# Do you have a right to delete pictures of yourself on someone else's camera? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2012, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538 "2012-11-01T06:36:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![theLuckyWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@theLuckyWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theLuckyWalker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/61 "2012-11-02T18:21:18Z")
Right. I see you aren’t interested in Constitutional arguments. You’re a thug. Or at least you pretend to be one on this forum. Thugs are especially fun to photograph. But you have to do it with a long-range lense, or a hidden camera… Alright, at parties I never take photos without permission. But man-on-the-street who gets caught in my frame is fair game. Oh also, I’m military trained, I’ve been a fighter, and I’m in top shape, so I would make you think twice, buster brown… ---
**Author:** ![theLuckyWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@theLuckyWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theLuckyWalker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/62 "2012-11-02T18:26:45Z")
You can also publish photos you take of people, without their permission, if the picture was taken in public. You can even sell the photos. That’s how paparazzi make their living. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/63 "2012-11-02T18:28:11Z")
**drlarson** , you’re new and your posts are quite interesting thus far, but I suggest you take some time to familiarize yourself with the [FAQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/faq.php) and board culture. Getting into (or even near) namecalling outside of the Pit forum is a good way to get negative attention from the Powers That Be. Just a friendly observation, I in no way represent said Powers That Be. Hope you hang around here… ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/64 "2012-11-02T18:29:52Z")
As well as photojournalists, editorial photographers, and art photographers. Legally speaking, the only thing you need a model release for is commercial use, or broadly, using the image in such as way that it implies the subject’s endorsement of a product, service, or company. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/65 "2012-11-02T18:29:55Z")
> [@drlarson](#): > > Right. I see you aren’t interested in Constitutional arguments. You’re a thug. Or at least you pretend to be one on this forum. Thugs are especially fun to photograph. But you have to do it with a long-range lense, or a hidden camera… Alright, at parties I never take photos without permission. But man-on-the-street who gets caught in my frame is fair game. Oh also, I’m military trained, I’ve been a fighter, and I’m in top shape, so I would make you think twice, buster brown… Tough and a photographer. Didn’t Charles Bronson play you in [Man with a Camera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_with_a_Camera)? ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/66 "2012-11-02T18:30:28Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Then you should have no problem agreeing that some wildlife can be dangerous and that any harm that comes to you and your equipment just comes with the territory. Exactly. Taking pictures of strangers without them knowing? I hope you are ready to get your ass kicked, camera grabbed and possibly spend some time in a jail cell (if you are taking pictures of young women or kids in general). ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/67 "2012-11-02T18:31:38Z")
Criminal assault in response to a perfectly legal activity? Really? ---
**Author:** ![theLuckyWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@theLuckyWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theLuckyWalker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/68 "2012-11-02T18:32:49Z")
Oh sorry. That guy got my goat! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/69 "2012-11-02T18:37:30Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > Exactly. Taking pictures of strangers without them knowing? I hope you are ready to get your ass kicked, camera grabbed and possibly spend some time in a jail cell (if you are taking pictures of young women or kids in general). That’s a pretty disproportionate response to a legal activity that thousands of professional and amateur photographers do daily in this and many other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/70 "2012-11-02T18:51:46Z")
I’d say this woman’s actions were brazenly rude. I’m talking cue-ball-sized balls rude. Not sure why you’d even want to hang around with someone like that, but if you do again, make it a point to exlude her from any pictures you may take, and tell her exactly why if she asks. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/71 "2012-11-02T18:54:24Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Criminal assault in response to a perfectly legal activity? Really? Yes, really. Walking up to a couple and saying “nice rack” to the woman is also legal and likely to get you in trouble. Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s wise. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/72 "2012-11-02T18:58:18Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > That’s a pretty disproportionate response to a legal activity that thousands of professional and amateur photographers do daily in this and many other countries. Which one? We’ve had posters on the SDMB before talk of having the police hassle them just for being a man who is at a park or other place with kids playing. Single dads, especially with tattoos and the like get hassled all the time simply for being around kids and being perceived as creepy. If you go taking pictures of strangers, especially kids, you should expect trouble. This is simple reality. I’ve been to the zoo many times and I’ve never seen anyone taking pictures of people without their consent. Such behavior would be very unusual and would definitely get you in trouble. There’s seriously debate over this? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/73 "2012-11-02T19:03:29Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > That’s a pretty disproportionate response to a legal activity that thousands of professional and amateur photographers do daily in this and many other countries. Perhaps. But the very posts in this thread should tell you that a) Not everyone agrees that it’s legal, and b) Some people really really really don’t want to have their picture taken, especially by a stranger. Proceed at your own risk. ---
**Author:** ![theLuckyWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@theLuckyWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theLuckyWalker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/74 "2012-11-02T19:17:13Z")
Both of you seem to have penitentiary attitudes. Good luck in there. ---
**Author:** ![theLuckyWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@theLuckyWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theLuckyWalker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/75 "2012-11-02T19:19:01Z")
Just kidding. Really I’m a scrawny wimp! ---
**Author:** ![theLuckyWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@theLuckyWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theLuckyWalker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/76 "2012-11-02T19:21:08Z")
Who is talking about taking pictures of kids anyway? ---
**Author:** ![theLuckyWalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ab097/32.png) [@theLuckyWalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theLuckyWalker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/77 "2012-11-02T19:29:32Z")
People at the zoo are just shooting like mad with their video cameras. Bystanders get caught in the pictures all the time. I have a friend who for a while was into “street photography.” What you do is, you hold the camera at your side or something, so it doesn’t look like you’re shooting. Then you can photographs of normal people just walking around. And he did it in black and white. The photos were interesting. He posted them on Facebook. Mostly they were pictures of poor people in the inner city, for some reason. They had a certain poignancy about them. It was a kind of realism is photography that might be a social statement, or it might just be speaking to a certain aesthetic. Anyway, there was nothing creepy about it. I think though, that to expand on that theme, it would be fun to take pictures of rich people walking around doing what they do. My next plan is to shoot video at a busy intersection and try to catch footage of people desperately trying to make a left-hand turn before the arrow turns red and they get a $100 ticket from the camera overhead. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/78 "2012-11-02T19:33:05Z")
I hate getting my picture taken too. When someone points a camera at me, my strategy is to jump up and down and wave my arms all over the place. If they want a pic of me like that, they’re welcome to it. One of my friends actually expects me to jump up and down…it’s kind of a tradition with us now. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/79 "2012-11-02T20:07:51Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Perhaps. But the very posts in this thread should tell you that a) Not everyone agrees that it’s legal… Huh? Not sure what you’re getting at here. Whether or not they “agree that it’s legal” is irrelevant. It IS legal, in the United States, and is also constitutionally protected free speech. I won’t speak for other countries. And responding with a crime to something that is not-a-crime is 1\> an over-reaction and 2\> likely to result in being arrested and charged. So yes, proceed with caution. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538/80 "2012-11-02T20:17:19Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Huh? Not sure what you’re getting at here. Whether or not they “agree that it’s legal” is irrelevant. Not really. If it results in a physical attack, your bloody nose or broken camera won’t care if it’s legal. If you’re willing to take that chance, go ahead. But those are things I can do without in my day-to-day life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-have-a-right-to-delete-pictures-of-yourself-on-someone-elses-camera/639538.md?page=5)