I have a really cool job at our local historical society. Half of the time, I am an actor in a living history exhibit, and the other half of the time, I am a singer in an exhibit about a famous songwriter from our state. When I sing, I don’t play a character like I do in the living history- I’m just me, singing songs and talking about the songwriter if people ask. People can request songs or sometimes I just pick what I want to sing while visitors look around.
Since people now seem to document every single experience they have with photos, people are always taking pictures at my job. I definitely get it in the living history part- we have some really neat Model-T’s, people in really cool 1920’s clothes, lots of interesting “old timey” stuff that you’d want to show off.
But it’s started to really get on my nerves when people take my picture when I’m singing without asking me first. If someone asks if they can take my picture, or take one with me, I will always say yes. But it’s been really disturbing to me that I have at least four or five visitors a day taking my picture without asking me at all- they just whip out a camera and start snapping away. The ONLY cool thing in that room which one might want a picture of is the grand piano, and I have no problem with people taking a picture of that. But they aren’t. They’re clearly taking my picture, manuevering around to get a better angle, getting really close to me, etc. And they always do it while I’m mid-song so I can’t ask them not to. It makes me really, really uncomfortable, especially when someone does it with a camera phone. They don’t know me, I’m not in a cool costume (I just wear a simple black dress), and they aren’t having their picture taken with me so they can show people cool stuff they did. It’s not like we’re at Disney World.
I said something to the person underneath my boss (my boss is on vacation this week), and she said that guests are told at the admission booth that they can take pictures. She did seem understanding though- she said, “I definitely understand if you don’t want your picture getting Photoshopped all over the internet.” That isn’t even the point- the point is that they are strangers and I have no idea what they’d want with a picture of me, and I don’t want people who are too rude to ask my permission to have my picture. I guess I’m kind of creeped out at the thought that people are gonna use me in their spank bank or something. Would this bother other people? Do I need to just get over it because I chose to do a job where people might want me picture? In what kind of situations do you think it would be okay to take someone’s picture without asking?
I can see why you’d find it annoying and invasive, but I don’t see any way to stop it; even if there’s a sign or something while you’re performing, people are going to ignore it and snap away if they feel the need. I used to work at a tourist bar downtown and I have never wanted to know how many pictures I’m in; people viewed me the same way they viewed the Lone Star flag painted on the bar’s ceiling…as part of the experience and thus something to be photographed.
I didn’t like it but I got used to it. There wasn’t really anything I could do.
Oh, I should add- I’m not on any kind of stage, I just have a music stand near the piano. The room is not very big, probably the size of most people’s living rooms.
This. I worked as a tour guide at a house museum for a long time. I didn’t dress up. I wore a uniform, but that is all. I didn’t blend into the history, I just talked about it. People took pictures of me all the time. Like it or not, I was part of what they experienced and something they wanted to remember. It came with the territory. I am not photogenic and don’t like pictures being taken of me, but it was just part of the job.
I’m with Justin_Bailey****. You’re performing in a venue which allows picture taking. I don’t think people can (or should) be expected to draw a distinction between you as a singer and you as an actor. Frankly, I’m at a bit of a loss as to why you don’t have a problem with picture taking when you’re acting and you do when you’re singing.
Your image doesn’t belong to you. You’re part of the world and anyone who sees you in it has the right to record that image, when you’re not in a place where you’d have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
As a photographer it’s an issue that really annoys me in the other direction - I’ve seen some people doing things that would make amazing shots, and asked them if I could take their picture and been told no (even though I had every legal right to do so). Then there’s the problem that when you ask someone to take their picture they stop doing what they’re doing and pose awkwardly when you really wanted a candid shot. If someone is taking a picture of you singing, it’s because they liked something about the image they were seeing while you were singing. I’m not saying they should never ask permission, or be otherwise respectful, but you need to get over yourself.
It’s not exactly abnormal for performances to be closed to photography, just as they are closed to audio recording.
In the OP’s specific context though–with other areas of the exhibits open to and expecting photography–I don’t think there’s much to be done about this one.
It’s been said in other threads about other things–having the right, legally, doesn’t make it right.
As for people wanting to “remember the experience,” I sometimes feel that excessive photography is preventing us from experiencing. Too much thought about “the shot,” not enough about the enveloping reality.
To be honest, I saw her picture in the Doper gallery and she is quite attractive. I guess she forgot where she was posting and that she’s not allowed to even say anything in the realm of hinting that she is an attractive female.
Some years ago a bunch of Japanese businessmen came to take a tour of the office building where I worked. They all had cameras and took pictures of everything (including me, trying to work at my desk) all. day. long. Every wastebasket was overflowing with empty Fuji film cartons. It was distracting, but luckily I looked my best that day . I wonder what they did with all those pictures.
Sure, which is why I’ve usually asked (at least when getting reasonably close to the person for the shot in which they are meant to be the subject)… but it’s times like that where they say “no” that I really regretted doing so and wished I had just taken the shot anyway.
My goal isn’t to piss people off, it’s to take photos. But if people are so god-damned self-conscious that the mere taking of a photo in a public place pisses them off - then they need to get the fuck over themselves. It’s selfish and entitled to think that you should have complete control over the image of yourself that’s readily visible to anyone who happens to be passing by anyway.
The law recognizes this, which is why it’s legal to take photos of anyone in public (or private property open to the public) with or without their permission. Asking permission is a nice courtesy but shouldn’t be expected.
Some would say that it is selfish and entitled to think that someone thinks so highly of their photography skills that people everywhere should be gracious about having said photographer snap a photo of them while they’re just trying to go about their day.
All depends on how you look at it. So what that the law allows it? The law allows a lot of things that aren’t really fun for everyone
Well putting aside the fact that your image might be used for spank material. (Which, honestly, after Sleeps said you were in the doper portrait gallery and were hot pretty much guarantees that someone here will be depositing to the spank bank in your name tonight. Probably Omni.) A lot of venues tell people watching performers to save any photography til after the performance is over. Simply because it affects the performer’s performance.
That seems fair to me. If you are singing in front of people. Don’t go bugging them by taking their picture. Wait til afterwards!
But, since you can’t change that. Just take it as a compliment. “When we were on vacation this pretty girl had such a beautiful voice. Here’s her picture. Her voice was just lovely!”
“Mom, I can’t see her voice.”
“Why can’t you be more like your brother?”
“I can only be me.”
See. They even annoy their own family. Don’t feel so bad.
I checked the gallery. You’re attractive, but I can’t see someone taking your picture and going home to masturbate feverishly over it. You realize porn is like two or three clicks away, right? And even if somewhere, someone WAS spanking it to a picture of you singing- so what?
Balls. It doesn’t matter how good the photographer’s “skills” are. The point is that the image is already there for everyone to see. You can’t own the vision of others. Photography is just a reproduction of that vision.
I don’t think she’s making a property rights argument; she’s just saying it would be nice if people asked before taking your picture. I mean, I’d look pretty oddly if somebody walked up to me on the street and started taking pictures of me.
While simultaneously striking a dazzling pose, of course.
. I wonder what they did with all those pictures.