The most annoying thing someone has said to you about your street photography

[TheHoff]

What are the most annoying things people have said to you either while taking a candid or looking at one of yours?

I particularly hate "Is that for the paper? Take my picture!"


As a comment about a photo -- this was a response in a Flickr group, normally a pretty good group, and someone said about my one of my images

"Why can't photos like that happen to me?"


:mad: :mad: :mad:

[Pitbull-Lady]

When you have the camera turned at an angle, getting a great candid, just snapping away and they say, "Like that's going to turn out, :rolleyes:you don't even have the camera straight."

[prcrstn8]

Re: candids (or anything else for that matter) - "what kind of camera do you have?"

As if it matters.

[rooeey]

Take a photo of me and i will shove that camera up your %$^^

It has only happenend once i mean the threat not the action........

[haisai-ojisan]

Although I can understand the reason for it sometimes but I hate when I'm asked:
"What are you taking a picture of?"

"Yo' mama!"
"What's it to you?"
....so I feel like saying.

[Jason C]

Me: "Is it cool if I take your picture?"

Them: "Will I get any money?"

AND...

Them: "You cannot take pictures on this property."

[SlowBlink]

Do you have permission to take photographs here? (Yes I have a note from my Mom)

[BillsBayou]

At the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival:

I was taking photos of dancers in front of the "Fais Do Do" stage. I would interrupt them gently with me holding my camera up and a look of expectation on my face. It was my "Please, may I take your photo look." Most nodded and smiled.

I had one guy go ballistic on me. "I'm sick and tired of you photographers taking my picture. You tell me you're going to send me a copy of the pictures and I never get any. No! You can not take my picture!" I smiled and did my best "It's quite alright, I just thought I'd ask first" sort of speach.

The following day, I saw the same guy walking across an open stretch of ground. He was furious about something and quite vocal about it. He was all alone as he walked and shouted.

I realized the guy was mentally disturbed. I'm glad all he did was yell at me. The woman he was dancing with, the day before, was a calming influence on his rage. I think back and realize that she was his "handler."

I've made it a rule never to photograph the mentally disturbed.

[Jim G]

What are the most annoying things people have said to you either while taking a candid or looking at one of yours?

I particularly hate "Is that for the paper? Take my picture!"


As a comment about a photo -- this was a response in a Flickr group, normally a pretty good group, and someone said about my one of my images

"Why can't photos like that happen to me?"


:mad: :mad: :mad:

Happen to me??? Happen to me!?!

Gah!

I get the former a heck of a lot... often drunk people. I've learned to pander to them a bit as a couple of times when I haven't I've been chased. :/

[nicksan]

Probably not related...

I was with my wife, shooting in NYC and bumped into some friends also interested in photography.

They looked at my camera and promptly said "Wow...isn't that the camera that costs $3000 or $4000?!?".

That wouldn't be a problem, except I never told my wife how much my 1DMKIII really cost.

She was like "Nooooo....that? He bought that used on Ebay". (No I didn't...she thinks I did.)

Me? "Uh...yeah...that's right. This thing? I buy all my stuff used on Ebay".

...annoying...

[SlowBlink]

Yah, it's annoying when you get busted! LOL:D

[droberts]

Most annoying was Beale St in Memphis...amazing how many drunks will walk up tp a complete stranger and ask you to take their picture. Everytime I turned around.
The street performers where actually the most receptive to having their pictures taken.
Next were the homeless. ( Although they did ask alot about how much my equipment was worth...hmmmm.) Usually the homeless were either indiferent, or knew that it was a good opportunity to make a buck or two. It was interesting to hear their stories though. Some even insisted that their picture be taken, and wanted you to take their story and spread it, with the theme that this is the "real city" not the fancy places and people you see in the tourist brochures.

[Sp00ks]

I've made it a rule never to photograph the mentally disturbed.

Classic! Gave me a good chuckle.

[cosworth]

Mine is quite boring for some, but it particularly annoys me.

"You can't take my picture without my permission".

Oh yes I can. Ignorance is the impediment to man's enlightenment. To actually think that you are privy to your image alone in public is absurd.

[sacral]

Mine is quite boring for some, but it particularly annoys me.

"You can't take my picture without my permission".

Oh yes I can. Ignorance is the impediment to man's enlightenment. To actually think that you are privy to your image alone in public is absurd.

AGREED. +1

[EOSBoy]

I remember shooting at a wedding with my 24-105L on the wide end. As I focus on the eyes and recomposed to get their whole bodies, they're like..."why are you shooting our feet? does he know how to take pictures?" I snarled and growled all day because of that.

I went to a Woodstock like music festival and a crowd of drunks insisted that I was the press and should take their drunken pictures...

And I did!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2231/2412299208_027ce497ea_o.jpg

[Livinthalife]

I hate when reviewing images with clients, and they say "That is such a nice camera!" What about me as a photographer or the at least comment the lenses ;)

[SlowBlink]

While at a stop light "So how much is that whole outfit worth?" I gave my standard Rain Man answer: Bout a hundred dollars. Like he was expecting me tell him?

[Karizmatik]

I hate when reviewing images with clients, and they say "That is such a nice camera!" What about me as a photographer or the at least comment the lenses

I remember I was reviewing with a client one time, and the client said, "Wow! It looks like they were taken by a pro!"

"Oh really? My mistake, I guess I should've charged you a few more thousand then!"

[Livinthalife]

I remember I was reviewing with a client one time, and the client said, "Wow! It looks like they were taken by a pro!"

"Oh really? My mistake, I guess I should've charged you a few more thousand then!"

haha!!! Funny now, but not then though, right?

[Roy Mathers]

Although I can understand the reason for it sometimes but I hate when I'm asked:
"What are you taking a picture of?"

"Yo' mama!"
"What's it to you?"
....so I feel like saying.


They might just be genuinely interested.

[geoffpowell]

Just received a e-mail full of outstanding wildlife actions shots (with no recognition for the photg) with the caption "Some people press the button just at the right time"... ignoring the fact that in most cases... "Some people spend days finding the best viewpoints, have the patience to wait for hours on end, and the skill and experience to know how to capture these fantastic images".

[Karizmatik]

haha!!! Funny now, but not then though, right?

No, no.. It's still not funny now (Okay maybe a little!) lol. I still wish I had've just stood up and walked out. But I gritted my teeth and persisted and got paid, then went on a spending spree with lenses to make myself feel better, and look even more like a "pro" (Joking) lol.

[canonnoob]

I think one of mine is "Who do you shoot for?"

I guess sometimes people think you only shoot because you HAVE to not because you want to.. but then again I do work for photo services here on campus lol :)

[LCF]

They might just be genuinely interested.


I agree, some of us are way too paranoid
Being polite and not snappish usually goes a long way to even earn that respect photographers deserve or think they deserve

I agree, some people are ignorant, but it's not their fault, if they all knew everything about photography, many of us could actually be out of a job hehehe

[digirebelva]

Yep got the "Youre not allowed to photograph the building" comment from a securiy guard. Since the shot wasnt worth arguing over I simply walked away.. By the way I was standing on public sidewalk at the time..
Really bothered me that I am unable to show a point of law that specifically states that ues you can.

[Village_Idiot]

"Hey, can you spare some money? I need to get a cab to Winchester and I don't have any money. I'm stuck here until I can get some money for a ride home"...

And all they really want is money for beer...

I rarely ever carry more than $20 cash on me at one time and I'm not about to give some one money so they can go buy a 40oz. I'd rather go buy one for myself.

[Livinthalife]

"Hey, can you spare some money? I need to get a cab to Winchester and I don't have any money. I'm stuck here until I can get some money for a ride home"...

And all they really want is money for beer...

I rarely ever carry more than $20 cash on me at one time and I'm not about to give some one money so they can go buy a 40oz. I'd rather go buy one for myself.

That's not something they said to you cause you were taking photos, it's something they say to anyone walking by! :)

[Village_Idiot]

That's not something they said to you cause you were taking photos, it's something they say to anyone walking by! :)

No, but it always happens while I'm taking pictures.

[LCF]

Maybe cause you're always taking pictures ;)