I was wondering if there are controls/laws in the US regarding the taking of photos. Here in parts of Europe we are really having to take care not only of what the subject is but also where we can show the results. Some schools ban parents taking photos at sports days or other events and I would say that taking photos of any children in public places will likely get you into trouble. To me it seems that we amateur photographers are punished because of idiots with their mobile phones who then post on the net.
Photography laws in the US
- Thread starter montignac
- Start date
Re: Photography in the US
Its a knee jerk reaction,not sure its illegal in this country but most knowledgeable photographers try not to get children in there street scenes,we are faced with the fact pedophiles walk the streets many with cameras so parents anxiety is understandable,its just the way life is now.
Must admit i try to keep people out of 99% of my pictures
Its a knee jerk reaction,not sure its illegal in this country but most knowledgeable photographers try not to get children in there street scenes,we are faced with the fact pedophiles walk the streets many with cameras so parents anxiety is understandable,its just the way life is now.
Must admit i try to keep people out of 99% of my pictures
Fred Kingston_RIP
Senior Member
Re: Photography in the US
No. We don't have laws like that.
No. We don't have laws like that.
Horoscope Fish
Senior Member
Re: Photography in the US
From a legal standpoint, in the United States, if I can see it from a public location, I can shoot it with very few restrictions; military bases and some government buildings can be exceptions. I also don't worry about people (children) in my shots; it's never been an issue for me except for the occasional request that I send copies via email which I'm always happy to do. People in public are fair game, period. No model releases are required. If you're out in public you can be photographed. Reasonable expectation of privacy applies, however, so I can't shoot from the street into someone's bedroom for example. Kids playing in a park is a good shoot, but someone using the ATM is not.
If I'm on private property, and I'm asked to refrain from taking photo's by the property owner, I'm legally obligated to do so. If I'm on public property I can legally shoot private property if it's in plain view.
Places like military bases and other government buildings typically do not allow photography inside their perimeter. Photographing such locations from a public vantage point can also be prohibited. It's best to avoid shooting them specifically, but if they happen to wander into my shot I don't worry about it and I've never had a problem (and I live in a heavily, military-popular area).
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From a legal standpoint, in the United States, if I can see it from a public location, I can shoot it with very few restrictions; military bases and some government buildings can be exceptions. I also don't worry about people (children) in my shots; it's never been an issue for me except for the occasional request that I send copies via email which I'm always happy to do. People in public are fair game, period. No model releases are required. If you're out in public you can be photographed. Reasonable expectation of privacy applies, however, so I can't shoot from the street into someone's bedroom for example. Kids playing in a park is a good shoot, but someone using the ATM is not.
If I'm on private property, and I'm asked to refrain from taking photo's by the property owner, I'm legally obligated to do so. If I'm on public property I can legally shoot private property if it's in plain view.
Places like military bases and other government buildings typically do not allow photography inside their perimeter. Photographing such locations from a public vantage point can also be prohibited. It's best to avoid shooting them specifically, but if they happen to wander into my shot I don't worry about it and I've never had a problem (and I live in a heavily, military-popular area).
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Re: Photography in the US
I believe there is some general rules, unwritten or written, in every country in this world nowadays, when it comes to photographing children/people in public or in private. With all the social media sites and the dark sides of the internet and all that, it's important that especially children and younger people is able to walk around in public safely. Here in Denmark we are allowed to photograph almost everyone and everything in public areas except at hospitals, in busses, on trains, public libraries, (some outdoor/indoor concerts etc)--> (because of safety reasons) and railwaystations. It's not allowed to take childrens protrait or use them as model witout parents permission (also in private homes). If children are a part of a big event like sports, if they are giving a concert or something like that, it's ok to take photos and even publish them, but still not something that looks like a isolated portrait- (the photos must show that they are a part of an event- also if we are talking about grownups). It's allowed to take photos in the supermarket, but don't open closed dooors. Street photography is generally ok with most people here, but it's best if you ask first if you go close. Mostly people will allow u to take their photo, but a No means No (If you do it anyway, the person will be not be angry but very sour. And noone want to meet a sour dane, believe me (Well, giving out a pint of beer would help). I have to admit that I am photographing everyone and everything in public areas, but have the law in mind - also the unwritten rules .
I believe there is some general rules, unwritten or written, in every country in this world nowadays, when it comes to photographing children/people in public or in private. With all the social media sites and the dark sides of the internet and all that, it's important that especially children and younger people is able to walk around in public safely. Here in Denmark we are allowed to photograph almost everyone and everything in public areas except at hospitals, in busses, on trains, public libraries, (some outdoor/indoor concerts etc)--> (because of safety reasons) and railwaystations. It's not allowed to take childrens protrait or use them as model witout parents permission (also in private homes). If children are a part of a big event like sports, if they are giving a concert or something like that, it's ok to take photos and even publish them, but still not something that looks like a isolated portrait- (the photos must show that they are a part of an event- also if we are talking about grownups). It's allowed to take photos in the supermarket, but don't open closed dooors. Street photography is generally ok with most people here, but it's best if you ask first if you go close. Mostly people will allow u to take their photo, but a No means No (If you do it anyway, the person will be not be angry but very sour. And noone want to meet a sour dane, believe me
(Well, giving out a pint of beer would help). I have to admit that I am photographing everyone and everything in public areas, but have the law in mind - also the unwritten rules .
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Just-Clayton
Senior Member
Re: Photography in the US
I try not to get children in my shots. Just, to be on the safe side. I have had people ask me why I took their picture. If they ask rudely I answer rudely "because, I can" Otherwise If they say not to then I won't. I sit in the park on my lunch break on nice days and take pictures of people and don't have any problems. They just give me a funny look because, I am in my Postal uniform.
I try not to get children in my shots. Just, to be on the safe side. I have had people ask me why I took their picture. If they ask rudely I answer rudely "because, I can" Otherwise If they say not to then I won't. I sit in the park on my lunch break on nice days and take pictures of people and don't have any problems. They just give me a funny look because, I am in my Postal uniform.
john*thomas
Senior Member
If we were told that we could not take pics of our kids sporting or school related events what we would do is take more pics of our kids school and sporting events. A law like this is simply something nearly everyone would ignore.