The Danger of Little Girls ...

[Digital Prophet]

Ok. You know what, I am just going to say it. If you are a male photographer and you deal with any form of teenager you have to be careful. Especially with little girls.

You see, this is the problem. I shoot at a barn on a regular basis. And the vast majority of riders there (and most places) are girls. Well there are thre teenage girls there that are just completely infatuated with the camera. One in particular has really produced some great photos with the horses and is a great kid.

But now everytime I turn around she is there. She is just everywhere. And frankly considering I am a 29 year old male she makes me kind of uneasy because I just don't want people to think the wrong thing. But since she is a kid I don't want to just be rude to her. So when her older sister is around we all joke or what not. But like I said, she is just always around.

So just a word to the wise. If you are male you really need to keep things on a clinical level with the kids. Unfortunately I made the mistake of warming up to the families of all these kids and my natural easy going personality (aren't I a charmer?) just makes the kids love me. I just can't help it, I have a personality that lets me strike up coversation and get to know people really quickly. Which is great for the shots. But bad because now I have a little stalker.

And when you think about it, it's not fair. If I were female I could show up to every shoot butt naked and sit on every lap there while I took images and noone would ever thing anything of it. But if you are male and some kid bats her eyes at you people just assume you are a pervert.

Just thought that I would share that bit of advice so I can save other the trouble that I am now having.

- Digital Prophet -

[BearSummer]

Hi Digital Prophet,

It's a sad world where you have to watch your back so that people dont think your a pervert. I would suggest that you drag your partner (if you have one) down to the barn for a day and make sure that you introduce her/him (oh aint political correctness fun) to all the folks. I would explain why to your partner so that they can be reasonably attentive whilst there. Try not to bore your partner rigid, dont spend all day there and expect to buy a meal for him/her that night.

Other option, get into lanscape photography, then at least underage landscapes dont start hitting on you.

Best regards

BearSummer

[alsmith]

Hey there I work with Highschool and middle school kids all the time and we have put very strick rules in place for these things. Our volunteer leeders are never alone with a younger member of the oposite sex and we all work hard to make sure that never happens. It is hard though sometimes but we have found that when we explane it to the younger girls that we don't want to be alone with them not because we don't trust them but because we want to make sure (for their sake and ours) that noone ever has reason to look funny at a situation.. It is really for everyones protection. Good for you for realizing the dangers. I would talk with her about it as this age can be very understanding.

[Conk]

I plan on having t-shirts made and a couple ball caps that have my business name printed on them to help put people who see me shooting at ease with what I am actually doing. It is also great advertisement.

[Harry Settle]

I have spent the last 10 years, or so, photographing and videotaping girls/womens gymnastics. Club, high school and college. They get pretty comfortable with you being around, and don't think twice about skinning down. It has led to some pretty interesting situations, sometimes I think they do it just to see me run like hell. By the way, I always have my wife close by.

[CyberDyneSystems]

A similar topic came up very recently... so I apologize if this is repetitive..

But it is scary once your mind allows you to see the possible connotations.


Right next to the Park where I get most of my Great5 Blue Heron shots s the ballfeild where my Girlfreinds Daughters Softball league plays .. (the Daughter is now married with two kids etc.. but I used to watch her games there)

Well this time last year when the great blues weren't around I used to walk over to the ball feild and try my hand and sports photography.

I did this three times.. and was startimg to get some decently timed shots...when at one point it just occured to me what I might look like to some of the parents there. High school girls + old white guy with huge lens on his camera....

I actually stood up and looked around when this finally crossed my mind.. and I was STUNNED that I had been there twice before whithout even thinking about it. ...

I have not returned to those ball feilds since :(

Some day I'll figure out where the Boys league plays...

[Digital Prophet]

Well just to clarify, there has never been a situation where I was alone with the girls. I am always in the ring near other people, or in a group.

The problem is, and now it is official, that this one girl has developed a teenage crush. And every time I turn around, there she is. Her mother and I discussed it and she said she realized it was a normal part of being a teenage girl.

But it still makes me uneasy.

But it is just part of photographing people. There are always going to be situations where "improoriety" can arise. But you have to rely on your relationship with parents/gaurdians and other fellow adults and the ever present "group".

I put this in the Pro Corner because I really thought that this is something anyone starting out needs to know.

- Digital Prophet -

[Cadwell]

...when at one point it just occured to me what I might look like to some of the parents there.... old white guy with huge lens on his camera....

Some day I'll figure out where the Boys league plays...

and that's gonna look better how? :?

[KartGirlsMom]

I waited about half an hour the other day at a carousel for the light to get right to photography the hand-painted horses. A mom two benches over was, by her attitude, very sure that I was a pedophile. She kept giving me "looks". I went over to her and explained that I really didn't want to take pictures of kids on the horses, just the horses. She calmed down, but I felt really uneasy and went away without any good shots. And I'm a 46 year old woman. I can imagine what kind of looks a guy would have gotten. I'm sad the world has come to this.

[Kinger]

My reply may not be photography related but I think it does apply to the situation. I work in an Emergency Room of a local hospital, and there are times I am put in somewhat intimate situations with female patients, like helping getting them changed in gowns, bedpans, placing them on heart monitors. When I first started I too got nervous because I didn't know what my patients were thinking, but I have began to realise if you present yourself profesionally people tend to react to you in a professional manor.

[CyberDyneSystems]

...when at one point it just occured to me what I might look like to some of the parents there.... old white guy with huge lens on his camera....

Some day I'll figure out where the Boys league plays...

and that's gonna look better how? :?

Er.. good point.. It seems I am just collosaly naive :?

[Lisard]

I am 30 y.o. female and I am pregnant with my second child. I was shooting my little one on the beach and spotted couple of pretty toddlers playing with a ball. I pointed my camera and got a perfect shot. One second later I had to do a lot of explaining to their angry mother. She literally called me a pervert. I can't even imagine what's it like to be a guy who works as a photographer for kids-related magazines. Some people in this country need a serious mental help.

[henkbos]

Don't see the connection there, Bloo Dog.

In the poor (African) countries there's nothing against people asking for money for a shot. Just cam back fro Ethiopia and paid for every shot that I took of people. Makes their lives a little easier.
Doesn't get Claudia Shiffer paid for her shots?

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[ajax]

I am a middle-aged female who looks very normal (whatever in the heck that is!). I often eat lunch in a nearby park, near a playground. I have approached a few mothers of playing youngsters and asked if they mind me taking photos of their children--and I explain that I am practicing action shots (kids swinging, running, playing).

Usually they say "sure" but if I sense the tiniest hesitation, I tell them I understand their reluctance and I head over the flower bushes and click away.

There's a young girl that comes into our government office with her father [he's a customer]. She's about 2 and absolutely the cutest child I have ever seen--the father was commenting on how he finds it oddly disturbing to have strangers continually comment on her appearance. I am not a parent, so, it's hard for me to empathize--tho I do try!

[Ikinaa]

I am 30 y.o. female and I am pregnant with my second child. I was shooting my little one on the beach and spotted couple of pretty toddlers playing with a ball. I pointed my camera and got a perfect shot. One second later I had to do a lot of explaining to their angry mother. She literally called me a pervert. I can't even imagine what's it like to be a guy who works as a photographer for kids-related magazines. Some people in this country need a serious mental help.

that's bad...
I wanted to suggest in answer to a post before that if you have children, take them with you on the shooting, so that you don't look like a sort of pervert when shooting in public places... but I guess that suggestion isn't valid anymore now...
are people really so paranoid in certain places?
I do sometimes some shooting in the school area in my local village (my daughter is now six) when there are some events. Of course there's not only my daughter on the pics, but other children too. Never had someone complain (I don't know more than 10% of the people in the village and I guess they don't know me either). Even last time a mother approached me and said : 'Too bad I forgot my cam'. I just showed her the last pics I had taken and asked her : 'You want that one'. She was really happy.
Or is it because I have a G3 that doesn't look big. Will it change when I have a SLR? Does anyone have different experiences with different types of cams?

[JoeTampa]

Tiny digicam = parent.

SLR = perv.

Long lens = well equipped perv.



On a pseudo-related note, I was shooting the changing of the guard at Buckinham Palace along with hundreds of other tourists. When did I get approached by the police? As soon as I got the 100-400 out.

[Andy_T]

On a pseudo-related note, I was shooting the changing of the guard at Buckinham Palace along with hundreds of other tourists. When did I get approached by the police? As soon as I got the 100-400 out.

... but that was because they thought it might be a rocket launcher :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

[Ikinaa]

On a pseudo-related note, I was shooting the changing of the guard at Buckinham Palace along with hundreds of other tourists. When did I get approached by the police? As soon as I got the 100-400 out.

... but that was because they thought it might be a rocket launcher :lol:

Best regards,
Andy

You're right :
Canon 100-400 : http://www.brickmeister.com/pause/pix/space/462.jpg

Rocket Launcher : http://salzburg.com.geizhals.at/img/pix/44377.jpg

[Ferox13]

This is a VERY informative thread because I've wondered similar things taking pix of strangers. This came up on another thread a while back and what came of taking pix of strangers was that it's legal if it's in public unless you try and profit from it, then you need each person's permission.

Regarding photographing kids, I adore all children, so I love taking shots of them. What I often do is, I'll put my kids "in the mix" where the parent's don't even know I'm taking shots of theirs! Works real well.

Also, I own a Sony VX2000 and I've recorded some hilarious karaoke videos I put on my web site sometimes of some people acting silly, and some who sing terribly. I usually get permission for those though. I'll have some up in a couple of days if anyone is interested in seeing them.

[Mthorpe_Davies]

Some day I'll figure out where the Boys league plays...

So an old white guy taking picturers of boys teams is a better look than an old white guy with a big lens taking picturers of a girls team, think about it.

It really sucks how society judges people.

[DKFSTUDIOS]

Carry a few business cards. That works for me. I also live in a small area so just about every one knows what i do. If they see me taking a picture of their kid, i feel pretty sure i will get a call, to see the pics. If i happen to be in an area where I am not known, i talk to people, give them my card, just one look at my camera and camera bag will tell them im a professional.

[aam1234]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but why would anybody photo kids if their own kids aren't involved in the sport/event where other kids are (i.e other kids defending the goal in when your kid is going for a score).

[DKFSTUDIOS]

Easy, Im a sports photographer. Many times befor a tournament season begins i go out and shoot so i have fresh pics to use for examples

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'm not a sports photographer.. and I'm pretty bad at it.. so to try and get better.. I would want to find any game in town that I don't have to pay to get in.. and I can bring a camera.

[aam1234]

Thanks DKFSTUDIOS, but I was referring to the whole idea in general.

[aam1234]

Hi CDS,

I don't have kids, but I would imagine that I'd be very upset if a stranger started taking pics of my kids.

[BoySpot]

Why do you take pictures of adults? Because you think it makes a good picture. Why should it matter whether it is a kid or an adult?

[aam1234]

Because an adult can say "no" if he/she doesn't want to be photographed.

[Cheese]

Hi CDS
If you want to try taking sports pictures you would probably be best at an amateur event involving boys in the 15 to 18 age range.

My son is in that age range and plays on a baseball team. I'm sure if someone such as you were to approach the coach and explain why he wanted to take pictures and had a business card it would be okay. You might even be able to develop a relationship with a the team and perhaps become their official photographer.
Most amateur teams have very little money so perhaps if you offered to help out by taking some team or individual pictures you could develop this into a whole carear field.

Just a suggestion

Ron

[BoySpot]

During the middle of the action, the adults can come over and say don't take my picture. Doesn't seem so likely. What about crowd scenes at a carnival, shots of the crowd at a sports event etc. It's not like your invading privacy here. Do we lock everyone up until they are 18. This is tail wagging the dog stuff.

Supposedly kids are at no greater risk from adults now than they were 30 years ago. Everyone is just scared more. Besides, the ones that kids are at greatest risk from are their own parents. How do you legislate for that?

[kangaroodent]

asdf

[KO_300D]

Hi CDS,

I don't have kids, but I would imagine that I'd be very upset if a stranger started taking pics of my kids.

I've got one (second arriving January) and I completely agree that if someone started taking an interest in photographing my kid I wouldn't be too pleased about it.

On the other hand though, there are some situations where this sort of view can cause problems too.
i.e i'd have loved to have my camera with me the first time I took my daughter swimming at 6 months old, except I didn't have the option because it's just something that isn't allowed. I've recently been taking her to a baby playgroup too and it would be great to have some shots of that too, but I'm afraid to ask and I expect it will also be a complete no-no.

It kind of takes the fun out of things a bit but at the same time how well do you know and how much can you trust someone who has taken a picture of your child?
I recently read an article in my local paper which quite shocked me. This girl I used to live down the street from and went to school with (since nursery school right through til the end of high school) has two older brothers and it was one of her older brothers in the paper for child pornography charges. Not only did he own a number of images but he was making them too.

Puts the whole 'innocent swimming pool pictures' into a completely different perspective.

[DKFSTUDIOS]

Ok I think we are going off the deep end. If your doing it for practice or selling the pritns taht is one thing. If your doing either, then you have sample shots taht you can show as well as a business card. Just be wise to what your shooting and how you shoot it. If your on the up and up, then you defently have nothing to hide.
No mater what i may be shooting, wedding, sporting event, autoracing ect. if i see a shot of a cute kid im going to take it. And if i take it, im also going to sell it. One great shot of a child will sell, and its been proven over and over again.

[Andy_T]

Puts the whole 'innocent swimming pool pictures' into a completely different perspective.

KO,

I think that it is a big no-no to photograph unclad children. (Maybe that also applies to lizard's post and explains the reaction of the mother ??? )

Reason for that is that there *are* perverts who will get off on pictures of naked children.
No matter what was the intention when taking the picture, those people are buying those kind of pictures for that reason and I think you would not appreciate the idea.

So if I would I see somebody on the beach specifically taking pictures of naked children, I would most likely report him to the police so that they are able to check out if he is a child molester or not.

Taking pictures in a playgroup where the children are clad would be something else in my opinion, and I would encourage you to ask the other mothers if they mind. Most likely they also would like to have memories of that time. When my wife took the G2 to their playgroup, the other mothers were very happy that they would get pictures later.

Best regards,
Andy

PS: I can tell you that I was really relieved when we found out that our second child was also going to be a son :lol:
Of course I'd adore a daughter, but I had been having nightmares about experiencing father's jealousy when my daughter might be 13 :lol:

[blackviolet]

as a parent of 3 (ages 11 down to 1), i certainly would get weirded out by someone - especially a guy - who is taking *lots* of pictures of my kids. i'd definitely have a problem if they were at the pool. but if they were doing that i probably would have taken myself anyway, i certainly don't mind.

it certainly does help if you talk to the parents and carry some business cards. i also show them some examples.

it is a sad world, though, spoiled by a relatively small group. if any of you are ever in sydney and want to take photos of my sons or daughter, you have my blessing. besides... they're used to having thousands of photos taken every week 8)

[JasonMX]

"On a pseudo-related note, I was shooting the changing of the guard at Buckinham Palace along with hundreds of other tourists. When did I get approached by the police? As soon as I got the 100-400 ou"

Wow, I had a very similiar thing happen to me. I just got my Digital Rebel (w/tripod) and was out at night taking shots of the moon. All of a sudden this lady runs up to me saying "Who are you and what are you doing?" I explained I was taking pictures of the sky and she look weary. Then she said "Do you live here?" I said, you I have lived at this complex for two years.

She then proceded to walk me to the security desk where she asked for all kinds of identification and basically interrogated me. Finally I was allowed to leave and I went home. My roomate, who was very pissed about this, called later that night and found out that several neighbors called the front desk "Seeing a strange man taking pictures" outside.

Next time am going to get a big orange jump suit with "Amature Photographer" on the backi in glow in the dark lettering.

[aam1234]

WAW :shock: This is sad...very sad.

[KO_300D]

Puts the whole 'innocent swimming pool pictures' into a completely different perspective.

KO,

Reason for that is that there *are* perverts who will get off on pictures of naked children.
No matter what was the intention when taking the picture, those people are buying those kind of pictures for that reason and I think you would not appreciate the idea.

So if I would I see somebody on the beach specifically taking pictures of naked children, I would most likely report him to the police so that they are able to check out if he is a child molester or not.


Hi Andy,

Oh no I definitely agree with you on that one - I would never take any 'swimming pool' type pictures of other people's kids and wouldn't entertain selling them under any circumstances - even if another parent asked me to take them and print them for their own memories. No chance.

It's just that I would have really liked to have some shots of my little one smiling and splashing about in the pool to be able to look back on in future years. It's a bit annoying sometimes that other people impose restrictions on you having such photographic memories, but at the same time I totally appreciate the reasons behind these measures being taken and wouldn't argue them at all. Besides there will always be plently of opportunities for great photos when you introduce your kids to other fun activities.