New AMS Photo Policy
Allegheny Mountain Swimming Board of Directors has revised and udated the Photo Policy effective today, Thursday November 20, 2025.
Allegheny Mountain Swimming Photography Policy for Sanctioned Events
Allegheny Mountain Swimming (AMS) is guided by the model photography policy of USA Swimming in “AMS-Ssanctioned Eevents,” which for purposes of this policy means AMS “sanctioned meets” and AMS “approved meets,” as these terms are defined in Part II, Sections 3.0.3 and 3.0.2, respectively, of the AMS Policies, Operating Procedures, Rules, and Regulations Manual. Although the great majority of images are appropriate and are taken in good faith, it is a fact that images can be misused and children can be put at risk if common‐sense procedures are not observed.
Photography Prohibited in No-Access Areas. All AMS-Ssanctioned Eevents are considered to be open to the public, unless otherwise noted. The general public is allowed to use personal photographic equipment for recreational and entertainment purposes. However, the use of personal photographic equipment by the general public is prohibited in any areas denoted as “no access” zones. These no access zones include changing areas, locker rooms, bathrooms, areas behind the starting blocks, and any areas marked by the venue or meet host as private, not accessible to the public, or an area where no photography is allowed.
Right to Refuse to be Photographed. By participating in AMS-Ssanctioned Eevents, all athletes and parents/guardians agree that their minor children may be photographed and filmed by official photographers of the AMS hosting clubs in accordance with this policy and agree to allow AMS to use photographs and likenesses obtained by the official photographers of the hosting clubs before, during, or after the period of participation in the AMS-Ssanctioned Eevents to promote or permit the viewing of such events, unless an athlete or parent/guardian of a minor athlete exercises the right to refuse to be photographed by the approved photographer, in writing, as provided below. A separate, written refusal must be submitted to the designated AMS personnel in connection with each AMS-Ssanctioned Eevents, regardless of whether any written refusal was previously submitted to the athlete’s local swim club as part of the athlete’s registration process.
General Photography Standards. All photographs and photographers must observe generally accepted standards of decency if photographs are to be published. These standards must take into account that the subjects of the photographs include minor children. In particular:
o Action shots must be a celebration of the sporting activity and not a sexualized image in a sporting context.
o Action shots must not be taken or retained where the photograph reveals a torn or displaced swimsuit.
o Photographs are expressly prohibited from being taken from
behind swimming blocks at the start of a race.
o Photographs are expressly prohibited from being taken in athlete locker‐ rooms, any changing areas or bathrooms.
o Photographic equipment and photographers are prohibited in areas marked by the venue host as an area where no photography is allowed.
o Photographs are prohibited, if they can be reasonably interpreted or viewed as degrading or compromising a swimmer’s reputation.
o Athletes participating in the meet are permitted to use photographic devices in areas not prohibited by this policy, provided that the athlete adheres to the standards of this policy and all other applicable AMS and USA Swimming policies.
Responsibilities of Meet Hosts. The hosting team of an AMS-Ssanctioned Mmeet must observe the following in enforcing this photography policy:
o A hosting team that approves an amateur or professional photographer to be present at an AMS-sSanctioned mMeet is responsible for
communicating this policy to the approved photographer and ensuring that all state and local laws and regulations with respect to the presence of the approved
photographer are satisfied.
o A hosting team must make it clear in the meet announcement that it will approve an amateur or professional photographer to be present at the meet and that parents/adult athletes must sign and submit a separate, written form to refuse to have their child/themselves photographed at the meet.
o A hosting team must have forms available prior to and at the meet location for athletes and/or the parents of minor athletes to sign should they exercise their right to refuse to be photographed during the meet. A sample form is attached to this policy.
o All amateur and professional photographers who are approved to take photographs on deck at an AMS-sSanctioned mMeet must at all times clearly display the appropriate meet session on-deck wrist band and one of the following items designating them as meet personnel: a name tag, vest, or team/volunteer tee-shirt.
o In the event of any disputes regarding video recording, the AMS meet director in conjunction with the meet referee will make a decision that
shall be conclusive, final and binding on all parties.
[Sample Photography Consent Form for Events Sanctioned by Allegheny Mountain Swimming Sanctioned and Approved Meets]
[Hosting team] may wish to take photographs (individual and in groups) of swimmers under the age of 18 that may include you or your child during participation in the [name of the AMS-sanctioned/approved meet]. All photographs will be taken and published in line with the Allegheny Mountain Swimming Photography Policy [and the hosting team’s photography policy, if any].
