Security guards and photography....

PVO_Dave

PVO_Dave

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Dave
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Yes
... not all bad :D

I know a lot of people have had grief from them etc.. but just wanted to post up a nice thread about them (or at least the one I had dealings with)

On Sunday I was doing a shoot for a musician friend of mine who's getting ready to promote his new album, and one of the shots he wanted to do was on top of multi story car park, so I had two off camera flashes setup, and various items laid out (guitars etc..) basically taking up two parking spaces.

It was fine when we first setup as loads of free spaces (the whole row we were in basically) but the car park was quickly filling up. We'd been shooting for a little while when we saw the security guy wandering over, having read loads of stuff on here and other places I was waiting for him to instruct me to delete the photos or something similar, instead:

"You going to be long guys?" :nuts: I said we were getting ready to pack up as we could see it was getting busy, he then said "Thanks, it's against company policy for you to be doing this but, enjoy" then walked off :lol:

:thumbs:
Dave.
 
no such thing as a nice security guard, you just found a lazy one ;P
 
Youve been lucky. I was in Manchester a while back taking some daytime long exposures of the trams. I get hasselled by one security gaurd who I told to call the police and not to bother me. I then had another approach me and say "I didnt know you where into photography?" I do work for Manchester Metro and after meetings would stand with this guy chatting and having a ciggy.
 
Good to hear!

Me and around 16 photographers decended on the Light in Leeds Tuesday and no worries at all.

Given, this was inside a building but a member on her (Evolution) emailed to centre manager (who is a togger!) and he stated, words to the effect, have a great night!

Cheers.
 
i think if you're polite and ask, and make the effort to look professional then they can bend the rules. I was asked to go to birmingham to take a greyhound running the forth race. the track is above the ground level where the punters walk so somehow i had to find a higher vantage point. After the usual jibes from the regulars of "NO FLASH".... (does it look like its a got a flash???? er.... no? (as pop p wasn't popped??))... i asked security if i could go up beside the track on a bed and next to the start line... one check with head guard and he said yep..walked me up there and told the track staff who i was... they couldn't do more for me...
 
A friend of mine was doing light trails off of a motorway bridge, 15 mins later the Police arrived.

"Excuse me sir, can I ask what your doing?".
"Certainly, I am photographing light trails".
"Err what?"
"Light trails", shows Police officer "WOW, thats brilliant". "So what settings are you using?"

Half an hour later, after exchanging names and email addresses and arranging a meet, they have become friends.
 
daveharlow said:
Some of us do it for a living & we're not all bad!!!!
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same here lol, hate my job but i wouldnt dream of stopping any toggers, if it aint in my security handbook then i aint stopping it :D id probably ask if i could watch to learn some techniques :D
 
Hi Dave, always good to hear another experience to balance the discussion on security guards.

Can we see any of the pictures you took?? Sorry, just nosey!
 
There's a shopping mall I go to where I can virtually guarantee getting asked to stop taking pictures as soon as security staff see me if I'm using a DSLR, and they're well within their rights as it's private property. The daft part though is they take no notice of loads of people taking pics on mobile phones.

If I go down there with the Contax G2 they don't turn a hair. The whole situation can be pretty absurd. :shrug:
 
Sounds like I'm not alone which is good, also sounds like we've got a couple of the good egg's on here too :D

Digital_Clarity said:
Hi Dave, always good to hear another experience to balance the discussion on security guards.

Can we see any of the pictures you took?? Sorry, just nosey!
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I'll post a thread up once Dan has gone through and chosen which ones to publish :)
 
I've been working on a project, taking pictures of my local area. Last week I was in the local High St taking pictures of our local shopping mall. I was approached by a security guard telling me that I was not allowed to take pictures of the mall as it was "private property". I politely assured her that as I was on public property, I could shoot what I liked. After being advised that her manager would not be happy and would call the police, I suggested that they do just that as I was perfectly within my rights.

10 minutes later 2 police officers turn up, just as the manager arrived. One of the officers very politely asked if she could see what I'd shot so I was happy to comply. Having seen what I was doing she informed the manager that there was nothing they could do, the manger got a bit agitated and stated that he would stand in front of the camera so I couldn't shoot the mall. The officers advised him that he could be causing an obstruction or maybe even a disturbance and they advise against. Rather upset he stormed back to his office, while the officers and I discussed photography in general. After previous brushes with security personal and the police, this was quite an enjoyable experience.

Steve

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums
 
Obviously there are threats of hostile recce at certain sites but a bit of common dog by 'Security' outfits are often never used.

Had a job a few years ago to 'Covertly Visit' sites and film?shoot the security fast asleep in their nice cosey guard boxes...

That was fun but also a big concern to anyone who has to shell out £££'s a year for a 'Big name' security company to provide manned guarding!
 
Jelster said:
I've been working on a project, taking pictures of my local area. Last week I was in the local High St taking pictures of our local shopping mall. I was approached by a security guard telling me that I was not allowed to take pictures of the mall as it was "private property". I politely assured her that as I was on public property, I could shoot what I liked. After being advised that her manager would not be happy and would call the police, I suggested that they do just that as I was perfectly within my rights.

10 minutes later 2 police officers turn up, just as the manager arrived. One of the officers very politely asked if she could see what I'd shot so I was happy to comply. Having seen what I was doing she informed the manager that there was nothing they could do, the manger got a bit agitated and stated that he would stand in front of the camera so I couldn't shoot the mall. The officers advised him that he could be causing an obstruction or maybe even a disturbance and they advise against. Rather upset he stormed back to his office, while the officers and I discussed photography in general. After previous brushes with security personal and the police, this was quite an enjoyable experience.

Steve

Sent from my iPad using TP Forums
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I was going to take some shots in the Bull Ring in Birmingham over last weekend. I took some of the externals, but I was told by a friend that a guy on holiday had been in the shopping centre taking holiday pictures and was actually marched out of the bull ring centre when he was told to stop and refused!
 
Mitzyboy said:
I was going to take some shots in the Bull Ring in Birmingham over last weekend. I took some of the externals, but I was told by a friend that a guy on holiday had been in the shopping centre taking holiday pictures and was actually marched out of the bull ring centre when he was told to stop and refused!
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Not surprised he was escorted off. Private property and all that.........

What IS your point, as it's been done and dusted on here and the interweb to death, that if you are on public property, pretty much anything is fair game (unless you are on a road, taking pics of your neighbours front room with a 400mm lens) though some things are less advisable than others.........

Basically by refusing to comply when a)requested and b) clearly in the wrong, he was asking to be be escorted off.........
 
Lynton said:
Not surprised he was escorted off. Private property and all that.........

What IS your point, as it's been done and dusted on here and the interweb to death, that if you are on public property, pretty much anything is fair game (unless you are on a road, taking pics of your neighbours front room with a 400mm lens) though some things are less advisable than others.........

Basically by refusing to comply when a)requested and b) clearly in the wrong, he was asking to be be escorted off.........
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What is my point? :shake:

I was simply contributing to the thread after the Jelster post and describing something that had happened, hence changing my choice of action at the weekend.
 
fair enough and apologies... it's just that your OP came across as surprised that someone was escorted off the premises after being politely told to go and refusing to do so.
 
Lynton said:
fair enough and apologies... it's just that your OP came across as surprised that someone was escorted off the premises after being politely told to go and refusing to do so.
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Ahh, I understand :)
As for being surprised ...... I live in Spain ..... nothing surprises me any more :lol:
 
Alan_T said:
no such thing as a nice security guard, you just found a lazy one ;P
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I take offence at this comment! My hubby is nice, and not lazy! He is in the minority I know, but there IS such a thing as a nice security guard!!!
 
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