This evening I’m going to a party friends have every year the night before the Indy 500 race. There will be lots of adults chatting and children playing. I’d really like to take my camera, but I don’t know everyone there very well. How do I politely take photos without annoying anyone or appearing too presumptuous?
I appreciate any thoughts, advise, warnings, stories, etc.
you will probably find you are not the only one with a camera :) I have yet to go to any sort of party without at least half a dozen cameras on the go I would take your camera and let the evening dictate what you take.
@nattybabe The newspaper, huh? My dad would be surprised. :)
@asrai Usually there are others taking photos, but they're usually the moms and grandmoms. I feel akward taking photos when none of the children are related to me, but I also know part of that's just me feeling akward in general :) Good advise to "let the evening dictate". I just need to build up the courage if the oportunity presents itself.
If shooting a photo of a child and the parent is nearby, it would be polite to ask the parent first, and perhaps offer to send them a copy of the photo.
@herussell I'd bring my camera and see what others do. About shots involving other people's children though I'd be very cautious -one never knows whether their parents are willing to have their child photographied because he/she's the most adorable kid in the block or they fear someone's going to use the photo without their permission. Of course I'd feel free to capture other adults, decorations, atmosphere, you name it, but with kids I'd get their parent's permission first of all. Anyway maybe I've just got some professional bias from being a teacher -laws are very tough regarding displaying images of children here and I suppose there in the US must be the same, isn't it?
Tell them you're practicing event photography and then post the pics to smugmug or webshots or something and give them the link. Who knows, maybe someone will want to buy them! :)
@kelseyyx23 A photographer? Me? This made me smile, because gradually I am becoming an ametuer photographer. How cool! Realistically I could explain 365 in a conversation and pull out the camera later.
@ronah@amycapdet You're both right about being careful with kids/parents. Maybe if I work 365 into a conversation and ask if it'd be okay to photograph the kids playing before pulling out the camera.
@ronah I was thinking that if I took photos I'd offer to send the hostess prints and she can pass them on to the family.
@sdpace If I work up the courage to take photos, posting them online might be more accessible than sending prints. Kodak's site is mostly protected from anyone seeing them exccept those invited. Hadn't thought of that. I'm not really very good at photographing people yet (no practice). I'd feel uncomfortable posing as an event photographer, but I can tell them about 365 and go from there.
@amycapdet Thank you. I'm not much of a social gathering person, but friends from out of town only come once a year and this is where we get to see them. Their family are very nice people. I don't know them well, but they have a way of making me feel more comfortable after I get there.
@herussell Haha the same thing goes for me... I usually say I'm trying to become a photographer, and people just say "Oh cool!" and don't question my camera!
@herussell Hi, I end up taking quite a lot of shots of kids...I put togther the newsletter for my eldest's swimming club...means a lot of kids in swimming costumes. I always ask permission with these shots due to the nature of what they are wearing.
Some of my shots in here are of kids not my own- if I take them at an event when the parents should be aware that strangers will be taking shots of their kids as they are part of a general parade...I don't think about trying to find the parent....under Aus law I have no obligation...
Party sitaution- if I knew the parents I'd say I was doing this project to improve my skills, did anyone object? make sure they are able to get hold of the shots - online ref , esp if the kid is identifiable, I'd be less bothered if it was a back shot than a frontal/facial.
Basically, just ask :) I've met very few people that mind.
@aj1268 You're right. I just need to work up the courage to ask. @voodoochild Good advise about children. It really is situation specific. I just need to be brave enough to ask.
Thank you all for your advise and encouragement. Because of the rain last night there were a lot less people at the party and everyone was forced to be inside. It was too intimate for photographs and no one else was taking photos this year, so I didn't get out the camera. I'm planning a few excursions to the park and I will remember your advise as I try to step outside my comfort zone and take more photos of people in the near future
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@asrai Usually there are others taking photos, but they're usually the moms and grandmoms. I feel akward taking photos when none of the children are related to me, but I also know part of that's just me feeling akward in general :) Good advise to "let the evening dictate". I just need to build up the courage if the oportunity presents itself.
@ronah @amycapdet You're both right about being careful with kids/parents. Maybe if I work 365 into a conversation and ask if it'd be okay to photograph the kids playing before pulling out the camera.
@ronah I was thinking that if I took photos I'd offer to send the hostess prints and she can pass them on to the family.
@sdpace If I work up the courage to take photos, posting them online might be more accessible than sending prints. Kodak's site is mostly protected from anyone seeing them exccept those invited. Hadn't thought of that. I'm not really very good at photographing people yet (no practice). I'd feel uncomfortable posing as an event photographer, but I can tell them about 365 and go from there.
@amycapdet Thank you. I'm not much of a social gathering person, but friends from out of town only come once a year and this is where we get to see them. Their family are very nice people. I don't know them well, but they have a way of making me feel more comfortable after I get there.
Thanks everybody! I'm building up my courage :)
Some of my shots in here are of kids not my own- if I take them at an event when the parents should be aware that strangers will be taking shots of their kids as they are part of a general parade...I don't think about trying to find the parent....under Aus law I have no obligation...
Party sitaution- if I knew the parents I'd say I was doing this project to improve my skills, did anyone object? make sure they are able to get hold of the shots - online ref , esp if the kid is identifiable, I'd be less bothered if it was a back shot than a frontal/facial.
Basically, just ask :) I've met very few people that mind.
@voodoochild Good advise about children. It really is situation specific. I just need to be brave enough to ask.
@nattybabe @asrai @kelseyyx23 @ronah @amycapdet @sdpace @aj1268 @voodoochild
Thank you all for your advise and encouragement. Because of the rain last night there were a lot less people at the party and everyone was forced to be inside. It was too intimate for photographs and no one else was taking photos this year, so I didn't get out the camera. I'm planning a few excursions to the park and I will remember your advise as I try to step outside my comfort zone and take more photos of people in the near future