"Why are you taking my picture without my permission?" how do i reply?

Streettographer · Aug 15, 2022

what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

larsbc · Aug 15, 2022

Streettographer said:
what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

"You were in a very cool pose and I didn't want to ruin the moment. I can show you the photo and I'll delete it if you'd like. Can I show my other photos to you to explain what I'm doing?"

That's what I would say but so far, I've never had to. I've only been yelled at once, from a distance, and challenged once ("did you take my picture??" But in all truthfulness I hadn't.). I also keep a tiny photo book of some of my street photos in my camera bag which I can (hopefully) use to help allay suspicions.

Digirame · Aug 15, 2022

I don't know how you should respond, but I just tell them something like that I don't need permission and it's my right to take photos in public place of anything that can be seen. I live in the USA where it's protected by the First Amendment. That happens to me maybe once every year or once every two years where I have to explain that. I'm out taking photos almost every weekend. Sometimes there's people in the photos and sometimes there is not. It would be crazy impossible to ask everyone that's in a photo for permission, especially if there's hundreds of people in the picture.

You could watch First Amendment auditors on YouTube and see how they reply. Some of them won't back down, but I'll not keep taking pictures of them if they are bothered about it. But I never delete my photos and never plan to do that or even discuss it with them.

DirkPeh · Aug 15, 2022

Streettographer said:
(...)

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"(...)"

I think this is the wrong answer. It is the law, or might be the law in the country you live in. So this would be an argument of a lawyer in front of a court, but not between you and another human being that feels offended by your behaviour. Not everything that is allowed is thereby just fine and o.k. If someone really attacks you, this might be your last-resort-anwer, but not the first thing you say.

It is perfectly legal to stare at people you find attractive for example. You could stare at women's breasts all day long, if this is what you like. But I and most people don't do this - for a reason. If you take a close picture of a stranger, you kind of invade the private space of someone else - no matter if it is legal or not.

It is completely legal for a completely drunk guy or girl in a bar to lecture you and your friends about the meaning of the universe and the sense of live in general and not stopping to do this after you and your friends kindly told him or her that you're not interested in his or her philosophies. But I don't want to be this drunken girl or guy although it is legal to do so.

I think real street photography makes you respect and love other people, lets you discover the diginity and beauty of human beings beyond all selfies and staged model shots and your reaction, if someone is not o.k. with what you are doing, should reflect this.

It only happened to me one time that someone offended me the way, you describe it. I guess he was unemployed and was kind of doing a forced job he didn't want to do and afraid that I could take photos of him and publish them on social media. Completely comprehensible, my bad luck.

drynn · Aug 15, 2022

Streettographer said:
...

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

Just tell them the truth... and be courteous when you do.

barbara j · Aug 20, 2022

Streettographer said:
what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

I honor the request and delete the image. I let them see me delete the image if they appear worried about it. I don't need that image more than they need not to be seen. I've only been asked a few times. Once I didn't even know the person was in the clip. I had to reshoot, but so what. This is not a power trip, this is something I do for enjoyment

LDJS Photography · Aug 20, 2022

barbara j said:
Streettographer said:

what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

Click to expand...

I honor the request and delete the image. I let them see me delete the image if they appear worried about it. I don't need that image more than they need not to be seen. I've only been asked a few times. Once I didn't even know the person was in the clip. I had to reshoot, but so what. This is not a power trip, this is something I do for enjoyment

--
@luredbylight

LDJS Photography · Aug 20, 2022

LDJS Photography said:
barbara j said:

Streettographer said:

what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

Click to expand...

I honor the request and delete the image. I let them see me delete the image if they appear worried about it. I don't need that image more than they need not to be seen. I've only been asked a few times. Once I didn't even know the person was in the clip. I had to reshoot, but so what. This is not a power trip, this is something I do for enjoyment

Click to expand...

Exact same here

Don_D · Aug 20, 2022

Streettographer said:
what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

Personally, I would show them the pic and immediately offer to send them a copy or to delete it. Then move on (and follow up).

In my experience this objection is a rare event and your chances of deleting a masterpiece are slim.

I fully realize that in a public place you don't have to do this.

skanter · Aug 21, 2022

Streettographer said:
UStreettographer wrote:

what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

Try to explain what street photography is, and what you are doing out there.

--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” HCB
—
__
Smugmug Galleries:
http://skanter.smugmug.com
—
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sam.kanter/

Cherry_F · Aug 23, 2022

Streettographer said:
what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

well, that's probably the stupidest answer one could forge. That will certainly not improve the situation. Plus, it's wrong in many countries. It's even wrong in the U.S. (you don't mention where you live, but you post feels typically U.S.) at least in California who passed a bill regarding the right to privacy. So you can't shoot a California resident without permission. Same in Quebec.

Streettographer said:
whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

I never shoot people without asking permission. I know it's a lot of missed opportunities but it's a matter of minimal respect.

Digirame · Aug 23, 2022

Cherry, what bill is that in California? Our first amendment right in the USA is that we can take pictures in most public places of people or not, whether it's with a body cam, drone, cell phone or camera without asking permission. In California the Bane's Act forbids people to interfere with a person's constitutional right by force or violence. Can we have a discussion without saying it's the "stupidest answer" just because you don't agree with taking pictures of "people without asking permission"? Do you think that the police should no longer use body cams? Should stores be asked to not use security cameras because you don't agree that we can take pictures of people without permission?

Patrick T. Kelly · Aug 23, 2022

If I'm taking a photo of one person I ask or if I can't I hold up my camera/phone and smile and if they smile back or nod I take my photo. If it's a group of people I just take my photo. If it's a small group performing in public I just take my pictures.

Fortunately, I live in Mexico and in 24 years I've had one person object and two who said, when asked, that they'd rather I didn't take their picture. I can't remember taking a photo of a foreigner here.

BlueRay2 · Aug 23, 2022

barbara j said:
Streettographer said:

what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

Click to expand...

I honor the request and delete the image. I let them see me delete the image if they appear worried about it. I don't need that image more than they need not to be seen. I've only been asked a few times. Once I didn't even know the person was in the clip. I had to reshoot, but so what. This is not a power trip, this is something I do for enjoyment

one of the best answer, my fellow Californian (used to be)

there is no time arguing with people (strangers). i grew up in Sacramento but lived around the Bay area, also. i miss Calif some times but love it here in midwest.

skanter · Aug 23, 2022

Ya Cherry_F said:
Streettographer said:

what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

Click to expand...

well, that's probably the stupidest answer one could forge. That will certainly not improve the situation. Plus, it's wrong in many countries. It's even wrong in the U.S. (you don't mention where you live, but you post feels typically U.S.) at least in California who passed a bill regarding the right to privacy. So you can't shoot a California resident without permission. Same in Quebec.

Cherry_F said:

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

Click to expand...

I never shoot people without asking permission. I know it's a lot of missed opportunities but it's a matter of minimal respect.

Street Photography is a candid genre. It would not exist in its vital history of the past hundred years if photographers “asked permission”. Most street photographers have great respect for their subjects.

You judgemental attitude reveals that you obviously dont get it.

--
Sam K., NYC
“I’m halfway between tightrope walker and pickpocket.” HCB
—
__
Smugmug Galleries:
http://skanter.smugmug.com
—
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sam.kanter/

AlphaMcDelta · Aug 23, 2022

Cherry_F said:
Streettographer said:

what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

Click to expand...

well, that's probably the stupidest answer one could forge. That will certainly not improve the situation. Plus, it's wrong in many countries. It's even wrong in the U.S. (you don't mention where you live, but you post feels typically U.S.) at least in California who passed a bill regarding the right to privacy. So you can't shoot a California resident without permission. Same in Quebec.

I can't wait to be locked up. I wonder what the food is like ..?

Cherry_F said:
Cherry_F said:

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

Click to expand...

I never shoot people without asking permission. I know it's a lot of missed opportunities but it's a matter of minimal respect.

Street Photographers go much further than respect. Respect is just the minimum. Again, you don't do Street so you don't know. You say so yourself.

Also, your gallery has a photo of a man asleep ..did you wake him to ask ..??

ant

AlphaMcDelta · Aug 23, 2022

Streettographer said:
what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

I saw a man wearing an orange shirt. Am not a fan of orange, is a childhood trauma and wanted to tell him that I did not like it ..so I can wholly emphasize with your problem.

Maybe you could google it or ask someone on the internet.

ant

Paulmorgan · Aug 23, 2022

Streettographer said:
what's the best reply to questions like that? they arent asking why i'm taking the picture but why didn't i ask for permission.

i told someone that i dont need permission nor consent in order to take a picture in a public area, but they said "you should ask permission"

whats the best reply to confrontations like this? "Why are you taking my picture without my permission?"

If your getting encounters like that then you are more than likely going about it wrongly.

--
Hoka Hey

Cherry_F · Aug 24, 2022

Digirame said:
Cherry, what bill is that in California?

CCPA - California Consumer Privacy Act (2018)

Digirame said:
Our first amendment right in the USA is that we can take pictures in most public places of people or not, whether it's with a body cam, drone, cell phone or camera without asking permission.

The first amendment dates back to the 18th century if I'm correct. No drones or cell phones back then. No cameras either.

Read the literature about this amendment and you will notice that it is only aimed at government and state personnel. The John or Jane Does one may want to shoot in the street are typically not concerned, unless they were state agents. You need to understand that the 1st amendment purpose was to protect the press from attempts by government to hide events of public interest.

Digirame said:
In California the Bane's Act forbids people to interfere with a person's constitutional right by force or violence. Can we have a discussion without saying it's the "stupidest answer" just because you don't agree with taking pictures of "people without asking permission"?

It's stupidest answer, I repeat, and I'm not aggressive. If someone is angry about you because they don't want you to take their picture, answering that you're entitled to do it is not the best way to improve the situation.

Digirame said:
Do you think that the police should no longer use body cams? Should stores be asked to not use security cameras because you don't agree that we can take pictures of people without permission?

That's another story. Police and security don't film to publish pics. The right to privacy doesn't prevent to photograph people, it's the utilisation of those pics which is more or less controlled, depending on local laws.

When I shoot strangers I always ask for permission before and tell them that the pics will be for my personal records only.

Digirame · Aug 24, 2022

The CCPA - California Consumer Privacy Act (2018) does not apply to street photography that is lawfully done in public where there is no expectation of privacy. No law, policy or feelings override the Constitution. See Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution.

It's my understanding that the courts have ruled consistently about our first amendment right to photograph freely in public places. We don't have to ask permission. Where has there been a case against a street photographer in the USA for lawfully exercising their first amendment right?

Police do have their pictures "published". Go to YouTube and enjoy the videos. Stores also show their videos on YouTube. First amendment auditors are on YouTube too. If anyone harms any of these auditors or their equipment who are lawfully exercising their constitutionally protected rights, they could be subject to felony arrest and/or lawsuit.

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