixed-aged sports? 

Yes. Young people aged 16+ can be more visible online because they may compete in mixed-age competitions, appear in player profiles, feature in media coverage or use social media themselves to promote their sporting achievements. Sports organisations should take a proportionate approach, while remembering that the same safeguarding and legal protections apply to all children under 18. 

Can staff use AI tools to edit or improve photos of children? 

Editing photos to improve lighting or image quality may be appropriate where the tool has been assessed and approved by your organisation. Avoid using tools that alter a child's appearance, generate new content or retain images for AI training. Uploading a photo may send it to another company, make extra copies or allow the company to use it for training AI.  

Does blurring a child’s face make an image or video safe to publish? 

No. A child may still be identified by their name, voice, kit, club badge, location, body, mobility aid, result or the people around them. The image may still be changed using AI.  

Further guidance

• Photographing and filming children (NSPCC Learning; updated 9 July 2026). 
• Guidance on AI-generated child sexual abuse material for parents, carers and professionals (Internet Watch Foundation and National Crime Agency; 2026). 
• Enabling technology for good: smart glasses, privacy and public trust (Information Commissioner’s Office; 17 September 2026).
• AI deepfakes and generated synthetic media (NSPCC: 30 October 2026)

You might want to use livestreaming or video conferencing in your sport or activity for a number of reasons, but consent still applies.

You might want to livestream:

• online events
• group coaching or training sessions
• competitions, shows, galas or grading events
• promoting and marketing the club or events

Make sure you consider the safeguarding implications of sharing your event or activity.

What is livestreaming?

Livestreaming is when a video is broadcast in real time over the internet, without being recorded or stored. A livestream can be broadcast to large numbers of people, via online platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, Facebook or Vimeo.

If you want to livestream your activity for spectators to watch, you should:

• inform parents or carers and children in advance that the activity or event will be livestreamed
• gather consent for filming from parents, carers and children
• ensure images and footage are not recorded
• set up cameras to provide wide-angle, general views of session or event, not close-ups
• put safeguards in place to respond to any concerns that may happen during the session or around any spectators watching the stream

There's more about livestreaming on our NSPCC Learning website.

Photos and videos are classed as ‘personal data’ by law. If your organisation stores photos or video footage of children and young people for official use, you must follow the requirements stated in the Data Protection Act 2018.

How to limit risks of unauthorised access to images

To keep images or video footage of children safe you should:

• store images or video recordings in a secure location
• encrypt electronic images and recordings before these are stored
• only use devices belonging to your organisation to take and store photos and recordings
• make sure anyone taking or using images of children for your organisation has permission to do so

If you're storing and using photographs to identify children and adults for official purposes like identity cards, make sure you follow the legal requirements for handling personal information.

Data protection and storing images

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) provides guidance on data protection, encryption, privacy regulations and data storage. Visit the ICO website website for further guidance.

For additional information see our guidance on record retention and storage, alternatively visit NSPCC Learning for further information.

Mobile phones can pose a safeguarding risk if they are used to take photos or video footage in changing rooms or shower areas.

You can't always be sure whether someone using a mobile phone is taking photos or filming. We recommend banning anyone from using these devices in changing and shower areas. That would include mobile phones, tablets, and other equipment with a camera function. It should extend to all participants, spectators, staff and volunteers.

Possible risks of mobiles in changing rooms

• Deliberately targeting a vulnerable person to take and misuse images or videos, which may be uploaded or shared online
• Using photos or videos to threaten and force someone into unwanted, illegal sexual activity
• Taking and sharing images to humiliate or embarrass another child or young person to intentionally to bully and cause harm
• Taking selfies or celebratory photos or videos that unintentionally capture young people, (eg in the background) who are nude or partially clothed, even if done without malicious intent may be committing a serious offence and risk criminal prosecution
• Upskirting, where someone takes a picture or video under a person's clothing without their permission or knowledge (now a criminal offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland)

How to put safeguards in place

Your organisation should have safeguarding policies, procedures and risk assessments in place to prevent any possible incidents from happening. Your organisation’s photography and filming policy should be available for everyone to access, and all participants, parents, carers, staff and volunteers should understand and follow it.

What to do if you have concerns about mobiles in private spaces

• If you suspect anyone of taking images or videos of children (or adults) when they are nude or partially clothed, tell the facility manager, event organiser, or safeguarding lead immediately and consult the police
• Make sure everyone is aware of what they should do if they have concerns about the behaviour of any individual
• Have a clear and simple reporting pathway for concerns, available to everyone

See our Safe use of changing facilities guidance for more information.

These sport specific resources and guidance for photography and filming will help to keep children and young people safe from inappropriate use of images or videos.

NSPCC Sport resources

• Template photography and filming policy – this template policy to create your own for your club or organisation
• Photography and filming consent form –  consent form
• Online safety Podcast - Part 2 – our podcast which discusses sharing images online
• Online safety and social media policy – use this template policy to create your own for your club or organisation
• Online acceptable use statement - staff and volunteers – ask staff and volunteers to sign-up to and follow this statement to help them understand the risks of using devices and online platforms
• Online acceptable use statement - parents and carers - ask parents and carers to discuss this with their children to help them understand the risks of using devices and online platforms
• Safe use of changing facilities –  this briefing paper about how to help keep children safe in changing rooms and showers
• Events held in public parks and spaces – additional safeguarding considerations – briefing paper which helps sports and activities when hosting events in public spaces

Further NSPCC resources for professionals

• Photographing and filming children | Images guidance| NSPCC Learning – photography and filming resources and guidance developed to help you create safer environments for children.
• Sexting – advice for parents on protecting children from the risks of sexting 

Resources for young people and parents

• Report Remove Tool – Childline tool to help young people report a naked image of themselves online
• Common Sense Media App Reviews - reviews and information to help professionals, parents and carers make informed decisions about what apps and digital platforms they wish to use.

Other useful websites

• Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) – a UK law-enforcement agency dedicated to tackling sexual exploitation of children, which also provides education and awareness resources on the CEOP Education website.
• Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) – provides guidance on the Data Protection Act and other privacy regulations