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Original poster

Taking photos of items at craft market — is it allowed?

109 replies

Mithrellas · 15/12/2025 09:05

I was at a Christmas craft market a few weeks ago, and started taking photos of some nice looking hand turned wooden pipes when the stall owner barked “No photos! Only for buying!” at me. I was a bit shocked so I left and didn’t say anything.

Thinking back, I wonder — can stall owners at a market stop people from taking photographs in a public place? Obviously their work is on sale outside so presumably ok to photograph? Is there a quick, polite, non-confrontational sentence I could use in the future to explain that this is allowed (if this is the case)?

I love browsing through market stalls and looking at interesting small things for sale (handmade paper, ceramics, knitted items, small artisanal metal work, wooden pendants, hand poured candles, small houseplants, maybe a cute collection of cupcakes, etc.). I don’t buy a lot of items but I do like taking say two or three photos for me to look back on, just for personal use.

I don’t post photos on social media or share them, and I’m not crafty and wouldn’t dream of trying to make anything similar to sell on (perhaps that is why some artisans don’t like images of their wares online? Though wouldn’t that help other potential buyers see what they sell?).

OP posts:
Keepoffmyartichokes · 15/12/2025 09:06

Its because there is a big issue at the moment with people going to markets, getting ideas and mass producing them then selling them on Etsy/eBay etc as home made.

NaranjaDreams · 15/12/2025 09:11

What are your photos for?

I can see why they are antsy about it. I think if I wanted to take a photo, I’d probably ask - but then I’d only really be taking a photo to either remind me to come back and buy it or to send it to someone to see if they wanted it, so fairly easy to explain.

Taking a photo to keep because you like it but don’t want to pay for it, is a bit odd… there’s nothing in that for the business owner and they will worry that you’re planning to recreate it or send it to be mass produced.

Brefugee · 15/12/2025 09:12

yeah, in their position i'd be annoyed too.

There are so many people who sell things they make, only to find cheap shit versions on Temu a week later

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jettisoned · 15/12/2025 09:13

Why would you want to look back at something you didn't buy? Very odd.

Most people would be taking photos to copy or mass produce items. I can see why the stall holder was antsy.

DappledThings · 15/12/2025 09:16

They can't legally stop you no. But it's really rude and antagonistic to insist on carrying on doing it when they have good reason to ask people not to.

snugasabug75 · 15/12/2025 09:17

Very odd. You take photos to look back, but have no intention of buying?

Blarn · 15/12/2025 09:17

Yes, it is so people don't go and by something similar and mass produced to either buy cheaply or start selling them aa 'handmade'. If there are things like that at craft markets that I might not want to buy at that time I will speak with the stallholder and get contact details, a website, where they are going to be next etc. They usually really like talking about what they make as well.

stayok · 15/12/2025 09:18

Where was the fair being held? If it was genuinely public (eg the town square) then they can’t legally stop you but it’s poor behaviour on your part. If it’s in public but actually privately owned (eg church hall) the can make access conditional on following the rules and the can ask you to leave if you don’t comply.

ChloeMorningstar · 15/12/2025 09:19

For all the reasons others have stated.

If you buy it you can take all the photos you want. The stall holder wont make jack from your photo (unless you are telling the truth about sending to someone to see if they want it)

BadgernTheGarden · 15/12/2025 09:19

If it was an event on private property and there is a no photos policy then you can't. Just taking photos from a distance on a public street I would think is perfectly legal, if you were taking closeups and moving things to take pictures it would be pretty cheeky and might imply you were intending to copy their stuff.

EleanorReally · 15/12/2025 09:20

particularly a close up,
you should have taken it from afar and been less obvious

SheinIsShite · 15/12/2025 09:20

Agree that it's an odd thing to do. Crafters will be concerned that their designs will be ripped off by the chinese tat-merchants and that's a lot of their business gone.

But you;d think the stallholders could ask politely. Or have a wee sign saying no photos.

EleanorReally · 15/12/2025 09:21

if photography is your thing you should have asked

Somersetbaker · 15/12/2025 09:21

Possibly he doesn't want you to find out where he's buying mass-produced tat, hand-made yes, but not in this country.

Lamentingalways · 15/12/2025 09:22

Public place they legally can’t stop you. You can take a photo or a video of anything or anyone you want in a public place. The venue owner can ask you to leave if it is private property but again they can’t make you delete the photo as it was taken legally. I won’t give my opinion on whether I think it’s right or wrong because that’s not what you asked.

WhereIsMyLight · 15/12/2025 09:22

You’ve spent hours not just making things but picking the colours so it’ll look nice, choosing the right materials to make something. Then someone comes along to take a photo but not buy it. They could use this photo to make their own version, taking away the hours of you choosing the right colours and materials. Or worse, they take your photo to use on AI post to make it look legitimate. Would you be happy?

If you want to look after, ask if they are on socials and follow them this will build their online presence. Then interact with their posts. If you might like to buy after, ask if they have a card. If you want to get bonus points, ask if they have a preferred seller platform (different platforms charge different fees so some platforms mean more money ends up going back to them).

Lilaclove1 · 15/12/2025 09:23

It would have been polite to ask op

TheProvincialMusicTeacher · 15/12/2025 09:23

DappledThings · 15/12/2025 09:16

They can't legally stop you no. But it's really rude and antagonistic to insist on carrying on doing it when they have good reason to ask people not to.

Depends where the market is - if outdoors on a street, then no they can't, but if on private land/indoors, you need permission to photograph.
It's good manners to ask permission in any case.

Lilaclove1 · 15/12/2025 09:25

Why were you taking pics?

you say you love looking at them? Are you saying that after you’ve left the market you then sit and gaze at the market items again on your phone?

tokennamechange · 15/12/2025 09:26

The stall holder was rude. They should have a sign up politely asking people to not take photos without permission and should have asked you nicely. Technically it is a public place so they can't stop you.

There might be good reasons for someone to take a photo, like sending it as an idea to someone to buy for you, or checking with someone whether it's the right thing/recipient will like it or doesn't already have one.

Saying that those are all related to buying. I can see why the seller would get annoyed at someone taking random photos to "look back on" with no intention of purchasing and tbh, do find that a bit weird. I dont really understand what pleasure you'll get from looking back at a random photo of an ornament you saw two years ago!

SheinIsShite · 15/12/2025 09:28

Lilaclove1 · 15/12/2025 09:25

Why were you taking pics?

you say you love looking at them? Are you saying that after you’ve left the market you then sit and gaze at the market items again on your phone?

Agree. It's not something I'd ever imagine doing and I do love a good craft fair. Give the maker a follow on social media instead - you see lots of their work, and support what they're doing.

GreenGodiva · 15/12/2025 09:30

Keepoffmyartichokes · 15/12/2025 09:06

Its because there is a big issue at the moment with people going to markets, getting ideas and mass producing them then selling them on Etsy/eBay etc as home made.

Completely. And it’s soul destroying. I’m a glad artists, mostly hobby but I do sell exclusively at a makers market to raise money for a year long community project that I run with my sister. I buy ALL the components, design, craft and produce every item in my stall with a bit of help from my nephews, daughter and husband. Every penny raised goes to free community meals that we cook from the local hub. Yet some local business owner has been coming in, haggling for multiple items for presents when they are already under priced and it turns out that he’s selling them at hugely inflated costs through his wife’s “boutique” store in the next town. He can fuck off next time, I’d rather sell them for half the price to Pete that we’re taking them home than to him. Funny thing is, if he had just approached me and said he wanted to do that and would make a hefty donation from each sale, I’d have been more than happy to give him ALL my dead stock and out of season stuff.

LillyLeaf · 15/12/2025 09:41

I sell at craft markets and people do take photos, some ask me, some don't. I can usually tell when they are a genuine customer who is sending the photo for someone else's opinion for a present or likely to buy later. But there are people that go along filming everything and ripping off my designs. I have seen my own website photos on cheap knock off sites selling copies, it's incredible frustrating. I would suggest you always ask first before taking a photo. It's nice of you to support handmade, it's really tough out there right now.

Paganpentacle · 15/12/2025 09:42

Lilaclove1 · 15/12/2025 09:25

Why were you taking pics?

you say you love looking at them? Are you saying that after you’ve left the market you then sit and gaze at the market items again on your phone?

If this is the case.... just buy the item and look at it in your home....

BunnyLake · 15/12/2025 09:49

I’ve taken photos before just as a reference to show someone if they’d like as a present. I’m not sure there’s much point in refusing on the basis you might copy it as places like Etsy or craft shops wouldn’t exist as you could just copy (or if the item isn’t expensive you could just buy one to copy).