photo taking poliy?

[ssanders79]

I've stood in line just to take a picture when I was not with my daughter. I've also stood to the side while others meet, but wait until the characters are alone. When in line with my daughter I typically take a test shot of the group in front of me to make sure my settings are in order. I always delete that shot right on the spot as I have no interest in saving other people pictures.

 

[ssanders79]

You CAN take pictures of the characters in BETWEEN them greeting kids. Remember, you might be focusing up close on a character with no kid in the shot. But the parents don't know that. I really do think it's the right thing, but the CM probably should have handled it differently.

I do this quite often and I am always willing to show a CM or fellow parent the shot to show them it was a close up of the character and not the child. I completely understand the situation as I am protective when it comes to my DD3.

 

[ukcatfan]

There is nothing illegal about it, but I would advise against doing it very often. If you do, you are likely going to encounter a parent going nuts on you. I know I would not be happy if I saw someone taking pics of my kids in that particular situation. If it is just out in a crowd, it could easily be coincidence and I would not question unless they were tracking our movement. A staged encounter with a character is something different.

 

[mom2rtk]

While you may not have liked it, he wasnt breaking any laws at all.

.... and I wasn't breaking any laws standing between his camera and my daughter. At the very least it was incredibly impolite.

Illegal or not, I believe it is Disney policy to try and prevent this from happening. I have seen CM's tell other patrons they can't take photos of other guests with the characters on many occasions. It doesn't have to be illegal to be against Disney policy or just plain rude.

 

[Raindown]

I've stood in line just to take a picture when I was not with my daughter. I've also stood to the side while others meet, but wait until the characters are alone. When in line with my daughter I typically take a test shot of the group in front of me to make sure my settings are in order. I always delete that shot right on the spot as I have no interest in saving other people pictures.

I take pictures of the characters when not in line too and I also take test shots before my group is up. I always stand far enough back as not to make anyone think I am cutting the line. I try to take shots between groups. Ultimately, people should realize they are in a public place.

I haven't had anyone give me beef about it at Disneyland.

 

[Geoff_M]

did we create a breech of etiquette or was the cm out of line-just wondering....

Just like you still hear about police officers telling tourists, incorrectly, that it's "illegal" to take photos of federal buildings, bridges, power lines, etc. I think it's safe to say that the CM was acting on their own instead, perhaps at the request of "stranger danger" freaked out parents, instead of citing Disney policy.

I've stopped and taken photos of "rare" Disney characters with other people's children (back a few feet from the line) with zero problems, dirty looks, etc. As posted above, you do not need permission from parents to merely take a photo of their child.

The dad from the group ahead of us delayed leaving and started taking pictures of my daughter with Aurora. This sort of thing generally does not bother me. But to have a complete stranger stop and focus on my daughter exculsively without asking bothered me.

Perhaps your kid was doing something particularly cute with Aurora... At an on-line photo community I belong to one of the members has a rather disarming way of responding to bothered parents when he taking photos at youth sporting events. He asks the parents after telling him why he's taking the photos, "What is it that you're afraid of that I'll do with the photo of your child?" He reported that when asked, the parents usually have a hard time naming a credible threat to their daughter/son being an anonymous child in photo and they get the look on their face like they realize that they're sounds pretty paranoid.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just like you still hear about police officers telling tourists, incorrectly, that it's "illegal" to take photos of federal buildings, bridges, power lines, etc. I think it's safe to say that the CM was acting on their own instead, perhaps at the request of "stranger danger" freaked out parents, instead of citing Disney policy.

I've stopped and taken photos of "rare" Disney characters with other people's children (back a few feet from the line) with zero problems, dirty looks, etc. As posted above, you do not need permission from parents to merely take a photo of their child.

The CM likely did not notice you taking the photo. I have seen them ask others to stop on many separate occasions, so I don't believe that was a "rogue" CM. The ones I have seen asked to stop are the ones up close in the line near that CM.

I'm curious, why wouldn't you wait to take the character's picture between groups?

 

[MICKEY88]

I'm curious, why wouldn't you wait to take the character's picture between groups?

I do it all the time, here's the reason I don't shoot between groups, this is the typical shot when taken between groups, because the characters do turn the charm on and off.

here is a shot over the heads of someones children...

 

[mom2rtk]

Perhaps your kid was doing something particularly cute with Aurora... At an on-line photo community I belong to one of the members has a rather disarming way of responding to bothered parents when he taking photos at youth sporting events. He asks the parents after telling him why he's taking the photos, "What is it that you're afraid of that I'll do with the photo of your child?" He reported that when asked, the parents usually have a hard time naming a credible threat to their daughter/son being an anonymous child in photo and they get the look on their face like they realize that they're sounds pretty paranoid.

Well, I do think she was very cute with Aurora. But it was OUR moment, not his. And to be perfectly honest, he irritated the living daylights out of me because he was up in MY space for taking photos as she walked up to greet Aurora. Princess Fantasy Faire at Disneyland is sort of like being in the judge's tent in Toontown with the characters. It's not in a "public" area around hordes of people.

I think a sporting event is a little different than a one on one meet & greet with a character.

I have had character CM's ask me on many occasions if I want them to stop others from taking pictures of my daughter, and I always just chuckled and waved them off. But this guy was TOO close and TOO presumptuous.

And honestly, what's the big deal? Why be judgmental? If the other parents at the sporting events don't want you to take pictures of their kid, do you really need to? I'm not talking about someone showing up incidentally in the background. I'm talking about purposely setting out to take THAT kid's picture.

And just what DOES a pervert look like? If others don't know you, there's no way for them to know your intentions.

And I ask again, why not just wait to take the character's picture between groups of kids?

 

[mom2rtk]

I do it all the time, here's the reason I don't shoot between groups, this is the typical shot when taken between groups, because the characters do turn the charm on and off.

here is a shot over the heads of someones children...

Well, I do see your point. But the truth is that you are the ONLY one who knows you are only shooting above the kids' heads.

 

[ukcatfan]

Perhaps your kid was doing something particularly cute with Aurora... At an on-line photo community I belong to one of the members has a rather disarming way of responding to bothered parents when he taking photos at youth sporting events. He asks the parents after telling him why he's taking the photos, "What is it that you're afraid of that I'll do with the photo of your child?" He reported that when asked, the parents usually have a hard time naming a credible threat to their daughter/son being an anonymous child in photo and they get the look on their face like they realize that they're sounds pretty paranoid.

I can think of a two credible things in an instant. #1 That he might have perverted reasons for taking the pictures #2 That he was going to make money off a pic of my kid without a release. If he is there with the sporting league's permission, then that would be all he needs to say and should not be starting a confrontation with his little prepared speech. If he does not have permission then he probably should not be taking pictures there (see #1 and #2). I certainly hope I never run into that guy b/c it probably wouldn't go over too smooth with me.

 

[MICKEY88]

Well, I do see your point. But the truth is that you are the ONLY one who knows you are only shooting above the kids' heads.

true,
see that is the sad thing about today's society too many people assume the negative, rather than assuming the positive, while being observant ..

it's kind of like the elementary teacher taking recess away from everyone because one kid was bad, there might be one bad person with a camera for every 1 million that visit WDW, should we stop everyone from taking pictures..??

but as the photographer mentioned earlier asked, what exactly are people afraid of,

I'm a very protective father, but realistically does anyone think a pervert is going to spend all that money to take a few pics of children in a place like WDW with a large security force, when it would be so much easier and safer to just get those pictures somewhere else in public..???


my experience has been that cast members including character handlers, strike up friendly conversations with me,
the only near negative experience was in JAnuary when a supervisor reprimanded me for leaning against a light pole by the train station while waiting for Spectro to start. Once she realized that I was not a CAst member she spent 10-15 minutes chatting with me and apologizing numerous times..

 

[MICKEY88]

I can think of a two credible things in an instant. #1 That he might have perverted reasons for taking the pictures #2 That he was going to make money off a pic of my kid without a release. If he is there with the sporting league's permission, then that would be all he needs to say and should not be starting a confrontation with his little prepared speech. If he does not have permission then he probably should not be taking pictures there (see #1 and #2). I certainly hope I never run into that guy b/c it probably wouldn't go over too smooth with me.

3. he might be someone that just got a dslr and is practicing

4. he might have a relative on the team and is just shooting everyone.

the list could be endless

 

[mom2rtk]

true,
see that is the sad thing about today's society too many people assume the negative, rather than assuming the positive, while being observant ..

it's kind of like the elementary teacher taking recess away from everyone because one kid was bad, there might be one bad person with a camera for every 1 million that visit WDW, should we stop everyone from taking pictures..??

but as the photographer mentioned earlier asked, what exactly are people afraid of,

I'm a very protective father, but realistically does anyone think a pervert is going to spend all that money to take a few pics of children in a place like WDW with a large security force, when it would be so much easier and safer to just get those pictures somewhere else in public..???

I think it's all just a matter of degree. As I said, I have laughed it off on many occasions. But with the incident at DL, the man was only about 5 feet from my daughter and Aurora. All he had to do was say "Do you mind?" and point to his camera. I would have asked my daughter who would have said fine.

 

[Raindown]

my experience has been that cast members including character handlers, strike up friendly conversations with me,

Same here. I was surprised at many of the cast members' interest in photography and their ability recognize my camera and lens. I've only had positive interactions while taking photos.

 

[ukcatfan]

3. he might be someone that just got a dslr and is practicing

4. he might have a relative on the team and is just shooting everyone.

the list could be endless

You are right that it could be endless. But there is one constant. As a parent, I am the protector of my children, nobody else. I would much rather make someone taking pictures feel uncomfortable or even offended than to not do anything and it might just have happened to be that one in a million pervert.

Like it has been said, it is not illegal to take the shots. Just the same it is not illegal for someone to tell the photographer that they are not welcome or at least question their intentions.

 

[photo_chick]

You aren't allowed to take photos of other people's children without their permission.

Not true.

 

[MICKEY88]

You are right that it could be endless. But there is one constant. As a parent, I am the protector of my children, nobody else. I would much rather make someone taking pictures feel uncomfortable or even offended than to not do anything it it might just have happened to be that one in million pervert.

Like it has been said, it is not illegal to take the shots. Just the same it is not illegal for someone to tell the photographer that they are not welcome or at least question their intentions.

the reaity is, your children are much more likely to be harmed by a family member or friend, than by a stranger,

when my kids were growing up, I photographed sports, dance and school events, I photographed other kids..

the reason being these were my childrens friends, and part of their childhood memories...

the bottomline is you put your kids on a playing field or on a stage, someone will take their picture,

again, sad commentary on our society, I remember when my daughter started dance at the age of 5, when her group came out on stage everyone thought ohhh aren't they cute, and cameras were snapping away....nowadays you have to be afraid to react that way because too many people think it's wrong to thing kids are cute

 

[ukcatfan]

the reaity is, your children are much more likely to be harmed by a family member or friend, than by a stranger,

when my kids were growing up, I photographed sports, dance and school events, I photographed other kids..

the reason being these were my childrens friends, and part of their childhood memories...

the bottomline is you put your kids on a playing field or on a stage, someone will take their picture,

again, sad commentary on our society, I remember when my daughter started dance at the age of 5, when her group came out on stage everyone thought ohhh aren't they cute, and cameras were snapping away....nowadays you have to be afraid to react that way because too many people think it's wrong to thing kids are cute

I totally agree with you, but if I see someone out of place I will question it. At most child events you know who the other parents and relatives are so someone not typical will stand out.

It is sad for our society. Unfortunately the digital age has given new outlets for fringe perverts to cross over into committing actual crimes. Before the Internet I am sure there were many perverts around that never did anything illegal or even anything weird outside the privacy of their own homes. There are just too many temptations for them now. That is why parents of young children have to be more vigilant than our parents had to be.

 

[MICKEY88]

I totally agree with you, but if I see someone out of place I will question it. At most child events you know who the other parents and relatives are so someone not typical will stand out.

It is sad for our society. Unfortunately the digital age has given new outlets for fringe perverts to cross over into committing actual crimes. Before the Internet I am sure there were many perverts around that never did anything illegal or even anything weird outside the privacy of their own homes. There are just too many temptations for them now. That is why parents of young children have to be more vigilant than our parents had to be.

vigilant is one thing, confronting someone with a camera just because you don't know them ??

again your children are at much greater risk from friend or family member, it's more often someone trusted by the family..??