Asking to shoot.....

I ride out in the "country" a lot looking around. As I rode around today I went through a nice farming area that had a few old barns and buildings in fenced areas (someones property). I wondered what would happen if I knocked on a few doors and asked permission to take some pictures.......

Have any of you walked up to a owners door and asked for permission to shoot things like an old barn or a nice field? If so, what were the responses of the owners?

Tom O., I would be more than happy to let someone photograph my farms, buildings and/or wildlife and I think you will be well received if you do ask permission. I can only speak for my area and point of view but here are some ideas to think about. First of all by asking, the worst that can happen is denial of permission. If you were to trespass without permission, it can be VERY costly here. Landowners are concerned for the liability of people on their land, especially folks they don't know. I would not allow someone around my livestock unless I were with them, strangers aren't always well received by livestock and can become nervous. I do not want anyone on my land just prior to or during hunting season. They may want to know your intentions with the photographs, are they just for your own use or will their barn show up on a calendar next year. We have Amish folks in my area, they have a unique lifestyle, buildings and machinery but DO NOT want to be in any photographs.
Some other options would be shooting from the road, or offering some photos of their homestead to sweeten the deal. If you stop at my house I'll ask if I can go with you, can always learn from others and making new friends is at the top of my list. Good luck with your shooting and post some pics if you take some.

I've done it a few times and always got a favorable response. Once I passed a "No Trespassing" sign just a short distance to photograph the valley with home and barns. While I was setting up, a truck came up the road from the house. I started to apologize, but the owner smiled and said "No problem".

Always best to ask permission as opposed to trespassing. Lots of folks near me raise livestock and don't want people on their land, for the owner's peace of mind as well as for the trespasser's safety...ever see the racks on a herd of Texas Longhorns? They can be close to eight feet across from tip to tip...not something you'd want to trifle with, especially if calves are present. One rancher went so far as put up a sign which reads "Trespassers Will Be Shot"...I think its more humorous than serious, but it gets the point across.

Ask permission and more than likely you'll be well received. Country folk (including me) are getting tired of trespassers. Last year I was taking shots from the road of a beautiful long driveway lined with lupins. The owner of the house came out and yelled at me ..."Hey, what are you shooting from way down there for? It's a better angle from up here at the house!"

Thanks for the replies. Just to clarify I had no intentions to trespass. It's good to read that others have
been successful with asking for permission. I'll have to start stopping and asking.

Nothing to lose by asking.

My parents lived in a home that was fairly impressive looking: it was a largish stone home that sat up on a hill with a large, well maintained front lawn. One time someone brought a brochure to my father's attention that featured his home as the cover shot (like a magazine cover, not one of many). Because of a thick tree line (bushes and trees) that surrounded the property, it would have been impossible for the photographer to take the picture without entering the property without permission. My Dad was really annoyed and called the publisher of the brochure; I know that he made trouble for the photographer (I do not know to what extent). The funny thing is that my father said that if he had been asked, he probably would have been open to allowing the shot -- he was annoyed because he was not asked and the photographer trespassed.

Im a bird hunter and have to ask for permission on private land all the time. I do this occasionally for photography as well.

In my experience, landowners have been far more likely to let me on their land when Im carrying photo equipment than a gun. You may find they arent as willing to let you trapse about during hunting season though, they might be managing their land for wildlife and dont want visitors interrupting the big buck feeding out back.

Ive always offered the landowner a free 8x10 for their generosity, much the same as I usually offer a bird or two if I get lucky during hunting season.

Bottom line - always, always, always resepct the landowners wishes and ask permission first, posted or not.

Definitely ask; the worst they can say is "No" and you go on your way. In the times that I've stopped to ask, and found people home, no one has ever said no, so far. They're usually quite happy to agree.