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I have a new camera & am a novice photographer..
When at a public place or crowd event and I am playing with my camera , exactly what is okay..
A picture of group of kids playing at a park ?? I ride at the fair with kids on it.
A close up of one cute kid on that ride ??
A cute kid & pet at a park ??
My kids are all grown and I am trying to think what I would have thought about each of the above.
Any indication that a photographer was zooming in on my kid would have bothered me..
I have read on here that it's the photographers legal right to photograph anything, if it's in a public place. If it can be seen from a public place anything can be photographed.
Having said that some parents may confront you as you zoom in on their progeny. Some just verbally, some may even physically assault you and some may try the legal approach and involve a member of the local gendarmerie.
WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A PHOTOGRAPHER
In a nutshell, if you are standing on public property, such as a city street, city sidewalk, or public park, you may legally photograph anything and anyone that you can see. The same applies if you are on private land with permission of property owner.
You may NOT publish photographs of recognizable individuals without their specific and written permission, or in the case of minors, without the permission of their guardian.
Common sense dictates that photographing minors in public, children unknown to the photographer, can raise concerns about proprietary behavior. Better to gain prior permission, than defend one's activities in a verbal or even a violent confrontation. Or even worse in a police station or court of law.
Here are some internet references worth printing and making available when questioned by private citizens or public servants, such as police:
I have read on here that it's the photographers legal right to photograph anything, if it's in a public place. If it can be seen from a public place anything can be photographed.
Having said that some parents may confront you as you zoom in on their progeny. Some just verbally, some may even physically assault you and some may try the legal approach and involve a member of the local gendarmerie.
Spot-on. And just because it's legal, that doesn't mean the cops won't hassle you. In general police are woefully ignorant of photographer rights and most likely would side with the parents. You could even be accused of being a pedophile. I know photographers that this has happened to. If it went to court, you would win assuming you had a half-way decent lawyer. But at what expense and possible damage to your reputation? Tread carefully there.
I would not be close enough for a parent to even realize, and would respect any concerns..
They could still notice, even with a telephoto lens. In fact, trying to do it on the sly may make it seem even more devious.
I've known photographers who have been confronted by parents even when they weren't taking photos of kids. For example, a friend of mine was once doing a photoshoot of an adult in a park and suddenly, a parent was there screaming at her that she couldn't take pictures of her daughter. My friend tried to explain that she wasn't, she was taking pictures of the adult stood in front of them and even tried to show the woman the images on the camera's LCD but this psycho woman wouldn't stop ranting long enough to look.
If someone can imagine that a photographer is taking pictures of their kids from afar, they can probably spot someone actually doing it too.
And as pointed out, since you can't publish the photos without the parent's consent anyway, what is the point of taking them without permission?
I think the best thing to do would be when you notice there are some kids in the background , kind of holler out towards the parents "Just so you know some of your kids are in my picture , is it okay to let them stay or do you want them out of it ? " that usually breaks the ice and lets parents know that you are concerned for their safety as well . Whenever I have done this the parents are usually grateful and say thank you . It solves alot of confusion and anger . I hope I have helped .
You need a model release signed by any person you'd like to photograph. If you publish those photographs and the parents happen to find them online, you will face a costly law suit. If you see a group of kids playing, try to approach the parents, and explain why you'd like to photograph them, offer a link to the photos, and have them sign a release. I am a pro photog, and I will not allow anyone to photograph my children without written permission.
I would stick to taking a photograph of my own child and no one else's especially with the "sue you for waking up" crazy society we live in today. Limit it to scenery, trees, grass growing, paint drying or get all the legal issues put into a document and signed by anyone and everyone you photograph or their legal guardians/parents if you plan to publish.
I should have added that I am not a photographer however, I have taken pictures of children from time to time but I have asked their parents permission and it is usually around Halloween because their costumes are cute of the child has a cute saying on a t-shirt. After the photo is taken with my phone I show it to the parents and make sure they approve before I keep it on my phone, if they do not approve I have them push the delete button on my phone so they know the photo has been deleted.
Last edited by CSD610; 11-03-2012 at 09:14 AM..
Reason: Added a paragraph
You need a model release signed by any person you'd like to photograph. If you publish those photographs and the parents happen to find them online, you will face a costly law suit. If you see a group of kids playing, try to approach the parents, and explain why you'd like to photograph them, offer a link to the photos, and have them sign a release. I am a pro photog, and I will not allow anyone to photograph my children without written permission.
Absolutely wrong. The only time you need a model release is when the photographs are used for commercial purposes. I can take pictures of your kids in a public park, with or without your permission, put them on my website and there's not a darn thing you can do about it.
That is in the UK, and it is worth Nothing here, and it doesn't even look legitimate, as in Gov Backed.....We live in the US. You take a photo of kid and you'll get a law suit in your mailbox.
My KIDS are NOT PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kdog
Absolutely wrong. The only time you need a model release is when the photographs are used for commercial purposes. I can take pictures of your kids in a public park, with or without your permission, put them on my website and there's not a darn thing you can do about it.
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