Lined up behind microphones during Plenary, Upper Schoolers were filled with inquiries regarding the new photography policy introduced by junior Cameron Routenberg and freshman Leo Demetriou. The new policy, created by Routenberg and Demetriou, will require athletes to pay for access to edited photos of themselves in athletics. This policy also introduces Press Passes, a new form of ID that allows photographers on-field access during games that only members of the Student Athletic Council (SAC) media team can obtain. The policy will be written into the handbook in the 2026-2027 school year and has been backed by the athletics department and administration.
“The policy was made in response to Ms. Zeller hearing a lot of false information about what we were and weren’t charging for,” Routenberg said. “She thought we were charging for specific things in specific capacities.”
Parker, however, has transitioned to a policy where everything is included in tuition. The administration thought SAC was charging “The Record” and “The Weekly” for photos. This would not fall under their policy of everything being included in tuition.
Some students, however, aren’t as excited about the new policy. While Routenberg says the policy “provides no personal benefit” for the photographers, junior Naomi Pendo, who questioned the policy during plenary, believes the new photography policy is filled with opportunities for personal benefit. “One time, a photographer used an image of me, which I really didn’t like, on their personal photography Instagram I guess as part of their portfolio. Even though this issue could be solved if they sent the photo to the athlete before they posted it, the photographers won’t do that because they don’t want to give away the photo for free.” Pendo said.
The new “pay-to-see” policy doesn’t align with other Parker photography. “Ideally, we take photos that require minimal additional editing. When editing is needed, it is mostly related to lighting and/or cropping,” Communications Director Nick Saracino said.
Saracino described how he chooses to distribute the photos he takes. “We are happy to share any of the photos we take with folks. We would provide the best looking image if asked, and these might also be edited in some way,” Saracino said.
For some, the new policy isn’t just about inconsistency, it’s about inequity. While Parker’s mission statement reads “We are deliberately composed of a diverse group of people committed to equity and inclusion throughout the school,” some students believe that the new photography policy is encouraging the exact opposite. “I really don’t think it’s fair to have to pay for these photos, especially if someone can’t pay,” Pendo said. “Imagine if you wanted a photo and couldn’t pay for it, and you had to admit that to Cam [Routenberg] or Leo [Demetriou], who you might not know very well. Do you think that would be a comfortable, easy conversation, or one that’s easily avoidable if we just got rid of this policy?”
Routenberg believes there are ways to avoid the issue. “[Students wanting access to photos] can go to the athletics department where there are photos free of charge (through Mr. Drase),” Routenberg said. His plan, however, lacks confidentiality, which would make students’ financial situations more public. “If you’re not comfortable…you can talk to me about it, you can talk to Ms. Zeller about it, you can really just go to any trusted adult.”
The administration, however, supports the policy and believes it reflects equity in a different way. “What I really appreciate about this policy is that the Senate heads brought it to our Friday meetings as a concern about the photography policy,” Head of Upper School Cory Zeller, who helped in writing the policy, said. “[The photographers] are sifting through 1000s of photos for one particular athlete. You can have access to someone who’s willing to take time and effort, like a professional photographer, but you also have access to Mr. Drase, who takes photos of every team and every player for free.” Overall, Zeller provides many options for students to have access to athletic photos, further aligning with the mission statement and everything-included policy.
“[The photographers] get paid for their time spent,” Zeller said. “If they’re going to take time out of studying or doing homework and going above and beyond for one particular athlete, they can be compensated for that.”
Other students, however, are providing similar services, taking time out of their days to cater to the Parker community. From publications to learning experiences, some students spend their time creating content solely for the school, but for free. For example, juniors Jade Labkon and Fiona Chazen established “Parker Groovers,” a club that meets before school and teaches Intermediate School students dance routines. While dance lessons typically require tuition, Labkon and Chazen offer these classes for free.
“[Parker Groovers] is during a distinct period of time where they are planning for their lesson, and then they teach their lesson to the fourth graders, and then they do a showcase, so one could say it’s like a club,” Zeller said. “I think where I see the difference is that it’s school related, and it’s being used for school, and the kids go to school, and it’s happening during school.”
For the policy to be completely functional, however, conditions and standards must be met by both student photographers and school employees. “I think Mr. Drase should make sure he’s going to every game equally, collecting an equal number of photos per team. He’s part of the athletics office, but they actually don’t have direct purview over Cam and the media team, because they’re under Student Government,” Zeller said. “It becomes a little bit harder to make sure that the process is exactly the same in terms of equity, but it’s worth talking about, because they need some accountability and structure.”
After reassurance and explanations, students still aren’t backing the policy. Overall, the student body may need to engage in more conversation and clarity before many can fully understand and appreciate the policy.
“I’m still not buying it,” Pendo said.
