Do I have to get permission to photograph someone outside of a building?

[ravynsmommy]

There is a building here in town that someone painted(graffiti). Some of the local bands here have used it for the album work and things like that. Do I need to find out who owns the building, and ask permission before I go off taking pictures there? I took my daughter there the other day and took a few pictures, then thought to myself...maybe I should ask first?!

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by ravynsmommhy

There is a building here in town that someone painted(graffiti). Some of the local bands here have used it for the album work and things like that. Do I need to find out who owns the building, and ask permission before I go off taking pictures there? I took my daughter there the other day and took a few pictures, then thought to myself...maybe I should ask first?!

If you are not in, or on private property and shooting from a public area, you're fully within your rights to shoot it

[ravynsmommy]

Awesome! Thank you very much.

[kirbinster]

Originally Posted by autofocus

If you are not in, or on private property and shooting from a public area, you're fully within your rights to shoot it

That may or may not be true. It is if you are only using it for your own use. But some buildings, like the Flatiron building in NY, actually have copyrights and you cannot use their images without permission.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

That may or may not be true. It is if you are only using it for your own use. But some buildings, like the Flatiron building in NY, actually have copyrights and you cannot use their images without permission.

Kirb, I'd highly doubt that a wall of graffiti would be restricted

[kirbinster]

You never know, the 5Points in Queens NY which is loaded with lots of street art requires permission to shoot. Here are some shots of it:

[autofocus]

The need for a property release should be no different than the rules requiring a model release. If you're not planning on using the image for commercial, or self promotion purposes, and you're not on private property while doing so, I still believe you can shoot it. I'm sure we're over complicating this issue, and this to will go down the typical rat hole like so many other threads like this. If I were on a public street or sidewalk, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot my kids in front of it.

[ravynsmommy]

Its not really that big of a deal. I know who owns it, they're just never there so I can talk to them. Thanks for the help!

[autofocus]

Right from popphoto.com: The War on Photographers | Popular Photography

The Flatiron Building. Photographers have been led to believe this beloved New York building is copy- righted. It isn't. But the current owners are touchy about how pictures are used.

[baycruisers]

If I had terroristic intent, I wouldn't haul out a DSLR with a big-ass lens on it. The reality is that anyone with a cell phone can now easily take photos just about anywhere, and do so surreptitiously enough that they won't be noticed. While I'm not permitted by my local Best Buy to take photos of products or inventory, I do sometimes take photos of price info on shelved items when I'm doing comparison shopping. Or, I may scan the barcode for the same reason. So far, no one's ever taken notice or said anything to me. I think it's now perceived as common customer behavior. But if I walked in with my DSLR, I'm sure I'd get a different reaction.

Recently, there was an effort in Florida to prevent people from taking photos of agricultural sites (farms) without the owners' permission. It's believed that it's an attempt to keep animal and environmental activists from documenting abuses or violations. It's also believed to be unconstitutional.