walk into a store and take photos?

[silicontraveler]

Can i walk into a Future Shop or grocery storel and take product photos? Will i get rampaged? :facepalm:

[beleafer81]

There is no reason why you cant, if you haven't been told not to. Thats not to say store staff or security wont ask you to stop. They may feel that for the privacy of fellow shoppers (or some other reason they make up) they dont want you to take pics. But until that point it is not wrong or illegal.

Truth is no one should have any expectation to privacy in a public place. After all they have you on camera comming in the front door.

[djemzine]

Can i walk into a Future Shop or grocery storel and take product photos? Will i get rampaged? :facepalm:

It really depends. I've taken pics at both locations with my cell phone for taking pics of products that I want and could check back on it after. Just like note keeping. However with a DSLR or point and shoot, I am not too sure.

[sylpherware]

You might not get arrested, but shop owners reserve the right to refuse service and escort you off the premise.

[Jimbobs]

It depends on the store policy but they are completely within their rights to deny you the right to take photographs in their store. However, I often use my Blackberry to take photos of products and prices and nobody has even commented. OTOH, on a number of occasions, I have been asked not to use my SLR in stores.

[9mmCensor]

I've been told I cannot do so (at a beer shop in Chicago), and at McDonalds before.

Best to either, not get caught, or to ask permission before hand.

[ieGod]

I've been told I cannot do so (at a beer shop in Chicago), and at McDonalds before.

Best to either, not get caught, or to ask permission before hand.

It depends how badly you want the shot. If a sign isn't posted or explicit instructions given beforehand, then you would have obtained that image legally. You don't have to show the picture. You don't have to delete the picture. They can ask you to leave, but you've got the shot! If on the other hand it's just a cell phone picture of some pricing then do you really want to dance with security just for that?

[pegcityz]

Truth is no one should have any expectation to privacy in a public place.

This is true but Future shop and other retail stores are private places and shouldn't be treated the same. There is actually a huge expectation of privacy during retail sales, people typically don't want their billing and personal information known by third parties not involved in the sale. Also broadcasting and sharing certain photos taken on private property could potentially break privacy laws.

After working in Loss Prevention at Best Buy for a couple years I can tell you the main concern with people recording and taking pictures in the store, besides creeping out employees and shoppers, is that they don't want customer or store information stolen.

[sjparker]

Its not just stores. The TTC has a by-law prohibiting photography. If it looks like you're taking a photo, they'll probably question you. I remember years ago being asked what I was doing in a grocery store when I looked at some products and wrote the prices down on a piece of paper. Shop owners, paranoid much?

[smuncky]

Its not just stores. The TTC has a by-law prohibiting photography.

you forgot to add that it's commercial photography that is prohibited unless you have written consent.


3.17 No person shall operate any camera, video recording device, movie camera or any similar device for commercial purposes upon the transit system without authorization.

[beleafer81]

This is true but Future shop and other retail stores are private places and shouldn't be treated the same.

My only arguement with what you said is the quoted line above. A retail store is private property... but it is a place open to the public and therefore is a public place. I have never knocked or rang a doorbell before entering a retail store.

[sylpherware]

it is a place open to the public and therefore is a public place.

No. Not the same.

I don't have to knock or ring doorbells to get to people's backyard either, but that doesn't make them "public".

[Winkle]

It's private property, being open to the public is not the definition of public space.

And to be fair, there's a huge difference between cellphone cameras and point and shoots versus SLRs, the vastly majority of people equate SLRs to be professional cameras, even if it's an entry-level model like a T3i or something. Plus SLRs are much more noticeable and substantially less discreet then a cellphone or P&S.

[RCGA]

you forgot to add that it's commercial photography that is prohibited unless you have written consent.

So I can shoot for personal use?

[beleafer81]

So I can shoot for personal use?

Unless they tell you to stop, yes. Just be respectful of others.

[smuncky]

Unless they tell you to stop, yes. Just be respectful of others.

and even if someone does come up to you, just say you're taking photos for yourself. if they tell you to stop, tell them to lead you to the closest posted bylaw signage (should be one in every station) and show them the bylaw.

simple.