travelwp Loc: New Jersey

The "street photo" below is from a street photography moderator:

(Download)

Stephan G

As a friend of mine would ask, "And how do you think that vehicle got there? It drove by itself?" (He did not get to live to hear about self driving cars.)



Or. "Where's da street???"



Seriously for a mo, I love the caption.

travelwp Loc: New Jersey

I don't think the truck photo is street photography.

Stephan G

My dear deceased friend, you, and I are in agreement.

chikid68 Loc: Tennesse USA

And usually busy enough that no one pays attention to anyone taking pictures.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

Unfortunately, our society is not totally polite. It comes with a large number of self-absorbed arses. UHH is unable to filter this segment of society out. They also do photography. My suggestion? If bullied, give as good as you got....don't just complain about it. You're a teacher. Use your words. It's amazing how many polite ways there are to call a moron a moron without using that pejorative term.

Rolf the Ruf

So, I would like to tag onto this topic with a related issue/question: I am new to group and also kind of a newb to professional photography. In my job I am a graphic designer for a marketing agency. Some of my work requires me to do photography. I currently have an upcoming project working for a city agency in Baltimore that requires me to take quite a few street shots in and around downtown Baltimore. This is actually a repeat project. I did this for them once before in 2016 and they have decided to update their library with some new images. So out to the streets I go again.

My question involves rights of use. Last time I did this, I was aware of the need for model release forms when capturing people that may end up being used in advertising and other public forums. But that can be quite difficult when you are just walking around grabbing shots of random people. Previously, I erred on the side of caution and restricted most of my images to catching people from the rear. I avoided capturing faces. When a did get a face that featured prominently in one of my images, I would blur it in Photoshop. Now the client is telling me they want me to capture more people and see faces this time. I'm wondering if any of you know more about the rules for this sort of thing?

I've gotten some advice that says you can use a crowd shot that has many faces as long as you don't have one or more people featured prominently (as what you would call the subject of the image). If you want to feature faces prominently in an image, you need to get them to sign a model release form. Is this correct and/or what else should I know?

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

San Antonio is nice and diverse. In front of the Alamo, around the riverwalk, the parks, etc.

I mean I guess one need not mention NYC THE place for street.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

I suggest you kick these questions upstairs in your marketing agency, where a lawyer or firm are likely to be on retainer to advise on questions exactly like yours.

Rolf the Ruf

Thanks for the advice, unfortunately my company is not big enough to have a legal department. When it comes to questions of this nature, we need to do our own research. Lacking anyone here with some good advice, I am going to stick with my current plan: Only show faces in large groups if you can't get the model releases. Option B would be to just go ahead and provide the client with what they want and add the disclaimer on shots showing people in close up or prominent, "Not Model Released. Use at your own risk."

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

You do not need model releases if you are not using the images for commercial, sales purposes. If so, model releases are mandatory.

Rolf the Ruf

Well, this is where it gets a bit tricky. You see, this client is a government agency providing public services -- transit to be exact. Most, if not all of these images will be used in marketing campaigns that are aimed at public education. How to ride transit, New bus lanes, Changes in services, Project information for a public meeting, etc. I don't know if this qualifies as a commercial usage or not. I tend to err on the side of caution in such cases. Just not sure.

srt101fan

So your company has a contract with a government agency, can't they provide the legal guidance and constraints for your shoots?

Rolf the Ruf

Possibly. It's worth looking into anyway. I think after I advise them of potential problems inherent with using photos of the public in this way they may kick it back to their legal department at which point, hopefully, I get a more definitive answer.

LMurray Loc: North Orange County, CA

If I was a recognizable face, whether in a crowd or not, and I saw my face on the side of a bus or in a commercial whatever the topic, I'd better have been paid a modeling fee and signed a modeling release. If not I personally would be talking to my lawyer. On the other hand you might get away with it with many people who don't know any better, or are just pleased to see themselves in a picture. But safest to get model release's with a token payment, or use a professional model building a crowd of unrecognizable faces around them as needed. Why take a chance?