how and when to ask permission...

I'm curious about when and (maybe more importantly) how you ask someone in public if it is okay to take their picture. I was in downtown Chicago this weekend and was snapping pics and saw many interesting people that I wanted to take a snapshot of but somehow felt it was an invasion of privacy.

Besides, when you see someone off in the distance and they are walking towards you and you see a good moment, do you take the picture then as they catch up to you, say "hey, I took your picture as you were walking, do you mind?". If you ask them first before taking their picture, then you lose the moment and they feel (and look uncomfortable).

My photographer friend says I should have anyone I photo sign a release form if the picture is a clear shot of their face and they could be recognized...

I'm interested in how everyone handles this situation (in particular, when the subject is an attractive woman and you don't want to come across as creepy).

Finally, when you do ask permission, how do you do it?

I'm not taking it for gold, but my father told me (he's been a photog for 35 years) that if it's an obviously public place, you have free roam. However, ask about shooting children. Not so much because they might not want you to, but because some parents can get downright violent if someone "shoots" their child. I've run into this before. If I'm in a park or something, though, I just shoot at will. I try not to use too big of a lens, though...makes you obvious, and makes people nervous (some, anyway). I always use my big custom bracket. When I do, people ask me if it's for the paper. I say "yep, sure is." even if I've never done a darn thing for the paper.

Oh, and I tend to "dress up" a bit. Makes you look like a pro, and not a creep. I don't mean to say that you or anyone is one thing or another, I'm just saying...you know.

IMHO it depends also from where you are at the moment you take the pictures.
If you are in a park with not many people then you will be noticed sooner if taking pictures.
If you are at a great and crowded event then its not so obvious that you are taking pictures from people.
If I see someone that I would like to take a picture of I give her/him a big smile and point first to them
and then to my camera and most off the people smile back and don't mind that you go ahead.
There are people who grabed there friends and familie to get on the pictures to.
Mostly I carry a visitcard and give it to them and if they send me an e-mail I send them the pictures.
Untill now I never had any problem at all. ...

Good luck and happy shooting.

This is a good topic. I have wondered the same thing.

Me too - I wonder around London a fair bit and often see people, either working / sitting around / walking / sitting outside a café...etc that have a somehow appealing look to photo, but I do tend to chicken out of asking them - some people can quite quite abusive if you just snap away at them without asking. - But, I never quite know how to approach people and what to say to them without sounding odd.

The law is fairly simple on the matter (in the UK) you can take a picture of anyone in a public place for personal or editorial use, but a model release form would be required for any other kind of commercial use. But to simply take the picture - you are entitled to do so, imo.

I would however *STRONGLY* advise anyone to seek permission before photographing children - the law is flaky on the subject but the hightened awareness of child pornography has made parents pretty paranoid and quick to react if they see a camera anywhere near their child. There have been a few cases in trafalgar square in london of photographers who have been accosted by angry parents for simply having their child 'somewhere in the frame'. This hasn't been helped by the stupid mayor of London Mr. Livingston proposing 'No photo' areas in the middle of London, including trafalgar square, to 'combat this problem'. - which frankly, is ludicrous!

This is indeed a hot topic, one I started re-3rd world model release forms. Basiclly the feedback was in shot.

- It is always poliet to ask
- Sneak it off and hope they didnt notice (long lens)
- News and media shots are considored public interest and therefore dont need the consent
- Art work shots for private use or sale, are considered to not require a release form
- Stock photos or magazine shots do require permission and a release form
- Public spaces are just that Public

Hope this helps, it's not legal so dont blame me if you get your ass sued for a million or so from some snap subject.

Andyh

This is indeed an often-discussed subject.

A couple of law firms have put together a list of guuidelines:

For Americans:

http://www.krages.com/​phoright.htm

For those in the UK:

http://www.sirimo.co.u​k/ukpr.php

Both sites have quick reference sheets/pamphlets you can print and carry with you, to hand out to those concerned, or heaven forbid, those in authority...

I pretty much apply what has been commented in here:
Ask politely first when I require the subject to pose , or shoot with a tele for candids
Say it's for the paper , or for a contest
I ALMOST NEVER shoot children. When I've done it , I've always asked the parent/s first.
I've never had any problems and very few refusals.

Regards

So how do you approach a stranger and ask them if it's okay to take their picture? Do you normally say something like "hi, i saw you there and thought you'd look great in a picture, mind if I take it?"

Personnely if I am out on a shoot looking for People shots I might take a little sample lamitated sheet with a couple of shots I have already done. 1) this allows them to see you actually can produce somthing of quality and not make them look stupid. 2) That it is worth while them stopping and letting you shoot.

Andyh
Give a little to get a little...

Good subject and I hope to see more experienced people reply. I too am very curious about how people handle this.

Depending on the situation it might be 'Hi, I saw you do something incredibly stupid and was wondering if you mind that I captured it to show the whole world'.

I dont take candid's very often but the point is they are candid shots, I Dont want a pose so i tend to use a long lens .
Rob.

So here's my musing on this. Why is it any different for a news photo than one sold to a magazine. The law is that if the photo is taken for the newspaper or TV (news) etc. then a release is not required, but if it is taken by the photographer to sell to mags or to see as prints or for stock sales then a release is required. Is not the news photo sold to the newspaper, isn't money being made from the use of the photo regardless of whether it's "news" or not. I'm beginning to not see a differenece. Why would one case require protection for the subject and not another?

KAC

That is what I was thinking about. When you see a person that you want a photo of and you ask first then they will be hamming it up for the camera. Candid shots appear more realistic and often look better. Maybe I will mount a mirror to the front of my lens so I will appear to be taking a photo in one direction when I wan really taking one in another.