Getting Access
Do you need permission to photograph in public situations? For an editorial stock photographer, the answer is yes and no. No, applies for the majority of circumstances, if your photos are not to be used for advertising or promotion, and will be used for
However, for most stock photographers, there are occasions when the need to ask someone for permission to photograph arises. I'm talking about situations where you want to photograph the interior of a store, a pharmacist dispensing pills, a shopping mall, kids in a classroom, and so on.
It can be to your benefit to seek permission. As an editorial photographer, you probably specialize. By following the proper channels and working under the guidelines of the property owner, or person in charge of an area, you assure yourself the authorization to return for more photographing of this specialized subject matter at future times. There will be circumstances, of course, when you're unable to find or contact the person who would give permission. If you do proceed with your photographing, without the permission, a courtesy file photo or tear sheet sent to the property owner or person in authority later, will often assure an invitation to photograph again.
THE RIGHT WAY
So, when the moment arises and you need to ask someone for permission to photograph, how should you do it?Stock photographers have two ways to go about obtaining permission to photograph. One way is right and one way is wrong. Citing your First Amendment Rights, you can try to demand permission to photograph. This seldom ends with success, and certainly no cooperation or invitations for return visits.
The other way is to ask nicely. Be polite, explain why you would like to photograph inside the store, school, shopping mall, etc.
Remember that you most likely are talking to someone who is unaware of the field of stock photography. In some cases, they may be wary of you and suspect that you are working for their competition. In other cases, photographs of their building or enterprise are a profit center for them (such as in their gift shop), and they wouldn't welcome the competition from you. An explanation of how you would be using the photographs is then in order.
Most permission givers will be delighted that you are interested in photographing their property or business operation. They
A great tool to help you get permission is to show tear sheets or photocopies of your previously published photographs. If you don't have tear sheets yet, you could show them examples of other photographers and explain how you plan to produce similar results.
AN EXAMPLE
Let me give you a real life example. I shoot law enforcement situations (prisons, police, crime, social justice, and similar topics). I once got an urgent request from a book publisher who needed images of parole situations -- a hearing, a parole officer talking to a parolee, and other similar images. The problem was that the publisher needed the images within a week. Now, one week is very little time to try to set up something like this. Luckily, there was a parole hearing scheduled at one of the prisons nearby. Because I had previously done some shoots inside area prisons through the local Department of Corrections, the administrator knew my name, knew my work, and was willing to cooperate. (I promised him some file copies.) We got through the red tape in less than a day. The shoot got done on schedule, and the photobuyer was grateful for my ability to solve a huge problem for him. Another plus for me: I was able to increase my connections with the chief administrator at the local Department of Corrections.Asking for permission is something you will have to do sooner or later. I hope these tips will help you prepare for the eventuality.
Photojournalist Mikael Karlsson has 17 years experience of working for magazines and newspapers in more than 30 countries. He moved to the United States in 1998 from his native Sweden. He lives in Nebraska and is currently US correspondent for 11 Swedish magazines and a regular contributor to a wide variety of American publications. Reach him at mike@photosource.com.
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