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Photography Best Practices
Author: Stephan Hookano
Be respectful. Ask permission to take a photo and be mindful of the individual’s expectation of privacy. If they don’t want their photo taken, respect their wishes. If you are a guest in an area make sure that you have permission. In some cases, photos on a property make require a license or permit if used for commercial purposes.
Public areas are generally acceptable for photography, but be sure to exercise good judgement. Is it safe to take a photo? Will your gear, such as a tripod or camera bag cause someone to trip? Is the area free of steps or an incline that might make it difficult for a costumed member to reach or leave? Look for the safe shot and don’t risk creating a situation where someone (including onlookers, yourself, and the subject of your lens) can be injured.
Any photos that are taken need to follow the in-character guidelines established by the Garrison. This practice helps to preserve the special moments that allow costume members to interact with the public. It also helps to protect the intellectual property established by Lucasfilm and Disney. Out of character photos run the risk of damaging their careful relationship with the Garrison and may severely limit future opportunities.
Behind the scenes photos, where the public eye is not present are questionable for two reasons: they can show more than you intend and can run the risk of being viewed outside of context. As such, it is recommended to avoid taking these photos. These photos should be weighed carefully against what is best for the integrity of the Garrison.
On occasion, a guest may ask to have a photo taken using their personal camera or phone. Care must be taken to ensure that their property is not damaged. As always, photos of costume members and guests must always follow the in-character guidelines, especially since the photo will be outside the control of the combat photographer.
If you have any questions regarding combat photography, please contact the Squad Leader and or Combat Photographer for your region.
Additional Notes
The following is from http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/photography_law_rights.html
” With a few notable exceptions detailed above, you can photograph anything you can see in public. That means you can legally photograph subjects such as people, buildings, bridges, trains, police officers etc. without asking or getting prior permission. On private property (e.g. in shopping malls, stores, theaters, hotels and sports arenas) you need the permission of the property owner to take photographs. While the act of photography itself in such areas isn’t illegal, if asked to stop taking pictures and leave you must do so or risk prosecution for trespass.
” You can generally take photographs of and in public areas of transit systems. For Example, Amtrak and the New York and Chicago Transit authorities specifically permit hand held non-commercial photography as long as it doesn’t interfere with other passengers or the system operation.
” Nobody has the right to require you to delete images you have taken and only the police can require that you show them the pictures in your camera – and even that requires a search warrant unless you give them permission.
” Signed releases are only required for commercial (trade and advertising) use of photographs. Editorial, news and art usage generally requires no release from the subject, though some publication may requires them “just to be on the safe side”. It certainly never hurts to have a signed release on hand should a dispute occur. Get one whenever it’s possible, even if you have no intention of using the images commercially. Often it’s not possible, in which case don’t worry about it. Just don’t use unreleased images for commercial purposes.
” Just because you are not doing anything illegal doesn’t mean you can’t be stopped, questioned, detained, charged and prosecuted. Often charges arise not because of the photography but because of something ancillary such as trespass or activity related to disturbing the peace, assault, resisting arrest and such similar charges when you try to argue with a police officer/mall cop and things get heated. In case of confrontation, don’t make things worse by loosing your cool.
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