I work at a large lingerie store, and one day at work, a man was standing outside taking photos of one of my co-workers. Everything in our store is copyrighted, so he can’t take photos inside the store, but we can’t do anything if he’s outside the doors.

But let me repeat the problem: he was taking photos of my co-worker without her permission. Every time she would move, he would move to follow her to get a better shot.

Legal? Probably? Ethical? NO! You might be within your legal rights to take someone’s photo, but morally you shouldn’t. Taking someone’s photo without their permission is annoying, and invasive, no matter what the law says. If you want to be a good photographer, respect peoples’ privacy.

THis is a PDF you can print out and keep in your kit bag, and that way when the Local constable decides that you taking pictures from the sidewalk of one of the nice buildings downtown falls into his interpretation of “terrorist activities” you can have some legal legs to stand on…Don’t be cocky, just try to reason with the officer…they really have no legal ground to bother you if you are not breaking the law and are on public property.
Just thought I’d help spread the word…

An ex-girlfriend has pictures of my son during their dating period. Now that he broke up with her, she is posting his pictures on MySpace in a malicious manner. I just thought I would point out the difference between the “taking” and the “use” of the picture. The use of my son’s pictures at this point is detrimental to his personal and professional image since this girl is not using his image to do anything but put a face to her detrimental comments.

Any thoughts on this related issue?

No matter what somebodies beliefs or opinions, they do not own the light that has reflected off of them. If somebody thinks photography takes their soul, they are simply wrong, and while they may believe that, they don’t have claim the the light that has left them.

If you didn’t want the light to reflect, they should cover themselves in black felt.

The way photographers lose their rights is by implying to others that they have some sort of right to not have their photograph taken. Eventually, people begin to believe it. There is no ‘right to privacy’ in public in the USA, as you stated. While it is up to the individual photographer to decide if he or she wants to take a photograph of a particular scene or individual, asking for permission is asking for trouble. Take the photo. Do it. Do not apologize, do not ask for permission. Permission is for sucks. Uphold freedom, take the photo.

Did the ATM machine that just took your photo as you walked by ask your permission first? What about the police surveillance cameras on light poles and traffic signals? How about the various cameras in every convenience store, bank, and many other businesses? Just because they are automated, those who put them there are somehow off the hook? No. If a person is in public and I want to take a photo of them, I do. I will not stop doing it. I’m doing the heavy lifting of ensuring continuing freedom of the press and freedom of expression by doing so.

The Amish know perfectly well that they don’t have the right to demand that no one take their photo. They will turn their heads or turn their backs at the last moment to spoil the shot - that’s their right to do so. But their desire is not the same as a right - if I indulge them, it is me indulging them, not their right to demand it of me.

Take the photos. Liberty beckons. Get busy.

Of course, I would never want to steel someone’s soul.