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Cameras on hotel property
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Mar 30, 2021 13:48:27   #
Mi630
 
I had a first time experience recently. My wife and I recently stayed at the Fairmont Princess hotel in Scottsdale, AZ. We were there about 12 days. On the second to last day I was stopped by hotel security and told I was not allowed to have “professional cameras” on property. I sad a Sony a9 with a 200-600 mm lens. The property is beautiful with lots of wildlife to shoot. I’ve stayed there 4 or 5 times in the past with no problems. Security told me only cell phones were allowed.
I went and talked to a manager and was told that policy has been in effect for about 10 years. The manager further stated that no pro camera policies are in effect at almost all hotels. Something to do with social media and private property. Maybe they think I’m going to take some sort of voyeur shots. I don’t know. All the staff at the hotel were unaware of the policy and were dumbfounded when I told them what I was told. Never saw it expressed on their website either.
Any one else ever run into this issue?

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Mar 30, 2021 13:53:36   #
Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida
 
At the Trump Hotel in Washington, DC they have the same policy. I found it hard to understand why cell phone pics were ok but not “professional” cameras. The clock tower over the hotel is run by the Parks Service and photography was fine there. However when we went into the main lobby it was a no-no to even be holding a camera. I was able to take pictures of the lobby from inside the glass walls of the elevator but that was it.

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Mar 30, 2021 13:57:43   #
johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle
 
Mi630 wrote:
I had a first time experience recently. My wife and I recently stayed at the Fairmont Princess hotel in Scottsdale, AZ. We were there about 12 days. On the second to last day I was stopped by hotel security and told I was not allowed to have “professional cameras” on property. I sad a Sony a9 with a 200-600 mm lens. The property is beautiful with lots of wildlife to shoot. I’ve stayed there 4 or 5 times in the past with no problems. Security told me only cell phones were allowed.
I went and talked to a manager and was told that policy has been in effect for about 10 years. The manager further stated that no pro camera policies are in effect at almost all hotels. Something to do with social media and private property. Maybe they think I’m going to take some sort of voyeur shots. I don’t know. All the staff at the hotel were unaware of the policy and were dumbfounded when I told them what I was told. Never saw it expressed on their website either.
Any one else ever run into this issue?
I had a first time experience recently. My wife an... (show quote)


Not here. We were down in Orlando a year ago at Universal's Cabana Bay Resort and I was all over the grounds taking pictures without a single issue.

On the other hand, I am not a professional, therefore my camera identifies as a 'hobby camera'.

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Mar 30, 2021 14:01:23   #
Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona
 
Hard understand that policy. Surreptitious pictures would be much easier to take with a cell phone.

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Mar 30, 2021 14:04:07   #
Brucej67 Loc: Cary, NC
 
To me this is crazy, I could see them asking you not to take a picture in or around the hotel, but to treat any camera as a contraband is insane. Can they confiscate a camera under their policy? Does owning a camera automatically define you as a professional photographer? If they did not post their regulations then do they have a legal right?

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Mar 30, 2021 14:04:13   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
Unfortunate. But, remember it's private property and they can invent and enforce whatever rule they desire, just like you can tell people to take of their shoes in your house. Consider remembering to bring your pocket camera, like a Canon G9X, that captures in 20MP in RAW and delivers results about as professional as any DSLR. MLB has a similar policy based on length of the lens. I always make sure to have my 70-300 lens compacted to fall under any '6 inch' rules when entering the park, even though the lens will exceed that limit when employed at 300mm.

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Mar 30, 2021 14:04:15   #
rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona
 
I have not run into that issue. However, I can understand their reticence to have people photographing the insides and grounds. After all, hotels are private property. That said, I can find objection to being told I can't even carry my camera from my room to a vehicle to go somewhere to photograph. They also have to realize that I'm a guest.
--Bob

Mi630 wrote:
I had a first time experience recently. My wife and I recently stayed at the Fairmont Princess hotel in Scottsdale, AZ. We were there about 12 days. On the second to last day I was stopped by hotel security and told I was not allowed to have “professional cameras” on property. I sad a Sony a9 with a 200-600 mm lens. The property is beautiful with lots of wildlife to shoot. I’ve stayed there 4 or 5 times in the past with no problems. Security told me only cell phones were allowed.
I went and talked to a manager and was told that policy has been in effect for about 10 years. The manager further stated that no pro camera policies are in effect at almost all hotels. Something to do with social media and private property. Maybe they think I’m going to take some sort of voyeur shots. I don’t know. All the staff at the hotel were unaware of the policy and were dumbfounded when I told them what I was told. Never saw it expressed on their website either.
Any one else ever run into this issue?
I had a first time experience recently. My wife an... (show quote)

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Mar 30, 2021 14:15:13   #
azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.
 
These rules make no sense, due to the fact that all of these hotels partially exist on tourists. As a tourist, I take my camera to get photos of sights that I have travelled thousands of miles to see. If I cannot take my camera with me, I might not want to go, and they would lose my business. As a 25 year resident of Scottsdale, I used to go to the Princess when they had tennis tournaments, and actually worked at several as a volunteer usher. I do not remember seeing cameras at the events. It is possible that the Fairmont Princess still has the event attitude (lots of celebrities around) , and that was part of the reason the rule exists.

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Mar 30, 2021 14:26:08   #
tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio
 
I wonder how they determine what is "professional". Is it the ability to change lenses?

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Mar 30, 2021 14:30:49   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
tradio wrote:
I wonder how they determine what is "professional". Is it the ability to change lenses?


That's the definition I've encountered in similar situations. Easy enough for non-photographer staff to use when assessing equipment they encounter.

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Mar 30, 2021 14:31:14   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
johngault007 wrote:
...
...
On the other hand, I am not a professional, therefore my camera identifies as a 'hobby camera'.


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Mar 30, 2021 14:33:49   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
tradio wrote:
I wonder how they determine what is "professional". Is it the ability to change lenses?

Looks big and cool???
Not a "pocket" camera?
Having a battery grip must make it even more professional...

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Mar 30, 2021 15:09:11   #
Winslowe
 
I'm happier respecting the rights of private property owner's than whining about it.

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Mar 30, 2021 15:12:40   #
Quixdraw Loc: x
 
Been to lots of hotels, some pretty fancy, with my Df. Never an issue - they probably thought it was a film camera.

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Mar 30, 2021 15:27:34   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
At one time you couldn't have a camera at the race tracks in NY. The reasoning was that too many of their high dollar clients either should have been somewhere else, or been there with someone else.I think the same holds true today in casinos.


----

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