[Donna Joslyn Participant Posts: 1]

Street

on: October 25, 2023 at 7:44 pm

I love street photography. But I’m in a quandary. When taking pictures of people whose faces are clearly in the picture, what do I do? Do I get permission before the fact? In which case, it’s posed, no longer serendipitous? Do I ask permission after the shot, and delete it if they say No? Do I take it anyway, and never publish it? What do people do?

 

[Christopher Sanderson Gold Member Posts: 330]

Re: Street Photography & Privacy

Reply #1 on: October 26, 2023 at 9:41 am

It very much depends on your location. Some countries have strong privacy laws and the street photographer’s choice of subject can be severely constrained. Some cultures have a strong expectation of privacy and again opportunities for street photography are few.

If there is one idea about this issue to hold onto, it may be that you restrict your photography to locations where you know that the expectation of privacy is low. Examples might be a busy fun fair or street festival, perhaps a social gathering of like-minded people where the mood is light. Be guided by eye contact. If you feel through a look or a glance that you are intruding on a person’s privacy, you likely are – so smile and retreat. Stay light on your feet, work fast and avoid obviously long lenses that ‘intrude’ and shout ‘paparazzi!’

[Chris Kern Participant Posts: 45]

Re: Street Photography & Privacy

Reply #2 on: October 26, 2023 at 5:22 pm

Christopher Sanderson wrote:

Excellent point.  One addendum: if the faces of children will be visible and their parents are onsite, I ask permission of the parents.  (If the parents aren’t available, I either don’t make the shot or—when it’s feasible—frame the picture so the kids’ faces aren’t identifiable.)

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