What do you guys think about private property signs etc at photo shoot locations? Do you usually find someone to ask, turn around and leave, or just sneek in for a quick minute to snap some quick pics? It always seems that when i find perfect places (in the city and out in the country), they are always "private property" or "do not enter".

Has anyone gotten in actual trouble?

 

Yes. I was shooting incoming aircraft along the glide path to Newark airport on the Elizabeth waterfront. Keep in mind, I was parked right next to the New Jersey State Police lot. Purposely thinking that if I was up to no good, why would I shoot there? There are no signs that ban photography, but after about a half an hour, a Suburban full of troopers pulled up to me and asked for ID, purpose of my photos and told me to leave. I'm glad they didn't take my film. I was using a failry large telephoto lens...

 

I have had several run ins with security. Half the time they were cool, the other half of the time I wound up getting asked to leave. I'm just accepting it at this point and generally have a few back up locations in mind in case I get booted from the primary one I had in mind for the shoot.

 

Ethics say to ask first before you trespass. Reverse the situation...if you felt strongly enough about a place to put the signs up, how would you feel when they were ignored?

 

Oh, I agree, if you can find anyone to ask. But most of the time I have had issues with this, there hasn't been anyone to ask in the first place and signs haven't been posted. Then security guards come around on patrol and that's my first contact with anyone.

But yes, if there was someone that made sense to ask, that would be the preferred way to handle it.

 

I've been kicked out of a mall parking lot before for taking pictures. There were no posted signs, and I figured it was public enough to take pictures, but I guess not

 

***RANT*** This has been a sore spot for over 2 years...

Respect privacy. Don't Do it.

 

I've found that asking first always results in a big fat "NO!" so I quit asking. The only time I'll ask now is if there is a gate keeping me from the spot in which case I will ask and bat my eyelashes...then I still get a "NO!" or if the spot is directly in view of someone who might yell at me to leave. I've been kicked from several locations in my life and almost arrested but usually if you're nice, they're nice and let you go (notice I said "usually").

 

Well, if there's obvious signs posting "Private Property", then I won't go in. However, if it's a public place like a mall... then... eh?

 

Malls are not public.

 

I'm not disputing, I'm just saying that there is no signs that explicitly state "Private Property Keep Off" outside a mall. Anyone is welcome to drive into the mall parking lot. So, if I go and take pictures of my own car in a mall parking lot, how am I supposed to know that I'm not supposed to do that?

Granted, they told me to leave, and I know better than to do that now, but initially I thought it was OK :smile:

 

No, you aren't supposed to be there after hours, and security usually tells you to leave if they see you doing anything in the parking lot. No they don't usually have signs that say no photography, but they very probably have a complete set of policies available at the security or main office. No one has to post signs about everything they don't want done. That doesn't mean you can do what you will.

 

You're the boss

There's these things called "mistakes", maybe you've heard of them... I've made a few, but kudos to you for never making them, I'm proud

Weeeeeeeeeee!!

 

What the heck are you talking about?

 

Nevermind... Just trying to lighten you up a bit man

Next story please!

 

I think you have the wrong idea for whatever reason...:smile:

 

many places have policies about this sort of stuff that aren't posted. I"ve been kicked out of both Walmart and Blockbuster for taking photos. We were just having fun and they were not happy to say the least because I could be a "competetor" trying to use the photos to make my store better. I suppose the same goes for malls, there theory is probably that you're trying to devise a way to brake in or something of the sort. If you had no way of knowing then your Kharma is in the clear. I would never have thought I'd practically get hauled out of Walmart by security for taking a photo of me with a stuffed octopuss on my head. I've seen people beat their children in Walmart and never even see an eyebrow raised. Lifes not fair so I say do waht makes you happy as long as you're not hurting anyone and if they tell you to leave then politely leave, no harm done :smile:

 

Take pics! if they ask you to leave like..shoot them with guns or somethin. HURRAY! :smile:



DM