----- Original Message -----
From: "Glen"
Subject: RE: The Photographer's Rights
What's a photographer to do? What are some good ways to handle the common
questions asked by such people, such as:
Why are you taking pictures?
It's a hobby.
Who are you working for? (This one always annoyed me. It's as if you have
to work for someone else, to be "legitimate" in their mind.)
Not your concern, this isn't work for them.
Do you have a studio / where's your studio? (Once again, they are looking
for something that says you are "legitimate", based on their erroneous
preconceived notions of what a "real" photographer would be like. Never
mind the fact, that there are many respected professionals without a
studio of their own, and that a lack of a commercial studio actually means
nothing.)
The world is my studio.
Do you have a business card? (Same as before, if you can't convince them
that you fit their preconceived notions of a commercial photographer, then
you have no credibility in their eyes. It sometimes makes me want to ask
them for their credentials to be a "professional onlooker", or a
"professional nosy pain in the ass", or whatever.)
Do you want me to take pictures of you? We could set something up if you
like, why don't you give me your phone number and I'll call you?
What are you going to do with these pictures? (Whatever you tell them,
they never seem to actually trust the answer. Remember, if they thought
they could trust you, they wouldn't have been pestering you in the first
place.)
Not your concern, they are, after all, my pictures.
Hey, you don't have permission to photograph me (or my property)! (Even
though the photographer is definitely standing in a public place.)
I don't need your permission.
I think we should actually form a list of similar questions and comments,
and take suggestions about how to best handle these common situations.
Having said all this, please remember, i am not a small person, and no
matter that Nico thinks I am cuddly, I can be pretty imposing should the
need arise.
I also tend to be on my best behaviour in foreign countries.
William Robb
