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Original poster

Lady taking photos at the park - concerned

160 replies

supasoup · 25/07/2021 16:06

Yesterday at the park me and my ds was just leaving when a lady stood and took a picture of a little boy on his bike. I thought they were together but then the Lady thanked the mother of the child and walked away.

I smiled at the lady with the child and she asked me if that lady asked for a picture of my ds. I said no and laughed. Apparently the lady had spent the last 30 minutes walking round taking random pictures of children some from a distance some close up. No one questioned her.

Now I'm worried that she has pictures of my ds and many others without any consent.

What can I do about it?
Now I'm worried!

OP posts:
Galassia · 25/07/2021 16:28

Best avoid London, op. When my children were small they had their photo taken by Japanese tourists all the time!

Lovely, smiling happy people who love taking photos of interesting and beautiful ( to them) people including children.

Also in Portugal the children were photographed. Nothing sinister.

Original poster
supasoup · 25/07/2021 16:28

@SleepingStandingUp

Its unclear whether the woman was suggesting the photographer was taking photos with or without permission?
No, from what the woman saw, no one gave permission for her to take the pictures. The photo lady caught the woman with child on the way out and asked if she could take a pic of her ds. No reason given as to why. The woman agreed but then admitted to me she wish she hadn't.
OP posts:
Hellocatshome · 25/07/2021 16:29

Photographs of fully clothed children in the park are not going to be used for any illegal purposes. A man asked if he could take some photos of my kids surfing the other day because he was doing a photography course and they would look great in black and white, I said yes, he took the photos everyone moved on. If this lady was asking permission all anybody had to do was ask her why then you would all know, or she could be lying and be some weird paedophile who gets off on fully clothed children but you will never know. Try to relax this kind of worrying is not healthy.

WeatheringStorms22 · 25/07/2021 16:29

I'm worried that she has photos of my ds!
Why would I be happy about that?

I'd imagine there are hundreds of photos of my 3 dc out there, taken without my knowledge.

Photos of them on the beach, at the park, in a theme park, in front of the Eiffel Tower, lots of plays and sports days. All featuring in someone else's photo.

I bet we all are. Kind of impossible to avoid nowadays.

If you're worried about paedophiles I really wouldn't. They'd see more in kids' swimwear photos in a matalan catalogue.

What specific worries do you have of someone else having a photo of your dc?

Figgygal · 25/07/2021 16:33

You don’t know she didn’t tell the other mother why she wanted the photo though ?
Lots of people could have pictures of your child inadvertently you can’t control this in an open area

1forAll74 · 25/07/2021 16:34

She could have been doing a photography project of some kind, like a day in the park,with children enjoying themselves, or at other times, like a day by the river, watching the ducks and boats whatever.My daughter used to be in a photography group, and would take random photo's of all kinds of situations in the countryside, and towns etc.

HalzTangz · 25/07/2021 16:34

@supasoup

Yesterday at the park me and my ds was just leaving when a lady stood and took a picture of a little boy on his bike. I thought they were together but then the Lady thanked the mother of the child and walked away.

I smiled at the lady with the child and she asked me if that lady asked for a picture of my ds. I said no and laughed. Apparently the lady had spent the last 30 minutes walking round taking random pictures of children some from a distance some close up. No one questioned her.

Now I'm worried that she has pictures of my ds and many others without any consent.

What can I do about it?
Now I'm worried!

I would say if she was asking consent she wouldn't have been taking pictures of kids without consent. She may be a photographer and wanting to build her portfolio
scrambledcustard · 25/07/2021 16:36

@LubaLuca

There was obviously some communication/permission discussed between the photographer and the other mother, so she wasn't exactly being sneaky. It doesn't sound worrying to me. Even if she did get a snap of your child, what harm could it do?
Its not about what 'harm" it could do - although after doing several online child safety courses I am aware that perverts copy and paste childrens faces of the internet on to horrible horrible images.

Its about ( well for me) personal pictures of my child enjoying themselves in private being used for something else with out my permission, whether that's for an art project, ad campaign or just for person use.

I mean would you like it if a random pic of you appeared in the local news paper about mothers scrolling on their mobile phones instead of engaging with their kids at the park - insert pic of you looking at your mobile, when in fact your were just replying to a quick text.

OP in this instance she probably didn't get any pics of your DS as she didn't approach you.

gardeninggirl68 · 25/07/2021 16:36

nobody wants photos of scruffy kids on bikes for anything nefarious op!!

Jerima · 25/07/2021 16:36

Why don't you feel this way about all the photos and videos taken of your DS by the hundreds of cameras that are EVERYWHERE outdoors?

When your child goes swimming, to soft play on people's dash cam on CCTV in shops walking past somebody's house who has a ring doorbell etc etc. Why is this one lady with a camera any different?

HalzTangz · 25/07/2021 16:38

@supasoup

I'm worried that she has photos of my ds! Why would I be happy about that?

If I said a man was doing this I bet you would all be more concerned.

Actually my opinion would be the same, if a make photographer asked permission they aren't doing wrong.

Equally in public areas it's allowed.

If you don't want the risk, keep your child out of public areas

CuriousaboutSamphire · 25/07/2021 16:38

@supasoup

I'm worried that she has photos of my ds! Why would I be happy about that?

If I said a man was doing this I bet you would all be more concerned.

There was a thread quite recently about a man taking pictures in a similar situation

The replies were the same. Yes it would make some feel a little uneasy but it is not illegal.

I think we have to stop seeing the Child Catcher on every corner whilst simultaneously being vigilant.

BoredZelda · 25/07/2021 16:38

If I said a man was doing this I bet you would all be more concerned.

Which is obviously the point of your post.

IcedSpice · 25/07/2021 16:39

@supasoup

I'm worried that she has photos of my ds! Why would I be happy about that?

If I said a man was doing this I bet you would all be more concerned.

What exactly are you worried about though?
FeatheredHope · 25/07/2021 16:44

As everyone else has said, a few random pictures taken in a park in public pose no danger or threat to you or your child whatsoever.
What are you so frightened of?

RoseRedRoseBlue · 25/07/2021 16:44

You are massively over-reacting. There is literally nothing to see here.

Porcupineintherough · 25/07/2021 16:44

Guess you'll just have to keep your ds indoors OP

Or in full face paint all of the time.

Or just chill out?

Whingey · 25/07/2021 16:47

Local paper years ago warned about beach photographer on Frinton beach taking photos of children in swimsuits. Showed police certificate but police checked with local council who said they didn't licence photography

korawick12345 · 25/07/2021 16:49

@Whingey

Local paper years ago warned about beach photographer on Frinton beach taking photos of children in swimsuits. Showed police certificate but police checked with local council who said they didn't licence photography
In other news police also don’t licence, breathing, walking, sunbathing playing chess or a myriad of other legal activities
SecretKeeper1 · 25/07/2021 16:52

The oddest thing about this is that the other mother didn’t ask why she wanted a photo of her kid.

Toomuchtooyoung01 · 25/07/2021 16:52

I’m confused and surprised why the mother of the child agreed to this random woman taking closeup photos of her kid without asking what it was for.
Going to agree that I wouldn’t like photos of my children online (I don’t have social media and if I did, I wouldn’t be posting photos of the kids on there).

Birminghambloke · 25/07/2021 16:55

You’re so concerned that you’re posting a day later? The time to deal with it was yesterday at the time. You could speak to the lady or call 101.
However, as she was asking for permission from parents and getting it, it was clearly above board. The child was fully clothed.
There are many times a photo is taken with another child in the background. Often I want them to move to give the location’s background only!

If it was of children not fully dressed and done without talking to parents, I’d be concerned. As too in a private place such as school playground etc. The action would be then, not the day after!

ArabellaScott · 25/07/2021 16:59

@supasoup

I'm worried that she has photos of my ds! Why would I be happy about that?

If I said a man was doing this I bet you would all be more concerned.

She was asking people for consent. She didn't need to. Sounds like she was being polite and mindful, really.
Antwerpen · 25/07/2021 17:02

@supasoup

I'm worried that she has photos of my ds! Why would I be happy about that?

If I said a man was doing this I bet you would all be more concerned.

This absolutely, such double standards. There would be plenty of pearl clutching if it had been a man, and rightly so.
Hellocatshome · 25/07/2021 17:04

This absolutely, such double standards. There would be plenty of pearl clutching if it had been a man, and rightly so.

Nope couldn't get worked up about it even if it was a man.