Portrait Etiquette

[D]

Just a quick enquiry into the minds and attitudes of photographers, both amateur and professional.

If you want to take a picture of someone, do you ask their permission first?

I am not a photographer, but I would never take someone's photo without asking them first. Maybe if I knew the person well I would take their photo but if they were uncomfortable or asked me to delete it I would without question.

I had a conversation this evening with a lady who works in photography and she said that she knows a lot of photographers that would not hesitate to take someone's photo even without ever asking their permission.

Don't get me wrong I think that if it was a crowd scene, or if the person in the photo could not be identified, basically that if the person is not that subject of the scene then it would be OK. Otherwise (In my opinion) would it not be at least polite to ask?

[Fajitas!]

Yes and no, it completely depends on the photograph I want. Sometimes I have to ask the person to get what I want, if not, I'll snap away.

There's nothing legally wrong as long as it's all in a public place, etc.

[Borderfox]

Some of my work involves taking pictures of people (discreetly) and other work involves asking people so it depends on who is paying.

[KarmaGarda]

It depends on the type of photo I want. Although, as of yet I haven't needed that photo that required the person to do a certain thing or look at a certain thing etc. Futher to that point, if I took a photo of a person and they asked me to delete it I probably would.

It is quite a funny one this. I'm one of those that doesn't see why we should ask permission to take someones photo on a street. It's just a photograph. As long as you're not portraying them a negative manner then it's no biggie. Seems to be some stigma attached to it these days that I can't quite put my finger on.

[melekalikimaka]

again it all depends on what i want

[sheesh]

most photographers would be of the opinion that if you see a good photograph you should take it before its gone you can ask for permission afterwards.

[Paulw]

Shoot first, ask questions later ... where did I hear that before??

It really depends on the shot.

Also, it wouldn't be for portraits, but more street photography.

[KarmaGarda]

Exactly. Although the dos and don'ts vary dramatically from photographer to photographer. A good example of how I personally wouldn't do it is the Bruce Gilden method: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkIWW6vwrvM

[DaireQuinlan]

Originally Posted by KarmaGarda

Exactly. Although the dos and don'ts vary dramatically from photographer to photographer. A good example of how I personally wouldn't do it is the Bruce Gilden method: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkIWW6vwrvM

Ah Bruce Gilden He -does- get some absolutely stunning shots though, you have to admit that. End justifies the means and what not.

"I'm known for taking pictures very close, and the older I get, the closer I get."

[sheesh]

Originally Posted by Paulw

Shoot first, ask questions later ... where did I hear that before??

It really depends on the shot.

Also, it wouldn't be for portraits, but more street photography.

True of course but the op seemed to be leaning that way. the word 'portrait' seems to be more formal somehow than the spontaneous photography referred to in the post.

[GavinZac]

It depends every time for me. If there's no faces then there's no problem. If they see me with the camera i'll usually give them a nod or smile and see their response. If it was someone minding their own business and unaware of me, and they would be identifiable in shot, I would ask. However, I've never felt confident enough to ask :/

[D]

When I use the work portrait I mean a picture of a person, not a picture of an object or a landscape. I may as well give you the entire story.

Last night I was out dancing (swing) all of a sudden I catch a flash to the face and then realise that there is some random girl standing at the edge of the dance floor snapping at me repeatedly.

It was really off-putting. I paid into the dance club I am there to dance not be photographed. I probably wouldn't have minded if she had come up and asked if it was ok first and if she hadn't been blinding me with the flash. But she hadn't she just walked up and started taking photos. I tried to move away, to the other side of the floor with my follow (the lady I was dancing with) but she followed me down.

So I left the floor, I didn't feel comfortable and a part of me wanted to smash the camera over her head. So I spent some time at the side waiting for her to leave, in fact several other leads (generally men) and follows were talking about how annoyed they were with the photographer as well and we were not dancing till she left.

She was there for ages snapping away and the dance floor slowly emptied. Eventually I saw there was probably no point in me staying as it looked like she was there for the night. So I walked up to the lady who was the organiser for the night and asked her what the story was. She said that it was a student doing a project. Fair enough I suppose but it was completely off-putting, it wouldn't have taken her more than 5 seconds to ask for permission.

[Paulw]

Originally Posted by D

So I walked up to the lady who was the organiser for the night and asked her what the story was. She said that it was a student doing a project.

I'd bet the organisers gave her permission to photograph, so the organisers should have informed you or requested your permission.

Photography indoors would require permission, since it's on private property.

I'd have more of an issue with the organisers rather than the photographer.

[Fajitas!]

Originally Posted by Paulw

I'd bet the organisers gave her permission to photograph, so the organisers should have informed you or requested your permission.

Photography indoors would require permission, since it's on private property.

I'd have more of an issue with the organisers rather than the photographer.

Well, not really. If the photographer was hired by the organisers/manager/owners, then they've been granted the permission to photograph on private property. The OP was a guest on the property, and by entering, allowed herself to be photographed, non?

[Paulw]

Originally Posted by Fajitas!

Well, not really. If the photographer was hired by the organisers/manager/owners, then they've been granted the permission to photograph on private property. The OP was a guest on the property, and by entering, allowed herself/himself to be photographed, non?

Exactly ... is that not what I said?? It's what I meant.