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

[Mithrellas]

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?).

That’s really interesting thanks. I do a lot of crafting myself, but have never tried to sell anything. I love looking at other people’s work, although I’m way too awkward to either ask permission or to just surreptitiously take a photo anyway😆

I’ve seen some craft stalls where they have beautiful set ups have no photos signs. I assume that’s so people don’t steal/get inspiration from the design of their stall.
At a Christmas fair I went to yesterday, there was a stall with a sign saying ‘take a card, not a photograph’.

You obviously don't understand what 'in the public domain ' means! Their images are unlikely to be in the public domain.

Actually I think people do the first thing as well. I have! If I see something that I quite like but is more expensive than I'm willing to pay, I look to see if I can get it cheaper anywhere else first.

Not necessarily a "temu" version but lots of different places sell the same tat stuff so its worth checking prices. Obviously if its a one off (painting of a local scene) might not be sold elsewhere, but if you see something like (random examples) a Christmas decoration personalised with a name or a wooden reindeer or specific flavoured drinks/sweets or whatever and think "ooh that's a nice idea but I'm not spending xxxx on it!" I don't think youre under some sort of moral obligation to buy the first one you see just because you happened to be in that place at that time!

I do the same in supermarkets etc as well, e.g. ooh that looks like a nice wine but I'll just check to see if it's cheaper in Tescos - don't really see an issue with it?

You're unlikely to get arrested for it but it's pretty rude and disrespectful to take photos of someone's work when they've asked you not to.

@PInkyStarfish · Today 10:42

How insulting to the stall holder!

’I don’t want to by any of lovely stuff you have hand made so I’ll just take some photos and go home and make them myself!’

Literally, NO-ONE does that. 😂

Exactly this. People are deluded if they think that someone can't just look at all their 'crafts' on their Ebay/Etsy/Amazon/Facebook page. It happens a lot; people having their designs ripped off/stolen by (usually) big companies. And all they have done is have a look at their Facebook, Amazon, Ebay, or Etsy page!

Julie and Dave who are mooching around a Christmas craft fayre for a bit of a festive trip out, aren't taking photos of peoples crafts because they're going to STEAL their designs, sell them on ebay, and make 100s and 100s of pounds from it FGS. 😆It's just a few pics of their little trip out for their Facebook or Instagram page

Chances are, some of the afore-mentioned precious craft people have nicked some of 'their' designs from others anyway!

I do the same in supermarkets etc as well, e.g. ooh that looks like a nice wine but I'll just check to see if it's cheaper in Tescos - don't really see an issue with it?

I do this too - whether it's to compare prices or in Aldi or Lidl's Aisles Of Wonder, when something is available for a few days and looks useful and at a good price, but I want to take a day or so to think about whether I would actually use it, where I would store it or check with somebody else who lives in the house for their opinion. A great big supermarket is very, very different from a little one-person business, though.

I think it is rude to take photographs in this scenario without asking first.

When you say 'for inspiration', do you mean that she wants to take somebody else's ideas - ideas that they've used and spent a lot of time, effort and thought on in order to generate a small income - and exploit that to make something herself that brings no rewards whatsoever to that craft person?

Whether somebody wants to mass-clone somebody's own work to flood the market with them, just make one copy for their own use, make something sort of connected idea-wise, or just have a lovely photo on your phone to enjoy... it's all the same to them, really: somebody wanting to benefit from their hard work without having to pay them anything for it in return.

Oh but because they are speshul home made crafts, anyone even glancing sideways at them, and NOT BUYING THEM, is probably going to STEAL the design, or see if they can get something similar at a cheaper price. If they (GASP!) take a photograph, that means they're definitely going to steal the design (or try and find the item(s) cheaper, somewhere else!

LOG IT WITH 101 NOWWWWWWWWWW! 😱

You are allowed to take photos in a public space. You could not sell a photograph of someone else's craft for commercial usage... but you're not doing that so don't worry.

Maybe just buy something as well as take the photos?

Are you kidding? Of course people copy other people's work, or at least 'take inspiration' from it and steal their ideas. It happens loads.

It doesn't help that many people can't seem to understand the distinction between a museum/gallery/show (often with an entry price or other funding) and a fete/fair where people bring their own personally crafted items in order to sell them.

Yes, they're glad that people appreciate their lovely creations, but fine words butter no parsnips, and they can't pay any of their bills purely from people saying "Ooh, that's beautiful - I must take a photo of it and then walk on".

There's a big difference between what you're allowed to do and what you should do if you have any care for other people.

A large, tall man is allowed to walk three paces behind you at night along a darkly-lit street; but none of the good ones would actually do that.

If you want to remember the stallholder for future, you can take their business card or website details or sign up for news. There is so much copying goes on.

Well, it's dull but yes you are right. She explains 'I also do x craft and I sell.in y county and I love the way you have done z on these. Can I take a picture?" I don't think it's particularly right she does it but she is absolutely honest about it! It's a technique she's usually interested in as she has her own specific style of product.

I don't know how any of them make a living from it though.

Whether you buy or not, taking photos of things like that without asking first is super icky. not illegal, but then neither is taking pictures of other people’s kids without asking, and you wouldn’t do that now, would you?

Is there a quick, polite, non-confrontational sentence I could use in the future to explain that this is allowed

sorry for not asking I will stop.

starting a well achtualllllly I’m legally allowed to is unlikely to come across as non-confrontational and will just be causing drama.

Those are some impressive, smooth, very eggy looking eggs tbf. I can see why you would take a picture to reminisce over, and just in case you forget what a collection of eggs look like.

I took photos of something I liked but I did ask the stallholder first. I was appalled when I heard how much the cost was (after the photo was taken) but I do not have the skills to replicate. I often gaze at the photo because I liked the item that much but don’t have the budget to buy ☹️

Some shopkeepers are really pissy about this. I have a contact in another country who will go to the wholesaler and buy several dozen assorted examples of an item to send to me, He knows broadly what I like but usually takes a few photos to show the kinds of stock they have. Last time he was stopped from doing so. He did explain that it would result in a big order but evidently they didnt believe him. So he simply went to another wholesaler and explained the position up front. The result was that the second wholesaler got my order which came to several hundred euros.

You can always say you were thinking of buying it as a gift for your child/relative/partner but wanted to check with them first that it was what they wanted. Ive seen people in shops having conversations and sending photos of stuff thats on display,

It is rude to take photos without asking. It’s also pretty unusual that you do it to look back at your photos for your own purposes. Lots of people will do it to steal ideas, colour ways or find it cheaper online.

I can understand why a stall holder would tell you off.

I think you have missed the point that some people take photos of hand crafted goods so that they can mass produce them.

Christmas markets have been tough this year with councils charging ridiculously high rents, so I can see why the stall owner was cross.

I think it's much more polite to have a brief chat with the stallholder then ask if you can take a photo, rather than just walking up and doing so without engaging with them at all.