Hidden Social Rules when it comes to being a Photographer.

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I really into photography atm and going to do work experience when i can get a placement in a studio.
I went to a wedding, taking with me my SLR camera, my dad had warned me to ask my friend before hand if it was ok to bring my professional camera to her brother's celebration. I didnt i hid it in my bag when my dad wasn't looking when i got there I asked she said it was ok.

I got a bit carried away, everyone looked at there best so when we were ment to be eating i started snapping away, I even spoke to the professional photographer that they hired for tips and advice. By the mid evening i was more comfortable taking photos trying to capture the atmosphere then dancing, I did dance a bit but my friend seemed off so i just decided to get up on a chair and start snapping more.

I got some great shots, I put them on facebook and 6 people are using them as there display photo, I know how to capture people. But i heard from my friend that people were going up to her and complaining that y was i taking so many photos. People apparently complained i had my camera in their face.

I'm cringing about it, she was so stressed the next day (i found this out l8r) that she took it out on my photo saying that to capture the atmosphere that i need to join in more and that if she wanted me to be there to be the photographer she would of hired me instead!

I dont know when its appropriate whats too much, are there times you just should stop taking photos. What are the social rules about when its appropriate to photograph someone ?

Try to be invisible.

The candid shots are the best in that situation.

Congrats on the great photos!

Yeah. I think asking permission first is important, and perhaps a powerful zoom lens will help you get close ups without getting too close, just an idea. During dinner is a bad time.

Im also hoping to be a photographer too and from the uk, but living overseas at the moment. Red Bubble is a great photography site by the way. www.redbubble.com

I think a lot of people don't like candid photos being taken of themselves - especially when eating. I think they want to pose for the photos. Maybe that's where your complaints were coming from - people that felt overburdened by posing.

ahh lol I didn't mean literary when i they were eating, yeah we were sitting down but like people were chatting away. I've actually just exprienced another cringy thing,

I was sitting on the wall at sunset having a chat with my best friend when i was saying it was perfect for a photo. She said go run home and get ur camera, so I did and she directed me to were she thinks were the best photos, I took them then she told me she had to go in coz it was getting late but I should carry on. I felt like its strange just standing in the street with a camera, people will think i'm spying or something but she assured me its ok cause ur taking photos of the sunset. So i did and walking home I saw a cool angle of the sky and the cars so i leaned against the wall to stop camera shake, it didnt work and i didnt wanna stand out so i just sat on the floor behind a car and took photos of the sky n cars. (It looks really good)

Butttt a neighbour came out his house saying his wife had thought I collapsed. I was so embarrassed I went home and have been cringing ever since. (This was a few feet away from my house so its my road if and accuses me of being suspicious)

It just keeps going stranger and stranger, I thought what could possibly go wrong if i was clearly not taking photos of people yettt somehow there is a way.

My friend suggested I should do work experience with a freelance photographer for a week and learn from them what the strange situations are and what the law is. ]

please be kind in ur replies I dont know any better and never mean to offend or upset people i'm just creating art :(

That sounds great! Freelance work would be great as you can control it! Choose your days and hours. If you're feeling like you need to be alone and have space then you can.

Im hoping to do the same thing too!

I majored in photography, and I can tell you people usually don't like a camera in their face. I have an old-fashioned one, 120mm film, which you look into from above, so people don't realize you are shooting them. It can also help to use a longer lens, and shoot from a distance. Above all, don't let them pose. I usually take the shot really quickly, before they know what's happening.