Reply #12: The legal aspects aren't all that difficult to negotiate [View All]

[Stevenmarc]

You need a model release if you intend to use the images for commercial use, that's pretty much the law. If you are in a public place you really have no expectation of privacy and can be photographed.

It's actually been a very rare instance that anyone has become miffed that I photographed them and then I simply delete the photo, end of story, besides pretty much every time that has happened that photo would have been ditched from my workflow because they tend not to be all that compelling at the end of the day. I also tend not to use the big honking DSLR when I'm street shooting, which intimidates a lot of people, I basically take a more stealth approach.

I also have a few personal rules for street shooting. I avoid shooting kids unless they are in the shot with the adult I'm shooting. I don't shoot homeless, I find it unnecessarily opportunistic and quite frankly a cliche urban shot. If I shoot street performers I generally tip them first, it's the right thing to do. Oh and if a cop hassles you just delete the shots and walk away even if you are within your rights, this is why you carry extra cards, just switch cards and run the other card through recovery software, the cop is happy and you still have your shot, win win.

And who are all these tourists that put insulting comments on photos, we are obviously traveling in different circles because I've never witnessed this particular behavior and I live in NYC where we have more than a few tourists on any given day?