There's been several articles I've seen on the Internet where a photographer was harrased by police officers or security personnel for taking photos of something. It could be a building, a person or an event saying that taking photos is an act of terrorism or illegal.
While there are certain things you're not allowed to photograph, there is certainly a lot more confusion as to what a photographer's rights are.
I have found a PDF guide about on a photographer's rights created by Bert P. Krages II who is an attorney at law that concentrates on intellectual property and environmental law.
He is also nationally recognized in the U.S. as an advocate of the right to take photographs in public places.
To summarize The Photographer's Rights.
As a general rule in the United States is that anyone may take photographs of whatever they want when they are in a public place or places where they have permission to take photographs.
Unless there's a specific statute or ordinance prohibiting it, you are entitled to take a photograph.
The following subjects can almost always be photographed lawfully from public places:
While there are certain things you're not allowed to photograph, there is certainly a lot more confusion as to what a photographer's rights are.
I have found a PDF guide about on a photographer's rights created by Bert P. Krages II who is an attorney at law that concentrates on intellectual property and environmental law.
He is also nationally recognized in the U.S. as an advocate of the right to take photographs in public places.
To summarize The Photographer's Rights.
As a general rule in the United States is that anyone may take photographs of whatever they want when they are in a public place or places where they have permission to take photographs.
Unless there's a specific statute or ordinance prohibiting it, you are entitled to take a photograph.
The following subjects can almost always be photographed lawfully from public places:
- Accident and fire scenes.
- Children
- Celebrities
- Bridges and other infrastructure
- Residential and Commercial Buildings
- Industrial facilities and public utilities
- Transportation facilities (e.g. airports)
- Superfund sites
- Criminal activities
- Law enforcement officers
The guide is pretty extensive so it is best to download the guide, print it and keep it with you.
Please note that this guide specific to the United States. Check your local laws for similar guidelines and restrictions.
Here is the link to the PDF of The Photographer's Rights.
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