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?

Try to keep their number out of shot, perhaps? Or blur that bit afterwards?
Technically, if their door is outside, it's in the public domain isn't it?
wish my door was beautiful

Yes, and don't say which street the house is on.

My captions say 'Town X', they don't give an address.

I've taken photos of interesting door knockers before now. If it was my door I'd be ok with it.

People take pictures of the front of my house all the time. I don’t mind at all.

Funnily enough I was looking at front door photos on Pinterest yesterday, as I’m about to repaint mine and I can’t decide what colour.

@SquashedSpring

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.

As a courtesy, yes. But it's not necessary.

Returning to the OPs actual question ... weird ? No weirder than any other form of collecting things you can't eat.

My Nan used to prowl graveyards and "collect" names and dates. No idea why.

Definitely ask. I live in an area of London where we get a lot of tourists, and the flat I live in is in a very pretty building, but we often have people walking up the path and taking pictures - I find it pretty rude and intrusive. I wouldn’t mind if someone asked but it’s not great to take pictures of a person or their home without asking.

but we often have people walking up the path and taking pictures

If they are on private property, then yes - they need to ask. However it's trespass so "a civil matter sir".

OP can I suggest a project that won't get you put on the local FB Groups as a potential burglar?

Looking Up.

I did it for my degree years ago, but with an SLR. I basically went into my local towns and looked up. The architecture and details of the buildings was amazing, and we never actually look up to see it. I was amazed how many people had no idea that this beautiful window or ornate mouldings were something they walked past every day.

I still spend half my time in towns looking up.

I follow prettydoorsofbritain on insta. It's lovely. I took a photo of a door in our home town last week because it was a lovely colour. I did feel a bit weird but i think asking permission would be weirder

@ProfessorSlocombe yes unfortunately it is civil trespass, not much we can do in reality. And I don’t really bother too much with the odd picture but it is a bit intrusive on busy days when lots of people are walking past and coming into our garden taking pictures. We’ve actually had two students try and do a full photo shoot in the garden in front of a rose bush (they had big cameras, one of those umbrella things etc) and a group of tourists setting up a picnic in our front garden once.... had to ask them to leave

Unless it entailed going through a gate I wouldn't even consider asking permission to take a photograph of a door.
Im curious though about the reasons for objecting to a simple photo as I cant for the life of me think what nefarious intents there may be.

It sounds like a lovely idea. I saw postcards of Front doors in Ireland.

I wouldnt feel comfortable with someone doing this tbh .
please ask permission first

I like a good front door and can absolutely understand you wanting to do this. I've lived in a couple of houses with lovely front doors which I was very proud of current one is crap. I'd be flattered if you liked my door enough to take a photo

People are always taking photos of my house - we live in a cute village close to a popular tourist town. It doesn’t bother me at all, although I notice it more now I’m working from home all the time. If you just take a photo of the door no one will know where it is or anything about the house, unless they already know or and recognise it.