Some Restaurants Ban Photography

A story from right here in NYC.

http://newyork.cbsloca​l.com …photography-by-customers/

private property, they are allowed to do so.

Not surprised. I gave a workshop to a group of food bloggers last year. It surprised me when I was told how they carry cameras into restaurants to photograph their meals. I think it could be pretty disruptive in a lot of circumstances.

they didnt stop me from taking pics at per se....and with a 430 haha. altho we did have a private room....

I think a better idea would just to ban cell phones. That would stop most people taking pictures AND talking on the phone as well as tweeting and a whole bunch of other stuff that has no place in a restaurant.

ejenner wrote in post #15548541
I think a better idea would just to ban cell phones. That would stop most people taking pictures AND talking on the phone as well as tweeting and a whole bunch of other stuff that has no place in a restaurant.

Yes, because there isn't possibly a legitimate reason to use a modern smart phone in a restaurant.

Couldn't tell you the number of times that I've pulled my phone out during a conversation to double check my calendar for a date that was being discussed. Looking up useful information so I could accurately answer questions, sending reminder emails about issues raised before they were forgotten, and a whole host of other things have all proven very useful over the last few years.

And if you were sitting behind me, chances are you wouldn't have noticed me doing any of those things. Not exactly any more disruptive than pulling out a note book and scribbling stuff down.

mike_311 wrote in post #15548253
private property, they are allowed to do so.

Yep. And I am allowed to decide to dine there, or not (private belly).

Capitalism. It's a beautiful thing.

Reading the article:

The cynic in me thinks it sounds less of a disruption issue and more another thing to charge the customer for. Would be nice if more places allowed guests in the kitchen to photograph, though.

My granddaughters (7) just about always take a shot of their meal with their phone. I'd much rather go out to eat than prepare something at home. They are more than happy to "suggest" a place to eat, I am hoping it is for the good food and not the most photogenic servings.

Joe Ravenstein wrote in post #15549302
My granddaughters (7) just about always take a shot of their meal with their phone.

And soon they'll be videoing it - LINK

I don't think that it will be easy to enforce banning photography of food or anything else in a restaurant. The last few times that I went out to nice restaurants people were having various celebrations and everyone had some sort of camera out. Everything from cell phone cameras, to point and shoots to DSLRs. They took pictures of everything and everyone. If you were to ban photography people would not go to eat there. The staff did not have time to police who was taking pictures of the food.

Someone takes a photo of their meal and posts it to social networks describing what a wonderful meal that was.

Why on earth any restaurant would want to ban free advertising is beyond me.

Because people can't be bothered to understand that their bright, LED "flash" lights on those cell phones are REALLY obnoxious when they're sitting there snapping away and throwing that light directly in your eyes. When I'm having a meal, one of the last things I want is to be being blinded by a small, fireworks display at the table across the way.

Snydremark wrote in post #15555000
Because people can't be bothered to understand that their bright, LED "flash" lights on those cell phones are REALLY obnoxious when they're sitting there snapping away and throwing that light directly in your eyes. When I'm having a meal, one of the last things I want is to be being blinded by a small, fireworks display at the table across the way.

I'd say that's the most obvious answer. Unless you are on friendly terms with the management and can get their "OK" to do a project, then I doubt they would be happy about you having a "flash-a-thon" around their customers. Cell phones and P&S cameras are a bit less intrusive, they could be rude but harder for the restaurant to enforce. Still, they can be rude...

I should have realized it wasn't the restaurants that have the problem, but the over-bearing customers.

I don't know what restaurants you guys go to, but I've personally never been to one that had every customer taking photos and creating a "flash-a-thon".

I'm also going out on a limb and suggest that you probably have an extraordinary sensitivity to white light, because personally, when I am concentrating on eating my food and talking to whomever I may be there with, a led light over in the other corner is of no concern at all (considering the light is pointing down towards the table).

You guys, seriously, over-acting much!

Perhaps, just perhaps, if you want to enjoy a quiet and peaceful dinner without other people and the way they act causing you such concern, you might try learning to cook and eating at home. Of course it sounds like you might have the option soon of being able to eat out without a trillion camera flashes going off directly in your eyes. Just hope your more forgiving of any of the other actions that many of the individuals at these restaurants may perform.