Why are photos worse than seeing with your own eyes?

Hi All,

Sorry to make this my first post in the people section, but it's something that's been occupying my mind a bit recently. Of late I have started work for a magazine - taking all manner of shots from places, to products, to street signs, to bits of dirt etc etc.

A lot of the work involves shots of people doing activites, such as swimming.

Now today I was asked to go to two different swimming pool complexes to get shots. Both sets of staff at these places were helpful, but did say to me "You cannot take photos of anyone if they appear to be uncomfortable with you doing so" (or some such statement). It was left up to me to determine whether or not the person was 'uncomfortable with me doing so'.

Now here's the stupid thing for me.

I can stand in these places and look (stare if I want to) at everyone wearing their swimming gear - no matter how skimpy or revealing - but to take a photo of the same person wearing that same gear is somehow perceived as being worse than 'watching'. Now please get your minds out of the gutter cause here's an example;

There were a bunch of mothers with their babies doing a swimming session. They were having heaps of fun and the 'theme' of what they were doing fits the magazine very well. They were all quite happy to talk a little to me and discuss what they were doing, but all declined to have photos taken. Now to me that's weird. I could stand there all day and watch, but to take a photo was somehow way worse than that. Just bizarre.

Now these mothers knew what the shot were for, and I offered to show them the resulting shots on the LCD, but they basically looked upon photos as a very very bad thing. I just dont get it.

To clarify, the babies were all fully clothed etc.

Can anyone rationalise the following for me;

"why is a photo of something perceived to be worse than someone viewing the same thing with their own eyes?"


Interested in seeing what you all think. Sorry for the bloated post.

Cliff

By the way, the "cause it will be published and lots of people will see it" argument, does not always apply. I have had this response when just shooting for my own portfolio stuff - not something that will be widely published or viewed by the masses.

Cliff

I think its because they don't know what you are going to do with it. Sure it could just go to a magazine, or never get used... but then again it could end up going to your buddy whos a psycho and wants to kill them (I know that is absurd... but its just the fact that they don't know who is going to see that photo - they know who is watching them)

I think it has a lot to do with your comunication skills, being a good photorapher is not always enough to get the shots you want, you may think you know what you are doing and that its harmless you may even think you comunicated well, fact is if you didnt sell you didnt comunicate well enough. First rule in sales, every single person will buy your product, or let you take a picture of them, you just hve to know how to sell it, or convince them.. I know it sounds strong and generalized but in most cases its true, the best photograpers, sales people, artists, businesspeople, managers, or whatever you can think of that relates to interpersonal communication are those that can handle it with ease and overpower the client, subject or potential buyer with wit and charm


in short they need to trust you. if they dont they can think of a million reasons to not let you take a picture of them

martinsjc wrote in post #3864046
I think it has a lot to do with your comunication skills, being a good photorapher is not always enough to get the shots you want, you may think you know what you are doing and that its harmless you may even think you comunicated well, fact is if you didnt sell you didnt comunicate well enough. First rule in sales, every single person will buy your product, or let you take a picture of them, you just hve to know how to sell it, or convince them.. I know it sounds strong and generalized but in most cases its true, the best photograpers, sales people, artists, businesspeople, managers, or whatever you can think of that relates to interpersonal communication are those that can handle it with ease and overpower the client, subject or potential buyer with wit and charm

Totally agree with that. I have had sucess where I didn't think I would, and have been shot down in cases where I thought it'd be a certainty. The point you make above has been zooming around in my head for a while. I have started to approach things a little differently for each situation I am asked to shoot.

Obviously, there are some activites that are not likely to be a problem, such as a family mountain biking, or bush walking. Activites where kids are seen as the focus - such as playgrounds, or where people are wearing slightly less than normal (swimming etc) are tougher to handle.

Having said that, I believe that I do approach things pretty well. I have to date only had one day where I was flatly refused - and the refusal was not done with any nasty overtones.

I think there are two things to the argument, one is what you are shooting, the other is how you handle it.

Of course, there will always be some who will just flatly be on the "everyone with a camera is a perv" side, but I think I can identify them fairly quickly these days.

It helps to have a business card and magazine with you too, helps ease nervous peoples minds.

I am learning a lot about how to communicate with people. This whole thing has been fantastic for my personal development in terms of confidence and communication skills.

I still cannot help but feel that the PC element is still firmly entrenched in everything we do these days though.

Cliff

slappy sam wrote in post #3864035
I think its because they don't know what you are going to do with it. Sure it could just go to a magazine, or never get used... but then again it could end up going to your buddy whos a psycho and wants to kill them (I know that is absurd... but its just the fact that they don't know who is going to see that photo - they know who is watching them)

Yeah, kind of see how that works. I do always make sure that I carry around a copy of the article text (that will accompany the shots I take), and also the various bits and peices to help with the 'legitimacy' side of things, like business cards etc.

Thanks for the feedback.

Cliff

If I was asked to do an official photoshoot in a public swimming pool, I would ask the staff to put a note on a counter - where parents pay for the session - stating clearly that there is a photographer on site today and if anyone is not comfortable with that, they should let the staff know. In that case people should not complain while they are in the water...

by the way, I would not trust the staff to make a note - print your own!

Starikaans wrote in post #3864258
If I was asked to do an official photoshoot in a public swimming pool, I would ask the staff to put a note on a counter - where parents pay for the session - stating clearly that there is a photographer on site today and if anyone is not comfortable with that, they should let the staff know. In that case people should not complain while they are in the water...

by the way, I would not trust the staff to make a note - print your own!

Great advice. Situation was short notice for me today so wasn't possible to do what you've suggested, but will definitely do something similar next time around (and there will be other times).

Thanks,

Cliff