Okay, so me and my boyfriend went into Spa yesterday to get some lunch, and I took some pictures of food on the shelves (including the shot of the peppers that's on my project). Overall, about 6 pictures. Suddenly the manager comes up to us, and says to me "Apparently you've been taking photographs... what's going on?" To which I replied that I was doing a photography project and was just taking some pictures of the food. He then asked me if I'd be taking any pictures of the staff, to which I said no, and showed him on my camera, before he walked off again, leaving me very bewildered. When we passed the counter, one of the workers sarcastically said; "You're not gonna take any pictures of the pies now, are you?"
What the hell??
Has anyone else encountered this type of problem with taking pictures in pulic, shops or otherwise? If it's a small, independent store I usually ask the owner if they're okay with it, but in a supermarket, is there really the need? Also, if I had been taking pictures of the staff, would I have been strictly within my rights to? Just curious, and a little riled! I haven't experienced that much defensiveness/passive aggression from taking a couple of snaps before!!
@alexwhiteman Haha happened to me and my friends!! We were on a photography field trip and we were supposed to use our cameras to document the trip as part of our project. When we went into a supermarket to buy some Pot Noodles, the security guy was watching us suspiciously because we all had our camera bags and equipment etc. As soon as my friend pulled out her camera, before she even had the chance to take a photo, he told her she wasn't allowed too!! So we just left. And quite recently, I was just taking photos in my local town and a security guard person from the shopping centre told me I was taking photos of private property?!?!
If you do have photos with people in, technically you have to get the permission, even if they're just for a project, as they could get really annoyed and sue you lol. Parents also get pretty mad if they think you might be taking a photo of their kid, even if the camera isn't pointing anywhere near them!!
When my sister and I were on a street photography course the tutor said that if you take a picture of one person in it, by law they own the photo. If you take a picture of a group of people then by law you own it.
Haven't a clue when it comes to food and items. Perhaps next time you approach a manager and just get the ok. As for the sarcastic members of staff - just poke your tongue out ;)
@kericherry - I'm so glad I'm not the only one!! Oooooh, I thought you could take photos of anyone, so long as they were in a public place, because they're not entitled to their 'privacy' when they're not in a private setting (or something like that!!) Good to get that one cleared up!
I can't believe the security guard in your local town! So, if you apply that same rule everywhere, you're going to stop tourists from taking pictures of famous buildings??
(You've got some great pics on your project by the way - I'm going to look some more now!!)
I thought that if you are in a public place then you can take a photo of anything and anyone? I know canary wharf in London get very antsy about taking pictures there, but I always manage a couple before I'm told to stop!
Sounds to me like narrow mindedness on the part of the staff, I've learnt to take such attitudes like water off a ducks back. It's your project and if people can't appreciate the beauty in something it doesn't mean you can't shoot it!
I have had it a few times. Seemingly every time I go to Manchester with my camera, I get told of by stall owners or Mall security.
In fact, I got so accustommed to getting told off when taking pictures in public, that when me and my girlfriend went to Germany last year for the Christmas markets, I started apologizing to a stall owner who was shouting at me across his candle stall and I put my camera away... once he found out that I was English, he explained that he was infact telling me that he liked my camera, and he thought it was funny that I look like somebody from Braveheart, the last person he would expect to own a DSLR. He even posed for a portrait... Different cultures, eh?
Open public spaces are one thing, shops are another altogether. It is private property - therefore their rules. They are often just looking out for the privacy of their employees and sometimes customers. If I worked in an environment open to the public such as a store, I would be disappointed at any management that permitted people to take photographs of staff. Not everyone there may expect or desire privacy in terms of being photographed, but I would expect management, and any photographer with an ounce of decency or respect, to err on caution.
Funny you started this thread, as I was taking photos of plants in a nursery centre this afternoon. I had eaten lunch at the cafe there, and was on my way out. When I started to take photos, there were no staff around, but then 5 minutes later, an older employee came up to me and said (in a very sarcastic manner): Can I help you??? To which I replied: No that's okay, I'm just taking a few photos, if you don't mind.
She then mumbled something like:" well at least you asked",again in a sarcastic manner, and then sulked off. Thought is was all a bit over the top really.
In Australia, not sure where you are from, a shopping centre is not a public place, it's private property. Its a very fine line I'm guessing and I don't think there are any clear cut rules. I have never heard of the a person owning the photo because they are in it? I thought copyright protected the artist not the subject but I have heard if you want to publish a photo with people clearly shown you do need a release form. Same goes for private property - if you shoot on private property and later want to sell that image you will need the owner to sign a release form. Seems insane to me
I bought a photo ID badge that I sometimes wear on a lanyard when I shoot in my city. I should wear it more often. The ID badge (complete with my photo) seems to make me look more official. This is similar to the ones the professional photographers wear. My photo club made these. One of the members shot each person's portrait and sent these off to a lab to be made.
Hey what's the problem with asking first? If you are on private property, yes that includes shops, garden centers, libararys etc, etc why not be polite and ASK first?
If you come in my shop And start snapping away I'll tell you to politely ram your camera :). Ask me first and it's ok. Maybe as a shop keeper I see things differently............
public places are totally different and I believe that you really only need their ok to publish, not to take a photo. Can you imagine how the tabloids / news papers would survive if people decided not to give their ok to taking pics in public places... Even then I believe the person has to be able to be specifically identifiable from the image. From memory there's very strict issues in the US for publishing - model releases, ID check etc. In the UK model releases are generally not necessary.
Its still a nice thing to do to ask permission of anyone before taking the photo if you're specifically targeting anyone - or shoot first and then approach them after and talk to them.
@alexwhiteman Aww thank you!! And yeah good point, maybe they should hire people to stop all the tourists taking photos of all the famous landmarks in the world! :P
I was shooting in public on the street one night when a DC police officer came over and told me it was fine for me to take the photos, but that he'd had to vouch for me as being "okay" because of an arrest made earlier that day of two men who were suspected of terrorist activity and had a camera full of location shots. Evidently when I photographed the location of the bus as she changed the lights in the front from "no service" which evidently was because I was shooting, to "Silver Spring", I made her very nervous. So he told me so that I would know why the Metro employees might be jumpy.
It depends ... honestly indoors on private property is totally up to the business you're in. Just b/c it lets the public inside does not mean it's "public" ... the business has an expectation of privacy and the right to create the rules within their establishment.
If you're on a public street and Joe Blow walks by you can certainly take his picture. He has no expectations of privacy then and you're not trespassing. Also, note, that parking lots are not public property--they're usually owned by the owner of the shopping center.
There really is a difference between "public" and "public property" -- and you should follow the rules of the business owners/property owners/establishment owners/homeowners, etc.
I've had mixed reactions in public places. I think my favorite time is near state capitols at night. A couple times at night security would stop by and see what I was up to. You can either brush it off, and head somewhere else, or confront it. If the manager was completely negative, not even listening to you, I might send them a letter telling them politely what you were doing and that that was the last time you would be patronizing their store. That would send them a message they should be polite, no matter what the situation is.
Near the White House and the MLK monument in Washington DC, security got upset when I had a tripod. At the WH I had to be away from the fence, and the second time, off the sidewalk. At MLK, they were completely forbidden but wasn't all that clear on the sign. Oh well, I still got shots I wanted.
But I agree, they have a right to limit photography on their property. They don't have a right to be rude about it.
@toast haha asking permission?! haha just like you did last year, when you ran across the street to snap the girls on that hen do that time at the London meet ;-)
Funny, I was going to start this subject myself, came over to do it and here it is, lol.. bit of a funny one here, I love Street Photography and often can be seen in town snapping away. but a couple of days ago I was taking pictures of my local camera shop, I am setting up a website atm with a link off to a page of places I like in the area and shops and services I have used and have helped me. I have been offering these local business a mention and a small ad for free its been going so well but today. The women from the awful burger kiosk came out shouting don't take me what are you doing, take me off that camera I explained I was not taking her and that I was taking with their permission the camera shop. Well don't she said, why on earth would you take that? who are you? no one takes photos of towns why would you do that? what is your name? why would you take pictures like that? I've been watching you, what are you? what company are you from? Tell me? I said I would if I you'd let me. Oh she said so its a free promotion? yes I said, hmm she said why would you do that, because I want to I said, well she said if you take them in that shop from that angle I am in it? Yes? yes I said just offside, take me off she said, ok I said but if you like I could give you a free mention and ad too, NO she said don't you dare take me off. I am watching you.. at this I said fine and walked off she then proceeded to watch me for the rest of my time there. As I left I looked back she had now left her koisk and was stood halfway down the town center to make sure I had gone....... I told the camera shop staff who just looked at each other and laughed oh her they said hmmm there's something not right there.
@azza_l i said it was NICE to ask permission, I didnt say that I DO it lol. Sometimes it really is easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission. Also the way I see it :)
public street + dressed up for hens night = public event
You do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places, But Police can stop and search you :
# IN PUBLIC: if they suspect you could be a terrorist.
#IN A SENSITIVE AREA: without permission.
Police Can - view images on phone or camera to determine any link to terrorism.
Seize - anything that may be evidence that you are a terrorist,including phone and camera.
Police Cannot - delete or destroy images/film.
Police cannot - read txt messages, emails or voice mails.
Police cannot - prevent photography in a public place or of themsleves.
On Private Property - No restrictions on taking a photograph providing you have permission to be there.
Owners and Employees can :
# impose whatever restrictions they wish on entry (i.e no photography)
# demand that you stop taking photo's and leave the premises.
Owners and Emplyees cannot :
# confiscate or damage camera equipment
# take film or memory cards
# demand deletion of images
# insist on viewing images.
It is Illegal to take photographs in aerodromes and military bases.
I have all this info on a credit card sized info sheet in my wallett, you should know your rights.
The recomended response if stopped is :
"Im an amateur photographer taking photo's for fun.
Would you like to see them officer ?"
Write a Reply
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
If you do have photos with people in, technically you have to get the permission, even if they're just for a project, as they could get really annoyed and sue you lol. Parents also get pretty mad if they think you might be taking a photo of their kid, even if the camera isn't pointing anywhere near them!!
Haven't a clue when it comes to food and items. Perhaps next time you approach a manager and just get the ok. As for the sarcastic members of staff - just poke your tongue out ;)
I can't believe the security guard in your local town! So, if you apply that same rule everywhere, you're going to stop tourists from taking pictures of famous buildings??
(You've got some great pics on your project by the way - I'm going to look some more now!!)
Sounds to me like narrow mindedness on the part of the staff, I've learnt to take such attitudes like water off a ducks back. It's your project and if people can't appreciate the beauty in something it doesn't mean you can't shoot it!
In fact, I got so accustommed to getting told off when taking pictures in public, that when me and my girlfriend went to Germany last year for the Christmas markets, I started apologizing to a stall owner who was shouting at me across his candle stall and I put my camera away... once he found out that I was English, he explained that he was infact telling me that he liked my camera, and he thought it was funny that I look like somebody from Braveheart, the last person he would expect to own a DSLR. He even posed for a portrait... Different cultures, eh?
Its an inside joke, if havn't seen my photos or follow me, you just might not get it... :)
She then mumbled something like:" well at least you asked",again in a sarcastic manner, and then sulked off. Thought is was all a bit over the top really.
You can thank radical's that blow up buildings for their God for a lot of it.
If you come in my shop And start snapping away I'll tell you to politely ram your camera :). Ask me first and it's ok. Maybe as a shop keeper I see things differently............
Its still a nice thing to do to ask permission of anyone before taking the photo if you're specifically targeting anyone - or shoot first and then approach them after and talk to them.
If you're on a public street and Joe Blow walks by you can certainly take his picture. He has no expectations of privacy then and you're not trespassing. Also, note, that parking lots are not public property--they're usually owned by the owner of the shopping center.
There really is a difference between "public" and "public property" -- and you should follow the rules of the business owners/property owners/establishment owners/homeowners, etc.
Near the White House and the MLK monument in Washington DC, security got upset when I had a tripod. At the WH I had to be away from the fence, and the second time, off the sidewalk. At MLK, they were completely forbidden but wasn't all that clear on the sign. Oh well, I still got shots I wanted.
But I agree, they have a right to limit photography on their property. They don't have a right to be rude about it.
public street + dressed up for hens night = public event
You do not need a permit to film or photograph in public places, But Police can stop and search you :
# IN PUBLIC: if they suspect you could be a terrorist.
#IN A SENSITIVE AREA: without permission.
Police Can - view images on phone or camera to determine any link to terrorism.
Seize - anything that may be evidence that you are a terrorist,including phone and camera.
Police Cannot - delete or destroy images/film.
Police cannot - read txt messages, emails or voice mails.
Police cannot - prevent photography in a public place or of themsleves.
On Private Property - No restrictions on taking a photograph providing you have permission to be there.
Owners and Employees can :
# impose whatever restrictions they wish on entry (i.e no photography)
# demand that you stop taking photo's and leave the premises.
Owners and Emplyees cannot :
# confiscate or damage camera equipment
# take film or memory cards
# demand deletion of images
# insist on viewing images.
It is Illegal to take photographs in aerodromes and military bases.
I have all this info on a credit card sized info sheet in my wallett, you should know your rights.
The recomended response if stopped is :
"Im an amateur photographer taking photo's for fun.
Would you like to see them officer ?"