By Mishelle Lane | Leave A Comment
If you’ve seen any of my photography you know that I am absolutely in love with taking pictures of old barns, broken down houses, rusted and abandoned cars, etc.. Those shots seem easy enough to get, right? Wrong.
A few weeks ago I stopped the van, hopped out, flicked on my camera, and started shooting this awesome old dwelling. Two clicks in I heard some obnoxious horn honking. I thought to myself that it must have been some passers by, until I looked up and saw a big F-250 blocking my mini-van.
“HEY! Do you have permission to take pictures of this place?” the burly woman hollered.
I paused then answered truthfully, “No ma’am.”
“That’s right. Now get the *bleep* off my property,” she scolded.
“I’m sorry,” I said, “I will delete them and be on my way. I just love old places—”
“Just leave,” she interrupted.
I left feeling rather embarrassed and disheartened. It was the first time anyone had yelled at me for taking a picture of something. I didn’t like it, but I totally understood. That being said, I guess if I really wanted to take a picture of it I could have found the owner through the proper channels, and approached [her] with a release form; I’m just not at that point in my career. But soon I will be. Soon I will REQUIRE permission if I ever want to sell or publish my work.
Conversely, I have asked strangers if I can take their photo without any hesitation. And I haven’t had one turn me down yet.
While on the Blissdom’09 Photowalk in downtown Nashville I asked a couple different people if I could take their picture. They were all happy to pose for me.
These men admired my camera as I snapped the building they were standing in front of. After their admiration I asked without hesitation, “Would you mind if I took your picture?” They didn’t and the picture that I got is one of my favorites:
Then there was this older couple looking out over the Cumberland River. The wife was taking the husband’s picture just as I was taking my picture of the river. I asked them if they would like me to take their picture together, and they did. The man said something about how their point-and-shoot must be easier to handle than mine, and I told him that maybe it was just a bit, but that their camera was a great one (it was a Nikon Coolpix.)
Then I asked them if they would mind if *I* took a picture of *them* with my camera. This was the result of simply asking:
As photographers we should not be afraid to ask someone’s permission to take their picture.
It’s the right thing to do. The worst they can possibly say is no.
ABOUT Mishelle Lane
THE SECRET AGENT MAMA OF THE BLOGOSPHERE. SHE IS A WIFE, MOTHER OF FOUR, PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER,{read more}
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Cool post. & yup, gotta ask. ;p
Rough about the farm person, though.
As long as you weren’t on her property (if you were on the street or sidewalk) then you were legally allowed to photograph whatever you could see. It’s polite to ask permission, but if it can be seen from the public, it can be shot from the public.
Then again, it’s not worth getting into a rumble with a “burly” lady in an F-250
Great post! I don’t take pics of many things I’d like to…because I’m too shy to ask. sigh….must get over it.
So, then, I guess pointing off in another direction and shouting, “LOOK! Something shiney!” (which will ALWAYS get MY attention) and then taking the shot while they’re distracted, is not the proper way to do it, eh?
I hope my girls don’t come back in 20 years and want all their pics back. I hardly ever ask to take their pics. Shameful.
Funny how “we” as photographers have to ask to take a picture of a barn, building, etc. but some don’t think they need to get permission to take our picture?
I’ve been many places where I’ve been asked not to shoot. I comply, what else am I going to do? Most of the time when I ask, I’m given permission. I’ve learned too, give them a business card and tell them this is where you’ll see your picture.