How do you approach people/ property owners?

[celksy]

Hi all,

Just wondering how people decide when to ask to photograph people in public and on their private property.

For example, people out on the street. Some of the best photos I've seen are not posed for and it's fairly clear the subjects may not have realized they were even photographed. Do you approach the afterward and ask if it was ok or just assume that since they didn't notice that they wouldn't mind?

I imagine that in the cases where people will be looking right at the camera, one would ask first- or at least later? It occurs to me that even though people might notice AS you take their photos you might get a more candid look than if you ask first. In other words, asking first will then mean the picture is posed and you may lose the look you're going for.

Also, some of my favorite non- living subjects come from places like run-down farms. Or at least I'd like them to. There are a couple of these places near where I live and I would love to get permission to walk around and take lots of photos. But I am aware that with "run-down" may come some issues of people who might resent that I want to take pictures of their aged, sometimes rusty or broken-down stuff. To them it may represent some type of personal or financial failure, or they may just think it's really weird that I like this stuff.

One more question- do you generally feel it's ok to "shoot from the road" without getting permission? I have been tempted to do this many times and occasionally will, but sometimes I just feel funny about it.

Anyone who would like to spend a few minutes to let me know how they handle these things, I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts.

[Iguanasan]

This is a common questions which has been answered before but I don't mind reviewing it again as there are always new nuggets of info that come up. First off, it depends on where you live as to what you can do. I can tell you about Canada and the US but you need to research your own laws in the area in which you live.

In Canada and the US if you are on public property you can take a photo of anything or anyone that you can see for personal use as long as you are not looking into people's windows or standing on ladders to see over fences where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy. I generally do not feel the need to ask people, however, a smile and a nod goes a long way if you get "caught" snapping a candid.

These rules do not apply to private property. You cannot go into someone's backyard or on their farm without permission. Shopping Malls and other stores can ask you to stop photographing and to leave but cannot confiscate your gear or make you delete your images. What you get from the road (public space) is fine. Again, as long as you are not going out of your way to get around privacy creating barriers such as a fence or a window.

[celksy]

Thanks Iguanasan. I wasn't asking about laws, as I'd never go onto private property without permission anyway. What I really was after was being sensitive to property owners- in other words, do you feel comfortable asking permission to take photos on run-down farms, for example. Or would you just not do it. (Not asking whether it's legal to just go on people's property- of course it isn't, nor is it ethical.) Thanks again :)

[Marko]

This is totally personal. Etiquette wise it stands to (my) reason that it is best to ask permission 100% of the time. It's the courteous thing to do.
That said, if you do choose to ask, by the time you ask, the moment you wanted to capture is over or has changed to point of disinterest.

So basically to my mind it's really a matter of how discourteous do you want to be. lol.
I can admit to generally asking permission but sometimes being discourteous.
Some cultures/countries have an easier time with courtesy than others. All this is more in reference to shooting people.

If it was a farm I wanted to shoot - I would likely ask if people were home. But I confess that if they were not home, and the object of my desire was bright and shiny, I'd likely be too tempted and shoot it.

Hope that may help.

[Iguanasan]

Sorry, I misunderstood a bit. For me I would definitely ask if there is a reasonable opportunity to do so. For instance, I knocked on a door last year and asked to sit on someone's dock to photograph the Polar Bear Dip. He told me that was fine and to help myself. Afterwards, I printed a couple of 4x6 shots and put them in an inexpensive frame and dropped back to his house and gave him the shots for his wall.

In another incident I was driving along the highway and saw an old building that was just about falling down. I had no idea who owned it and since I am not harming anything and there were no posted signs I walked around and took a few shots of the outside. If someone came by and said anything to me I'd simply apologize. I generally live by the adage that it's easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission. Besides, as Marko said, you might just miss that magical moment while you are off looking for someone to ask.

I figure since I'm not damaging anything and since I'm not peeking in windows, etc. or doing anything creepy or illegal then "no harm, no foul". :)

[celksy]

It's an interesting subject. Very recently my father-in-law died. He had been a prolific local photographer for many years, (as well as being a very well-known and well-liked man in general.) An acquaintance I ran into shortly after his death mentioned having seen a photo he had taken of her front porch- the photo had been on the wall, for sale, at a local restaurant. She said how surprised she had been to see it there and that unfortunately she couldn't afford to buy it. I know a little about this person and kind of doubt she couldn't afford it- I wondered if rather -- this was how I read it: she felt at least a little slightly resentful at finding an image of her porch (pretty Victorian house, lovely hanging flower baskets) for sale without having known it had even been taken. In any case, I was able to find a framed copy among the many works he left behind, and gave it to her. But it made me wonder- should he have at least offered to give her a print? I dunno...... he had definitely taken the photo from the street, so it's not a property issue, but if he was making money from the framed sale.......?

I certainly wouldn't worry about it if I was traveling and snapped a lovely porch scene, to frame and sell in my hometown, but maybe in my own area it would make sense to at least give the person a copy. You all probably have much more experience with this type of thing than I do.

[Iguanasan]

Well, obviously there is no obligation on the part of the photographer to hand over a free copy of their work, however, in the spirit of good will and friendliness I would probably provide a free copy to the homeowner in that case.