ask permission before taking someone’s photo?

[Nebulous]

Should you ask permission before taking someone’s photo?

Have you ever taken someones photo without their permission?

 

[tango]

Should you ask permission before taking someone’s photo?

Have you ever taken someones photo without their permission?

It would depend on the context.

If you're talking about a photo where the person is a primary feature of the photo then unless you're something like a news reporter or paparazzi it seems like a basic courtesy to ask.

If you're talking about a picture that happens to include a person I wouldn't worry about it. It's not realistic to ask for every single person's permission if you're taking a picture of a city street as people are walking along it.

Of course it would also depend on what you're planning to do with the picture. If you're wanting to use it in a marketing campaign to promote a controversial product you'd want to be a lot more cautious than if you just want a pretty picture for your holiday slideshow.

 

[Josiah]

What Tango said.

 

[Lamb]

If in a public space you don't have to ask unless that person is what you're actually taking a pic of instead of something else. When we went to the beach a few months ago, there was a couple there with a HUGE dog and everyone was taking pics. Most people asked permission first before taking the photo which was really considerate.

Now consider this, what if someone was taking pics of little kids? I wouldn't give permission for strangers to take pics unless my kid was dressed up as something really cool and others enjoyed it.

 

[tango]

Now consider this, what if someone was taking pics of little kids? I wouldn't give permission for strangers to take pics unless my kid was dressed up as something really cool and others enjoyed it.

If the kids are in a public place there's no expectation of privacy.

It has been made into something a bit weird if people are taking pictures of kids but if the kids are in public and normally clothed there's not much you can actually do about it. If a child young enough to be running around on the beach with no clothes on is photographed there could be issues relating to child pornography but aside from that I doubt you'd have much recourse.

Some years ago I had someone tell me that I couldn't take pictures inside a historic building if there were any children present in the frame. They didn't appreciate it much when I laughed at them. But the reality is if I have permission from the owners of the building (a private building, with an admission fee) you don't get to tell me I can't take a picture because your kid happens to be in it somewhere.

 

[Nebulous]

I never have taken pictures of a stranger, but if I wanted to (for whatever reason) I would ask first!