Photographers etiquette

In reading a fellow writers blog about fishing, Allen Rizzi, wrote about fishing etiquette. I started to think about photographers etiquette and realized we have one too. I also realized for non-photographers often honor this unspoken code too… and sometimes everyone throws this courtesy out the window.

In typing it in a google search I see others have thought about these unspoken suggestions before me. I’m going to write my post before I read those.

This surprises me because I’m still amazed at people who don’t see the invisible line splitting a sidewalk in both directions and just keep barreling down fellow pedestrians. Or the huge amount of cars that seem to lack a turn signal. Or the absence of using please, and thank you.

I hardly ever shoot people but if it’s anything more than a quick snap of someone in public, if they are distinguishable, or kids perhaps I will ask but pretty much I just don’t shoot people. If it is a musician or artist I may throw in a bit of money if they have a hat out. If I sold my just for fun shots I’d go to the trouble of model releases but those are all reasons I prefer not to point my camera at people.