To think someone has just tried to sell me an illegal photo?

[Llamasally]

Hands full on the drive getting the kids out of the car, a blue Citroen (?) pulled up and a guy gets out and starts showing me aerial photos of our house and garden, with some frames tucked in at the back. He got straight to showing me the images without introducing himself, professing what great quality they were.

I told him I couldn’t look now as I was busy with the children - trying to get very tired baby and toddler inside for a nap. He could see I had my hands full, my toddler started to cry but continued and was really quite pushy that I look at the pictures. I asked if he was here to sell them, while taking DS towards the house, he said yes. I told him not interested and like a bloody idiot to try to make him go away, asked if he had a business card in case my husband was interested. Strangely he had no business card, his explanation being ‘it’s just a little hobby, we don’t have offices or anything’. Very pushy for a hobby. I asked how do we contact you if we want one, could he just write down his number? No. But he would come again in the next week. I was being pretty short with him by this point and said we’re not likely to be in.

I was caught off guard and feel so annoyed at myself - for trying to be bloody polite and not just telling him to get off my drive. For not taking a photo of the car/reg plate and confronting him.

All that aside, the reason for my post is that I’m pretty sure you’re not allowed to take photos of someone’s private property including e.g. their garden without their permission?? Anyone who has any knowledge of this area /privacy law I’d really appreciate your advice as I’m sure he will be back. I’ve locked the doors now that we are inside, I’m home alone today and he’s made me feel uncomfortable.

[mumda]

I knew someone whose boyfriend had a hot air balloon from which he would take the photos. Then he'd go flog them.
My dad had one of their house with his red car on the drive. I liked the photo but suspect I wouldn't buy one ever.

[IncompleteSenten]

If he comes back and is pushy you could perhaps say I know what my house looks like, why the hell would I give you money for a picture of it?

[NumberTheory]

@PriamFarrl
Or just say ‘no thank you’. Why make stuff up?

In the case of a complete stranger, making stuff up can be expedient, fun and/or safety conscious (probably not in this situation, though). Especially someone who is trying to take advantage of your harried state or hasn't left you alone when you've said "no.".

I generally disagree with "nice" lies to people you have some sort of relationship with that will encourage them to think their unreasonable request/pushiness/whatever is actually welcome and just stores up issues for the future. But a stranger you'll never see again - tell them whatever you like that doesn't put you out. You don't owe them the truth or anything else and lying is a perfectly fine way to get rid of them.

[PriamFarrl]

[quote Lasair]@PriamFarrl because she said that and he wouldn’t take that for an answer. Sometimes you just need something to shut down the conversation. No thank you doesn’t always work. You surely know that?[/quote]
I say no just harder. It always works for me.

[Lasair]

@PriamFarrl because she said that and he wouldn’t take that for an answer. Sometimes you just need something to shut down the conversation. No thank you doesn’t always work. You surely know that?

[starfishmummy]

A family member has one that was taken by plane. You can see the house but as part of a wider view, not close up to the house.

We have one Mil us a few years ago from a newspaper offer but that's just a print out from Google earth. Again it's a street view so not close ups of people.

[PriamFarrl]

I don’t understand why the worry about this. It’s a not uncommon hobby.
One person has a light aircraft licence and needs to keep their hours up, they have a mate into photography. Combine the two and sell the pictures and perhaps make a few quid.

Not so common in towns but not unusual in the country side.

Granddad had one of his farm and my parents of one of their house.

[CSJobseeker]

Plenty of rear gardens are visible from roads. I know a chunk of mine is.

[MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry]

@SoupDragon

People bringing up Street View and Google Earth do realise that 1) StreetView doesn't take photos of your rear garden and 2) Google Earth isn't photo quality.

Well it depends on the angle of your garden from the road doesn’t? I was looking for a house last night on street view and pretty much all the houses on that road had rear gardens visible from street view.

[PriamFarrl]

@Lasair

Why didn’t you jusg say it’s a rental house (doesn’t matter if it is or not) so you won’t be there long so no need for a pic…

Or just say ‘no thank you’. Why make stuff up?

[Seeingadistance]

@Rachellow

Every Irish farm seems to have one of those! It’s effectively better quality google street view

Every Scottish farm too!

I like them - you can see how the farm buildings and steadings have changed over the years.

[Lasair]

Why didn’t you jusg say it’s a rental house (doesn’t matter if it is or not) so you won’t be there long so no need for a pic…

[nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut]

Don't ever tell someone who is photographing your property that you won't be in. He could be casing the joint.

[TiddlesTheTiger]

Strangely he had no business card, his explanation being ‘it’s just a little hobby, we don’t have offices or anything’. Very pushy for a hobby. I asked how do we contact you if we want one, could he just write down his number? No.

All that lot sounds odd.

Maybe just a guy with a drone, trying to make a few quid.
Or maybe some kind of scam / theft attempt.

Yes, loads of people have arial photos of their property but that doesn't mean this guy is legit.
Be careful.

[Crinkle77]

Yeah my parents bought one years ago of our beautiful farmhouse.

[minimecantrollerskate]

This is really common around here, every few years they appear on the doorstep selling photos. We bought one of our house about 15 years ago.

My family are farmers and they have various aerial shots over the years going back to the 70's which is really interesting when you can see how the farm evolved over those years.

[BobLemon]

Every grandparent I’ve ever met has these aerial pictures up

[GetTheFlockOutOfHere]

Not sure if it's illegal or not, but like fuck would I be paying! I could just pull up google maps, press 'prt sc' (printscreen,) and get a copy myself. Then print it off and get a frame for less than a fiver in Wilkos! Can't believe anyone still does this tbh, and expects people to PAY for them.

[MargaretThursday]

We got one of the old house about 20 years ago. Lovely chap explained he had a light aircraft and sometimes when they were up they took photos. He was selling A4 prints, in a frame for £5 so not making a major profit.
Only think dh has ever bought from a door to door sales man. he normally sends them away with a flea in their ear.

[actiongirl1978]

A man camr up my very rural Driveway once and tried to sell me some plants - last of his stock, just passing on his way home...

I told him I had a vomiting bug but would he like to hand over his business card? Funnily enough he left!

[SoupDragon]

(I mean, I've no idea about the legalities of flying a drone over private property but comparing it to Street View and Google Earth is a bit odd)

[SoupDragon]

People bringing up Street View and Google Earth do realise that 1) StreetView doesn't take photos of your rear garden and 2) Google Earth isn't photo quality.

[CaptainMyCaptain]

This was a thing about 30 years ago. I quite liked the photos but couldn't afford it.

[ProfessionalWeirdo]

It won’t be empty which is one saving grace I suppose

Phew! But if he does come back, forget about trying to be polite - just make it clear that you aren't interested and ask him to leave. If he persists after that, he's trespassing.

[SirensofTitan]

@2bazookas

When/if he comes back , take his car reg number and make and contact police. DO NOT let him in the house. for any reason.

He might just be a guy with a drone trying to make extra money fro Xmas. But he could also be a potential thief gathering information for a Xmas break-in. The drone pics show vulnerable windows, fences lanes burglar alarms etc. And if he gets in the house he sees where you keep the TV, computers, silver, presents under the tree etc. Put the two together and he can sell that info.

This can't be serious, theft is either opportunistic crack heads or organised gangs targetting the super rich. I can't believe that there are any criminals planning raids on Christmas presents and if there were surely they'd just look through your windows why would they set up a whole drone charade