Lady taking photos at the park - concerned

[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!

She didn't even need to ask permission.

If your kid is in a public place then people can take photos with your kid in it. You've no right to tell them to stop or delete it or anything. She didn't need consent.

Also though, it sounds a bit odd.

Incorrect. Children have a legal expectation of privacy even in public spaces.

Would you care to share what legislation covers this because I've always been aware that anyone can take photos of anyone else in a oublic space. It's not illegal. Polite to ask maybe, but not illegal.

@happydays2345
Incorrect. Children have a legal expectation of privacy even in public spaces.
They do not. Strangers may take photos of your children in public without parental permission. (Assuming the children are clothed!)

It is perfectly legal to take photos of children in public without parental consent. There is no expectation of privacy in a local playground.

This above.
She is perfectly entitled to have a picture of your ds. Why would she not be?
If you want to make sure he isn't photographed, never take him into public places. But that is completely bonkers, so just make peace with the idea that he may be photographed.

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.

You’ve said no one gave permission, and then described her asking and being given permission

There would be plenty of pearl clutching if it had been a man, and rightly so.

That may be true. But the actually advice (you can’t do anything as it’s legal to take pictures in public areas) would be the same.

I remember this happening to me as a child, and later seeing my photo in an exhibition in the town hall where they showed modern photos alongside old photos in the same location. We were quite happy to be included but it would have been nice if they had spoken to us at the time.

My own children often used to get photographed by tourists when they were younger.

if she had asked you would you have asked her why?
but she didnt so you couldnt

I do understand you have concerns but do have have an appreciation of how often you are captured on CCTV in the UK? I believe it's quite a lot.
I am not minimising your distress but If you are concerned about someone grooing your child, it's worth reading around how that happens. The NSPCC has some great advice here www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/grooming/
or learn about technology used by predators and how it's being combated
www.thorn.org/

I'm no expert on the topic but I feel that a read around might put your mind at rest.

a man took a picture of my dd, as a toddler, he told me what he was going to call it, child playing or something
this was over 20 years ago

In a public place you can't expect to have privacy. People could have seen your son with their eyes too.

As others have said, perfectly legal. Never go out, OP, there are cameras everywhere. Grip needed.

She asked permission from the other woman, why are you assuming she didn't ask permission from other parents? She's likely a photography student or photo journalist

If people are happy to let strangers take pictures of their kids with no explanations then they are absolute muppets.

A lady once took a picture of my daughter playing in a fountain with my permission - it was a little random at the time but we chatted, she was visiting the city and taking general shots.
Before parting, she asked for my address and when the picture was developed, sent it us with a lovely letter telling us what a nice day she had.
Sometimes people are just nice, I wouldnt have the gorgeous picture of my girl without that lady, I think she could just appreciate that moment more than me at that time and she captured it and gave it to me to keep.

You're right OP. It's a gross invasion of privacy and you should probably sue. Best put a bag on your DS's head when you're in a public space, like what Michael Jackson did. Cos he knew a thing or two about peedos.

You do realise your DS is most at risk from his male relatives, not from random female photographers?

Would you not allow dc to appear in the local paper? Here all the kids go in when they start and leave primary school. So thousands of men will see.

@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.

But what are you actually worried about? What do you think might happen? Do you not allow your school to take any photos of your child?

@Jerima

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?

Maybe because it is an intentional photograph rather than accidentally caught in the background and downright weird behaviour without an explanation.

goodness almighty.
When i was a student, i played a little bit being an amateur photographer. I took a picture of a mother and toddler from behind and that photo was on display at university photo exhibition.
Sadly, i dropped this hobby long time ago. Probably wouldn't be able in present day fearmongering climate.

If she was asking the other parents if she could take pictures I'd assume she would've also asked you rather than just taking a picture of your DS.

I'm sure if you were that upset you'd have been able to catch up with her and ask.

Probably best to not go out in public to save yourself this kind of panic.

@scrambledcustard

If people are happy to let strangers take pictures of their kids with no explanations then they are absolute muppets.

Go on then. How would you stop someone taking pictures in a public space?

It's legal.

It's polite to desist if asked. But it's still not illegal.

Not even if the picture sold on. The image belongs to the photographer.

Again, for an ad campaign etc they usually try to get you to sign it off. But it's not illegal.

So what do you suggest?

My daughter does this, she’s a photography student, she would never take single shots without permission but photos of people is her thing.

The law in the UK is that anyone can take a photo of anyone without their permission.

Someone in my family appeared in a shot in a national paper and on mainstream TV news as they were part of a major news story ( as one of a crowd.) There is nothing you can do about it.