Often those types of accusations are induced by someone with an agenda . Which raises the possibility of a malicious parent using the threat of false accusation to extort free product from the photographer. You hear stories of women using abuse accusations as a divorce tactic. If you don't give in to meet unreasonable demands, you get falsely accused. After being accused you get put out of work, and can't get a clean crb check....

and so ones persons paranoia infects others and breeds more paranoia.

Truth is the least trusting individuals usually prove to be the least trustworthy.

Nothing good comes of any relationship that starts off with distrust and a verbal slap in the face. (unless you're a masocist).

So I'd tell them I'm insulted by the request and decline the job, and hope every other pro does the same.

after all a background check won't predict future actions anyways...how much you wanna bet this guy passed a background check?

nice to have, when tou are taping plastic baggie over your camera in the rain, sea spray, sandstorm etc.

in twenty years, never damaged a lens element by accident or cleaning yet.

have heard stories from trustworthy people the echo what Gartmore said. also heard storries of people wreckin a lens trying to remove a dented filter, from a slight impact, that would've left the sturdier lens barrel intact.
Good luck.

Most predators find thier victims on the internet these days.
Single mother, social networking sites, likes to party, low income, photos of her kids online.....
Develope a relationship with the mother, get access to her kids and her kids friends.

So why not demand that the group leaders have background checks on any boyfriends, spouses etc, that want to watch the events? you'd have to ban every cell phone video cam, and camera, have everybody consent to a background check, and hell while you're at it, strip search em all to make sure nobody's smuggling a camera in.

I'd tell them they need to re-think how they're dressing these kids for public display.

Me? I'd be insulted. A simple agreement on end usage (ie, Nobody may copy or redistribute ANY images without written consent of BOTH parties) should be all that is required.

can't be that bad...alot of wedding photogs use em.
acquired taste i suppose.
I get great shots with my Pentax 85 soft focus lens...and am proficient with photoshop...so I can't justify spending money on lensbabies.

I'd opt for the canon g9, a 430 ex flash, and one of those camera bags that look like a nice purse.

or a decent (heck even a cheap Flip Mino) camcorder.

but that's me...
I like the bridge cameras, and would grab one of those before a cheaper pocket camera.
the thing you need to know before parting ways with your money is this:

will she mind lugging a big camera out once in a while, knowing you'll be lugging a dslr, and probably grabbing better shots... or will she want to get the video, while you get the stills, or would she rather have a smaller camera on her at all times, (remembering to keep it charged), to use often?

I love going to the kids concerts, knowing I can use my camcorder, while Gerri grabs the k10....

HAHAHAHA!!!
You guys know my better half Gerri is of Menonnite descent.. apparently she speaks some Low-German...
only when she's mad though.. so I imagine, if I ever bother to listen, I could probably learn to swear in German!

Thanx Bob, I'll look at that, it's so easy to fix in Aperture, I never bothered to look!
lol
and true about the flash, but alot of places don't mind a low powered pop to freeze action, and add fill (at f2.8-f4, iso 400-800, set as fill, we are talking small pop of flash). it's the full powered retina scorching, attempts to light the whole venue with your strobe that ticks 'em off.

You need to understand what makes large format cameras different than 35 mm cameras to understand the whole tilt, shift, swing movements and how that affects the ways lights goes from the front lens element to the film plane.
35mm, and hence our dlsrs are VERY limited in controlling focus, perspective, and dof effects.
lensbabies do give give a little more control over lens movement... great for some special effects, (all easily created in photoshop) but for macro work, you may be happier in the long run with a macro lens.

Mac my friend, go look at Wacom's graphics tablets.
They are going at London Drugs and Henry's for as little as $99.00.
Check out what's included in the box.... Most come with a *Free* copy of Photoshop Elements.
You'll love editing with a pen more than the mouse, anyways.

what color mode are you using?
16 bit? if so try switching mode to 8 bit before printing.