Art and Photography

walk into a store and take photos?

  • Last Updated:
  • Mar 13th, 2012 7:10 pm
Tags:
None
Member
Jan 1, 2012
457 posts
9 upvotes
TORONTO

walk into a store and take photos?

Can i walk into a Future Shop or grocery storel and take product photos? Will i get rampaged? :facepalm:
15 replies
Jr. Member
Nov 30, 2010
173 posts
14 upvotes
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.
Deal Expert
Jun 15, 2011
47027 posts
9309 upvotes
silicontraveler wrote: 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.
Blanka
Deal Fanatic
User avatar
Jun 29, 2009
5392 posts
107 upvotes
You might not get arrested, but shop owners reserve the right to refuse service and escort you off the premise.
Deal Fanatic
Nov 1, 2006
9648 posts
3950 upvotes
Toronto
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.
Member
Sep 22, 2004
289 posts
1 upvote
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.
Sr. Member
User avatar
Dec 14, 2008
722 posts
323 upvotes
Toronto
9mmCensor wrote: 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?
Jr. Member
Dec 10, 2009
159 posts
21 upvotes
beleafer81 wrote: 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.
Sr. Member
User avatar
Feb 25, 2010
686 posts
24 upvotes
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?
Deal Addict
User avatar
Sep 13, 2004
2736 posts
363 upvotes
sjparker wrote: 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.
Jr. Member
Nov 30, 2010
173 posts
14 upvotes
pegcityz wrote: 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.
Deal Fanatic
User avatar
Jun 29, 2009
5392 posts
107 upvotes
beleafer81 wrote: 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".
Deal Fanatic
User avatar
May 25, 2009
9113 posts
2403 upvotes
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.
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
Deal Fanatic
User avatar
Dec 10, 2008
5211 posts
2024 upvotes
smuncky wrote: you forgot to add that it's commercial photography that is prohibited unless you have written consent.

So I can shoot for personal use?
Let's hug it out
Jr. Member
Nov 30, 2010
173 posts
14 upvotes
RCGA wrote: So I can shoot for personal use?

Unless they tell you to stop, yes. Just be respectful of others.
Deal Addict
User avatar
Sep 13, 2004
2736 posts
363 upvotes
beleafer81 wrote: 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.

Top