Verbal permission enough?

[Gem]

I was just wondering if verbal permission is enough to okay using photographs of people you don't know? I'll be travelling to a country where people don't speak english and most are illiterate too, so signing model releases are out of the question. In such a case, verbal permission should be acceptable, no?

[tirediron]

Like a verbal contract, it's worth the paper it's printed on. It likely won't suffice if you wanted to use the images for commercial work, or to enter a lot of contests.

[AcadieLibre]

Claim your a photojournalist, problem solved.

[tomorrowstreasures]

Claim your a photojournalist, problem solved.

How do you do that?

[Gem]

^^ Yeah, I can't just say I'm a photojournalist...can I?

[tirediron]

Turn around, face Kansas, click your heels together and say, "I'm a photo-journalist". That's all that's required. No law says you actually have to have your images published. The bottom line is that there is nothing wrong with taking pictures of people for the most part (However, as someone's who's just spent the last seven months in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, PLEASE talk to a knowledgable local and ask about what what's considered polite and/or appropriate in the area. In some places, esp. the Middle East, taking pictures of people while legal, is considered very rude, and can get you in trouble).

What I do strongly suggest, especially if you're going to be in poorer regions is have a stack of small denomination local curency handy and "pay" people for their pictures. It will make you friends, and you'll find people a lot more cooperative. This image:



taken recently in Chennai, India "cost" me 20 Rupees (less than twenty-five cents). The fellow in the picture was a street vendor, who sold most of the items on his cart for less than 5 Rupees; to see his face when I gave him the money, you'd thought he'd won the lottery. A tip however, don't "pay" until after you've taken your pictures or all of a sudden they may cost a lot more.

Hope that helps, John

The only reason you would need a release (at least from a North American perspective) is if you intend to use the images for commercial gain (ie advertising) or if you intend to enter them in certain contests. Many big contests now are very sticky about releases if you have anyone who is even remotely recognizable in the image, regardless of the circumstance.

[Gem]

Thanks for the tips and info, John! It was very helpful.

[mindforge]

You don't need permission at all. I almost never ask permission to take a picture of someone. If you are going to use their image in advertising, marketing or mass production you need to get permission but for editorial, fine art or personal collections you don't need permission to take pictures of anyone (in the states, Canada is probably different).

Of course there are some things to keep in mind. You couldn't take a picture of someone in their backyard because they have a right to their privacy and being behind a fence is usually legal lingo for -- this is my private area, don't take pictures or I can get you in big trouble.

There are also lots of other situational things that might make something legal or not. Also, be cool about it. If someone gets upset, delete your image and let them know. Carry your rights with you so that you may inform others of your rights should they get crazy, like a security guard. I have given my camera up once when a police officer asked to see it, I explained that I knew my rights and handed him my copy of my rights. If something like this happens, and he destroys any images I took I do have a legal right that has been squashed, you can usually win a lawsuit. In my case, he handed the camera back, someone told him I was taking upskirt shots of girls -- I was doing nothing of the sort of course. I had one shot where I got really low trying to capture a gap in several peoples' legs into a parade.

[tirediron]

You don't need permission at all.

Hold the 'phone! Stop right there. True (for the most part) in North America, Europe, however the OP mentioned travelling; there are plenty of places in the world where taking someone's picture can get you (1) Hurt, (2) Thrown in jail, (3) Robbed, (4) Your equipment confiscated or (5) Some combination of the above.

This is especially true in certain areas of Asia, and the Middle East. In some places it's simply considered rude to take pictures of people without their permission, and while not illegal, may well earn you a long, protracted tongue-lashing in a language you're glad you don't understand. Not that I know anything about that of course...

Even in Canada and the US, it's only good manners to ask someone for permission to take their picture.

[mindforge]

Yeah, I would do a lot of research on laws in any country I am visiting. This was more of a post about what I do. Also, I mention that this is in the United States, I don't know about elsewhere.

Not only should you know the laws of the country you are visiting - you should try and find a photographer that lives there that speaks English and find out what the 'reality' of those laws are.

In the U.S. while we can take pictures of anything, if you are at a soccer game taking pictures of kids, you are probably going to get approached by an irate father, unless your kid is playing of course. I would advise against this kind of photography - unless you ask the people involved. If I see a shot though, lets say at a fair and it looks great, I take it - sometimes I might approach the subject afterward and show them but usually I move on.

If you are traveling find out what happens to people that take pictures of police or government building because those are usually the big ones.