Is it legal to take a random persons picture without their permission?

Question: Is it legal to take a random persons picture without their permission!?

If im at the park or mall or something is it legal to take a persons picture without them knowing!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Absolutely!. You can even sell the image (This was confirmed by a court case where someone sold a print of a Hasidic Jew in New York!. The subject sued, and lost, because it was sold at an art show, not for the promoting of products!.) So, in short, yes, you can certainly take a random picture of someone in the US without fear of legal action!. Just don't use it to promote something, that includes your own website, etc!. For more information, please read this:

http://www!.kantor!.com/blog/Legal-Rights-!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Sure it's legal, if they are in a public place!.

Here's one I not only took today but posted on the internet today!.

http://www!.flickr!.com/photos/samfeinstei!.!.!.

The subject is not recognizable, so I don't even need a model release!. If you can recognize the person, you need a model release in order to publish the photo for profit!. You can publish the photo for basic journalism without a release!.

If someone can cite specifically why this is not legal, you and I both learned something!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The legality of this issue all depends upon how the image is going to be used!. Is it for commercial or fine art purposes!? If it is for commercial purposes, that is the persons face you are photographing is going to be used to promote something of a commercial nature then you have to get what we call a "model release"!. Otherwise if the image is for fine art purposes, and you took the photo from a public space in what we call "plain view" then it is ok !.
However, even though it is legal for you to take fine art photos of people walking on the street don't expect that you wont run into any problems!. A lot of people don't like having their photo taken, and it is not uncommon for police officers or security guards to sympathize on behalf of a persons right to privacy rather than uphold your first amendment rights to take photos!. So my suggestion is be discrete!.
Lots of photographers have made their living doing street photography and have never had to use a model release from Diane Arbus to Henri Cartier Bresson!.
Below is a good article which you should read!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

As long as the picture is taken in a public place, then it's perfectly legal unless it infringes on that person's privacy!. You do not need permission for this!. This applies to the United States!. Other countries have different laws!.

If you intend to sell the photos, then you MUST have permission, regardless of whether you use the person's name!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I can only tell you about the situation in the UK!. In the UK there is no right of privacy in a public place, so you a free to photograph anybody and anything!. The key word here is public place, a shopping mall is not a public place it is private land, and so are most of the parks!. That's why this kind of photography is called street photography!.

There is a caveat to this freedom, even though technically you can use your pictures commercially, you will probably find that you won't be able to sell your pictures without a model release, certainly not for advertising where the big money is!.

The US law is similar, but there are exceptions, particularly since 9/11!.

ChrisWww@QuestionHome@Com

That's right, the mall is not a public place, they can deny you permission to take photos in general!. You might be photographing the positions of security cameras or whatever for all they know!. A mall is just like your own house, the owner decides what rules apply!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes and no, my wise young soul taker!.

If you are in a public place, there's not a problem!. Know your rights, don't be intimidated!. Know the law!. Make sure the person is not in danger (good Samaritan laws), etc!.

Be careful with your equipment and keep your distance!. You should be just fine!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

yes it is legal, you just cant publish it without their permission!. if someone is in public view it is legal, the paparazzi do it all the time!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I believe it is!.!.!. however!.!.!.to post someone's photo online or to print it and sell it IS illegal and you can be sued for it!. I think it is illegal to record someone with out them knowing!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yup!. Look at all the paparazzi!. It is legal!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No!. The other person has to give you permission to let you take their pictureWww@QuestionHome@Com

In the park maybe butt in the mall definite no!.noWww@QuestionHome@Com

i think u shud ask them first becuase there are sum people who dont like that and that can hurt them but as long as they dont no then thats fine!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

no!.Www@QuestionHome@Com