Shooting in Public Places

I'm wondering if anyone knows of the legal steps (if any) needed before taking portrait/modeling shots in a public place (downtown area, beach, park, etc)

Grab Camera. Go take photos

If its a public place, that's all there is to it. Private Property can be harder, for that you can need permission and/or permits.

The only exception to this is that setting up a tripod on a busy sidewalk or such, where people could trip on it may end with a police officer asking you to take it down. You can get tripod permits for some public places though.

Yes, I was thinking the same. For private property or national parks, you need a permit, but if you are not interfering with normal activities for other people, I don't think there are any special steps to take. Of course, if you have big lighting stands and try to rope off an area to keep the public at bay, you would need some permit for that, and I am sure you get that from the local town or city department

Steve

Barry wrote: Grab Camera. Go take photos

If its a public place, that's all there is to it. Private Property can be harder, for that you can need permission and/or permits.

The only exception to this is that setting up a tripod on a busy sidewalk or such, where people could trip on it may end with a police officer asking you to take it down. You can get tripod permits for some public places though.

It is not quite that simple. In a sense it could be said that you can take photos on private property BUT you cannot trespass on private property in order to do so.

1. If it is a public place but private property such as an arena, museum, plaza etc., then unless there are signs banning photography, you can take as many photos as you like, until told otherwise and publish the ones you have taken later.

2. If there is a sign banning photography, then you trespass when you start taking photos and will probably be escorted off the property by security guards.

3. On true private property that is not a public place, the issue is one of trespassing, NOT taking pictures.

4. Permits are required ONLY for photographic productions with perhaps a crew, truck, models, auxilliary lighting, etc. (so since the OP ask about models...you should get a permit, depending where you shoot)

5. As far as use of the photos is concerned, you need a model release from a person who is the main subject of a photo that is used for ADVERTISING purposes as in promoting a product etc., that the person may not use or perhaps a political party that the subject may not support etc.

6. When shooting people in a public place by the way it is important to ensure that you are not by accident portraying the person in a negative way. Shooting a prominent person with a strip club sign in the background might get you sued, despite your rights.

7. When shooting children in a public place, it is a good routine not to have anything in the
photo that would identify the child by name and nothing to indicate the specific location
where the shot was taken.

Thanks everyone for your input. It was very helpful!

Tam wrote:

Barry wrote: Grab Camera. Go take photos

If its a public place, that's all there is to it. Private Property can be harder, for that you can need permission and/or permits.

The only exception to this is that setting up a tripod on a busy sidewalk or such, where people could trip on it may end with a police officer asking you to take it down. You can get tripod permits for some public places though.

It is not quite that simple. In a sense it could be said that you can take photos on private property BUT you cannot trespass on private property in order to do so.

1. If it is a public place but private property such as an arena, museum, plaza etc., then unless there are signs banning photography, you can take as many photos as you like, until told otherwise and publish the ones you have taken later.

2. If there is a sign banning photography, then you trespass when you start taking photos and will probably be escorted off the property by security guards.

3. On true private property that is not a public place, the issue is one of trespassing, NOT taking pictures.

4. Permits are required ONLY for photographic productions with perhaps a crew, truck, models, auxilliary lighting, etc. (so since the OP ask about models...you should get a permit, depending where you shoot)

5. As far as use of the photos is concerned, you need a model release from a person who is the main subject of a photo that is used for ADVERTISING purposes as in promoting a product etc., that the person may not use or perhaps a political party that the subject may not support etc.

6. When shooting people in a public place by the way it is important to ensure that you are not by accident portraying the person in a negative way. Shooting a prominent person with a strip club sign in the background might get you sued, despite your rights.

7. When shooting children in a public place, it is a good routine not to have anything in the
photo that would identify the child by name and nothing to indicate the specific location
where the shot was taken.

Good post. I was 2 paragraphs into what I was gonna say when i saw your post. Pretty much covered everything i had to say and it sounds a whole lot clearer haha

Thanks. I am glad I could cover what others were thinking.

A few public parks, etc. do require a permit for commercial shoots. You may have to check with the "authority" like a town manager, etc. Better a quick call than an embarrassing incident in front of a client. Most often it is not a problem as long as it does not interfere with "normal" activities of others.

Shoot till you get caught

Baydream wrote: A few public parks, etc. do require a permit for commercial shoots. You may have to check with the "authority" like a town manager, etc. Better a quick call than an embarrassing incident in front of a client. Most often it is not a problem as long as it does not interfere with "normal" activities of others.

The only other time that you may not be able to shoot is in areas where the park has been reserved. But in reality you can shoot towards that area. I remember there being some group who got nasty with someone who was shooting in their direction, but the photographer prevailed. The group had the mistaken idea they had the whole park.

Tam wrote:

Barry wrote: Grab Camera. Go take photos

If its a public place, that's all there is to it. Private Property can be harder, for that you can need permission and/or permits.

The only exception to this is that setting up a tripod on a busy sidewalk or such, where people could trip on it may end with a police officer asking you to take it down. You can get tripod permits for some public places though.

It is not quite that simple. In a sense it could be said that you can take photos on private property BUT you cannot trespass on private property in order to do so.

1. If it is a public place but private property such as an arena, museum, plaza etc., then unless there are signs banning photography, you can take as many photos as you like, until told otherwise and publish the ones you have taken later.

2. If there is a sign banning photography, then you trespass when you start taking photos and will probably be escorted off the property by security guards.

3. On true private property that is not a public place, the issue is one of trespassing, NOT taking pictures.

4. Permits are required ONLY for photographic productions with perhaps a crew, truck, models, auxilliary lighting, etc. (so since the OP ask about models...you should get a permit, depending where you shoot)

5. As far as use of the photos is concerned, you need a model release from a person who is the main subject of a photo that is used for ADVERTISING purposes as in promoting a product etc., that the person may not use or perhaps a political party that the subject may not support etc.

6. When shooting people in a public place by the way it is important to ensure that you are not by accident portraying the person in a negative way. Shooting a prominent person with a strip club sign in the background might get you sued, despite your rights.

7. When shooting children in a public place, it is a good routine not to have anything in the
photo that would identify the child by name and nothing to indicate the specific location
where the shot was taken.

Well said!

Barry