How to Handle People in Your Photos

Discussion

Let’s move on to specific examples. One photographer in a Reddit discussion wrote

“Most of the time, I don’t have trouble shooting on busy streets, but rather in abandoned alleys or districts. Someone always comes out of a house and starts yelling at me. And I try not to photograph private property—just old abandoned cars on empty lots. People come from another property just to shout at me. Usually, I just apologize, say I found it interesting, and leave. But sometimes, I don’t even get a chance to take the shot. I always try to be careful because, in my area, people are more likely to shoot first than ask questions (I’ve already been shot at while simply walking through the woods without a camera). What’s the best thing to say in these situations to calm them down? Can I explain that it’s not their property and that I’m not photographing their belongings? Or is it better not to provoke conflict?”

In response, other photographers shared their stories and strategies. One participant recalled facing an aggressive reaction when photographing his son’s football match:

“One of the mothers approached me from behind and tried to grab my lens, screaming that I had no right to photograph her child without permission. I told her I was shooting the game and kept taking photos. In the end, a school police officer had to intervene. Someone (probably her husband) just took her to the car.”

Another user pointed out:

“At a sports event, that kind of behavior seems odd. That’s exactly the kind of place where people expect someone to be taking pictures.”

One photographer mentioned that he is often accused of taking inappropriate pictures of female volleyball players. He developed a strategy that puts accusers in an uncomfortable position:

“I ask them, ‘Do you find their uniforms arousing?’ and demand a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. If they say ‘yes,’ I call security and suggest banning them from school grounds. If they say ‘no,’ I reply, ‘Well, neither do I, so what’s the problem?’”

One participant shared how similar accusations led him to stop photographing altogether:

“I used to shoot softball when my daughter was in school and shared the pictures with other parents. But one day, I overheard someone say, ‘Ugh, that creep with the camera again.’ After that, I never brought my camera to school games again.”

Other photographers shared less confrontational approaches. One participant noted that looking professional helps:

“I wear a photographer’s vest—just a regular khaki one with pockets, no logos. And if I’m shooting in a busy area, I put on a yellow reflective vest. People perceive me much more calmly.”

But sometimes, arguing is pointless. One photographer described dealing with a woman who spent 10 minutes explaining to him why he couldn’t photograph schoolchildren, even though the event was in a public place. Later, it turned out her son had a contract with a football club that forbade him from playing for his school team.

“I sent the photos to the club. If she had just said nothing, no one would have ever known.”

The issue of private property and public space in photography remains complicated. As one participant pointed out:

“People mistakenly think that if a place is open to the public, it must be a public space. In reality, photography is regulated not only by property boundaries but also by the expectation of privacy.”

Despite legal rights, many photographers prefer to avoid conflicts. One participant advised:

“Sometimes, it’s easier to apologize and leave than to waste energy arguing.”