apple store employee told me to put it away...

[pyrojim]

I was in the apple store today at the iPad display, had my 1D2 out and was taking some pics of people typing on the iPad- really blurred background type stuff, only the closest pinky was visible...


an employee told me "we do not allow photography in here" and I asked why, he told me something along the lines of "its peoples faces and... garble garble garble" as he slowly lowered the volume he spoke with.

Why is photography not allowed in the apple stores? are other retailers like this? I've never brought a camera into a retail store before; totally harmless/innocent-minded use on my part... just standard operating procedure?

[FlyingPhotog]

Private Property = Their Rules = Comply or Leave

[FarmerTed]

This is generally the policy at most retail stores. They don't want competitors coming in and taking pictures of their store layout, prices, etc. Silly, I know, but it is what it is. Grocery stores really hate people with cameras. :)

[PhotoCupcake]

I was in the apple store today at the iPad display, had my 1D2 out and was taking some pics of people typing on the iPad- really blurred background type stuff, only the closest pinky was visible...

Did you have the subject's permission to take those photos? I imagine any store would look at what you were doing as bothering their costumers, which again is bad for business.

[themadman]

Private Property = Their Rules = Comply or Leave

Yep... they don't need to give you a reason.

[PekkaM]

I guess that's how it goes in US. Here in Finland shopping malls and stores with public, unrestricted access are considered public places in the sense that photography also is allowed. Of course it's always polite to ask first. And of course they can throw you out for some other "reasons" but that's a different story then :)

[manipula]

Actually many moons ago I offered to do some product photography for the Apple store in Glasgow, Scotland free of charge to aid them, and to freshen up my folio, and I was refused. The manager's excuse was that Apple didn't want any images of their equipment that wasn't vetted and sanctioned by them, in order to maintain their corporate presence and feel. :?

[neilwood32]

As soon as you are on private property, you have to abide by the owners rules.

If you don't they are within their rights to ask you to leave.

Apple have a particular brand image that they like to keep so my guess would be that only officially appointed photographers would be allowed in any store or event other than a press launch.

[blackhawk]

Ask Apple's corporate office... if you really think it's worth it.

No real surprise they shut you down though.
It's pretty much standard policy with many big chains and malls.
One reason I never go to malls anymore.

[FlyingPhotog]

Actually many moons ago I offered to do some product photography for the Apple store in Glasgow, Scotland free of charge to aid them, and to freshen up my folio, and I was refused. The manager's excuse was that Apple didn't want any images of their equipment that wasn't vetted and sanctioned by them, in order to maintain their corporate presence and feel. :?

Just curious but what did you think you and your camera could do for Apple (through one retail store) that a world-class, world-wide Ad Agency couldn't do for Apple through Apple's HQ?

[Down_Shift]

It's not because of the people, they are afraid you will be selling the pics to China to make fake copies of the iPad. lol.

Got a chance to take a quick snap on opening day.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs418.snc3/25182_511030200603_138200217_30429333_7578873_n.jp g

[manipula]

Just curious but what did you think you and your camera could do for Apple (through one retail store) that a world-class, world-wide Ad Agency couldn't do for Apple through Apple's HQ?

:lol:

Was actually more that at that point they weren't doing any images at all with the new store, which is a big stone/glass affair, and that all the product shots were quite cold, nothing environmental at all.

Plus you know, had to ask, if they said yes to the loan of an iPod or whatever then it'd have made my folio look better. Nothing to lose is there?

[quasparagus]

In my experience the Apple Store has never had a problem with me taking photographs. It may be something to do with the fact that the iPad is rather new......

[Ronald S. Jr.]

:lol:

Was actually more that at that point they weren't doing any images at all with the new store, which is a big stone/glass affair, and that all the product shots were quite cold, nothing environmental at all.

Plus you know, had to ask, if they said yes to the loan of an iPod or whatever then it'd have made my folio look better. Nothing to lose is there?

As most of them are.


That's the way Apple likes things. It goes with their whole idea of being "simple".

[neilwood32]

:lol:

Was actually more that at that point they weren't doing any images at all with the new store, which is a big stone/glass affair, and that all the product shots were quite cold, nothing environmental at all.

Plus you know, had to ask, if they said yes to the loan of an iPod or whatever then it'd have made my folio look better. Nothing to lose is there?

As most of them are.


That's the way Apple likes things. It goes with their whole idea of being "simple".

I think that is their whole in store concept - it allows nothing to distract anyone from the main products!

As for Apple giving anything away, if you think that you need an urgent appointment with a shrink - they give away nothing!

[nonameowns]

use a zoom and snap outside the shop :D

[20droger]

Or, for a completely radical solution, leave them alone and go shoot elsewhere.

[drsilver]

There are stores that will show you the door if you pull out a pencil and paper and start taking notes. Someone with a camera? Holy carp. You could be media, you could be a competitor, you could be ... who knows? Whoever you are, as far as the store is concerned, you're an unknown and nothing good can come from it.

If you asked in advance and had a good reason for shooting in their store, they might consider it. Even then, chances are slim unless you can show them some real benefit. Art for your book won't cut it.

[PekkaM]

This leads to an even bigger question: Why are people so hysterical about photographing them, their houses, their shops, their cars or whatever, even when they just happen to end in a photo where they are not the main topic? I've heard stories from people taking photos of their kids playing with park and other parents come demanding to see that their kids are not in a single picture. I've read of security guards garbbing cameras and deleting photos from people with cameras. SLR's seem to be especially suspicious.

I'm not expecting cybernetics to be really behind the next corner but we are probably not too far from where what you see, you can as well record. Already cameras are small enough and have large enough memory to practically record your whole day if you want to. Security cameras take picture of you whenever you walk in a city.

Basically everyone has to accept that if you go out in public (or let public in your premises), you can be and probably are monitored in some way. We have an entirely different law regarding how you can use photos of other people and publish them (I don't know how it is in other countries). Preventing them being taken is extremely difficult and rapidly approaching impossible (unless they come up with some jamming device).

[birdfromboat]

America is a power hungry society, a zero sum existance. If you take pictures where you aren't supposed to, the guy that was supposed to keep you from doing it sees it as losing some power, and you just gained a little by getting away with it. A lot (not all) of the people thaty do the security guard jobs are getting little pay and take their benefits in power assumptions at the cost of the people that break the small rules they are forced to enforce. They are like small dogs that have to bark all the time, because they can't fight anyway so why save the energy for when it is really needed.
My gut feel from most of these guys is that they hate their jobs. They have to bark like little dogs when someone pulls out a camera , but if there was a robbery and any threat of a weapon involved, they are most likely instructed to lay down and try to hide till it's over.
Try to imagine Dirty Harry Callahan harassing some teenage girl for taking pictures at the mall. Now try to imagine some rental cop at a mall staring down a TRUE bad guy....."do you feel lucky punk? I know you think I won't evict you from the food court, but you gotta ask yourself one question....Do you feel lucky? well do you?"

[burrito]

most store do not allow photography in them due to copycats. I managed an A&F store and we had people always try to take pix or video, the few times i asked they why they honestly told me they were building a similar store in japan. then would proceed to buy 50 tshirts at a time. when it comes down to it, its the business's rules to allow or not allow. the last 2 places i worked also dont allow pix for similar reason.

the apple store on 5th ave doesn't seem to care though since its such a tourist attraction.