Do you think it's weird to take photos of people's front doors?

[rooty123]

I want to start a photography project, taking photos of the beautiful front doors around and putting them on Instagram.

Is this a weird thing to do?! If you saw someone photographing your house, would you assume they are up to no good?

No not weird at all if they are lovely doors. I saw a photo book of front doors once, it was beautiful.
But ask permission - most people would feel proud you thought their door was photo worthy!

Ask them. You might cause someone anxiety if they see you photographing their house without them knowing why.

There's a quirky front door in Lewes where they decorate it at Christmas and looks like a person. It's excellent. I didn't have rhe balls to take a picture although I'm sure they wouldn't have minded.

Ask them. You might cause someone anxiety if they see you photographing their house without them knowing why.

It’s a bit odd. Tbh

People will either think you’re a dpd driver dropping off a parcel or casing the place!

Without permission, yes, I would find it a bit weird.

I think it’s weird

You might think it’s cute and “instagram-able”, but it’s where people live. Respect their privacy

There’s many people who live in more picturesque parts of London who despise people using their property as a backdrop/photo op

I also think your project sounds a bit shit, like there’s minimal effort on your behalf

Yes I would think it was very weird if someone photographed my front door for no obvious reason (not least because mine isn't picturesque in the slightest but that's not the point!) You should ask permission first IMO.

No, so long as you aren’t climbing onto gardens to do it.

I would find it quite odd, if you didn't ask for permission. If you knocked on my (boring) door and asked permission I would probably say no! Sorry, I'm quite private and although, logically, I would know there was probably nothing wrong with it, I'd still find it a bit strange.

As ever mumsnet filled with charming lovely people

Yes, some rather rude comments on here. I don't think there is anything wrong with the idea at all and some doors are lovely. Just please don't photograph my door .

I'd hate the thought of people photographing my house /door. It's their property, at the least ask permission or expect to be confronted.

There is someone I follow on Instagram who takes photos of door knockers - she makes stuff on Etsy but is also a delivery driver so kind of has a good reason to be at the door in the first place. The different door knockers are really beautiful & it's made me notice more where I live & want an unusual one.

instagram.com/kate_bagsymefirst?igshid=klgjswwyn2v7

If it's visible (and photographed) from the street then it's fair game. (Or else Google steetview would be stuffed) there's no legal problem.

That said, some people might not (want to) understand that. So you need to be prepared to deal with them.

You're never going to get a normal person answer on here, people almost ring101 if a passer by even looks at their house.

I think it's fine, I have lots of photos of houses and street scenes, lots of people document the present for the future. Social media local history groups are hugely popular.

But maybe wait until there's no one in

@therewerefour

I'd hate the thought of people photographing my house /door. It's their property, at the least ask permission or expect to be confronted.

Can you articulate why when your door is on view to anyone who walks past and as someone has pointed out literally available to the whole world on Google earth.

A close friend of mine takes photos of fancy door knockers, so I don't think your idea is too mad. Although saying that, I've seen it done before... It's not a new idea.

That being said, I don't see anything particularly wrong with it, as long as you are quick and unobtrusive. And no going onto private property to get a better angle/shot. You either photograph from the public pavement/road, or not at all.

Yes I would find it weird but no one would put mine in 'beautiful' category so shouldn't come up! You should ask.

I follow #frontdoors on instagram, so totally understand why you want to do this. I wouldn't ask, but that's assuming it's just a quick phone photo rather than anything more intrusive. I think house fronts are public, and it's not as though you're taking a photo through the window. I'm assuming you won't go inside the garden or put the street name on the post, so youre not trespassing and it will only be identifiable to people who recognise the house.

Not everybody is going to be comfortable with parts of their lives (which a house is) being part of someone elses instagram project. You should ask them first.

I do this on Instagram. My account is local history and buildings are part of that history.

Once I had someone comment that it's their friend's house and they like having it photographed. Another time the owner smiled and stood out of the way while I took the photo. Never had any negative comments. Obviously if the owner is around you should ask if it's ok but ignore the negative comments above.

Well it wouldn't interest me, but that doesn't make it weird.

I don't think you should ask permission though, assuming you are taking them from the street, as people may not want you knocking on their door at the moment.

Personally it’d bother me, but that’s only because you can barely see my front door from the street and would pretty much need to come up onto my front porch in order to get a good picture of it. If you can see the front door from the street/sidewalk then I really can’t see a problem with it.

And don’t ask permission. While I wouldn’t be bothered by people taking pictures of my door/house/dog/whatever I would be somewhat annoyed if someone actually knocked at my door first to ask me if it were okay ... and tbh I'd probably think they were weird!