SANTA CLARA ATHLETICS MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY

1) Credentialing & Access

• Deadline & Submission: Photo credentials must be requested NO LATER than 24 hours prior to the event. Email AJ Tinio, Director of Athletics Digital Strategy (atinio@scu.edu), with your name, organization, assignment purpose, event date, facility, and estimated arrival time.
• Credential Requirements: Approved credentials must be visible at all times while working in restricted areas. Credentials are non-transferable and may be revoked at any time for noncompliance.
• Who Qualifies: Working media on legitimate editorial assignment and approved institutional photographers receive priority. Freelancers must be contracted by a media outlet or a participating school. Parent/fan photographers are limited to spectator areas unless explicitly approved in advance.

1a) General Inquiries from Photographers

• Photographers who are not seeking access to a specific event but are interested in potential future opportunities to shoot for Santa Clara Athletics—such as building their portfolio, gaining experience, or exploring freelance options—should direct all inquiries to AJ Tinio, Director of Athletics Digital Strategy (atinio@scu.edu).
• DO NOT contact coaches, administrators (including the Director of Athletics), or other athletics department staff with photography-related requests. Any such outreach will be ignored and may negatively impact future consideration for access or assignments. AJ Tinio is the sole point of contact for photography access and will determine availability on a case-by-case basis.

 

2) Photographer Conduct

• Maintain a professional and neutral presence at all times. Cheering, seeking autographs, or engaging athletes or coaches during competition is prohibited.
• Comply immediately with all instructions from Santa Clara Athletics staff, officials, and event operations personnel. Failure to do so may result in removal or credential revocation.
• Exercise caution and awareness near competition areas. Photographers assume all risks associated with working in or near fields of play.

 

3) Equipment & Technical Guidelines

• Flash Photography: Not permitted during live competition unless explicitly approved by Santa Clara Athletics and game officials.
• Remote Cameras / Strobes: Must be pre-approved in writing. Equipment may not damage venue property or interfere with sightlines, teams, or officials.
• Tripods / Monopods: Permitted only where they do not obstruct spectator views, broadcast setups, or pedestrian pathways. Event staff may ask photographers to reposition gear at any time.

 

4) On-Field / Sideline / Court Access

• Photographers may not enter the field, court, or pool deck during live play unless specifically credentialed for those areas.
• Remain within designated photo zones as instructed by Santa Clara Athletics staff.
• Do not enter bench areas, tunnels, team huddles, or scorer’s table zones unless explicitly credentialed for access.

 

Game-Day Workflow

• Check-In: Credential pickup information will be provided in advance. Check-in times and media access windows vary by sport and facility.
• In-Game: Follow instructions from staff regarding positioning and movement. You may be asked to relocate to preserve safety and broadcast sight lines.
• Postgame: Do not enter the playing surface until cleared by staff. Access to postgame moments (e.g., celebrations, handshakes) will be granted at the discretion of event management.

 

Usage Rights & Restrictions

• Editorial Use Only: Credentials are issued for editorial/news and SCU-approved institutional use. Commercial use, resale, or licensing of images without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.
• Student-Athlete Representation: Images of current student-athletes must comply with NCAA and University rules. Uses implying name/image/likeness (NIL) endorsement require pre-clearance.
• Image Requests: Santa Clara Athletics may request select images from credentialed photographers for internal use. Any terms will be arranged separately.

 

Policy Enforcement

• Any violation of the above policies may result in:
    - Immediate removal from the venue
    - Revocation of credentials (for the current and/or future events)
    - Denial of future credential requests
• Enforcement decisions are at the sole discretion of Santa Clara Athletics staff and game operations leadership.