To be annoyed when asked if my picture can be taken to promote someone else's business on Instagram?

[petpeevesgalore]

I've had this happen more and more often. You attend an activity, course or event. You are having a reasonably good time and enjoying the experience. Then all of a sudden or towards the end, the organiser or business owner asks attendees if they wouldn't mind having their picture taken to post on Instagram.

This puts me right off. I feel like an animal in a zoo, dehumanised and feel not much more than marketing material to line somebody else's pockets.

I'm prepared to be told I'm totally overthinking this and IABU. But that's how I feel.

What are your views on this?

Im ok saying no to someone's face so to me it's no different

There isn't any trolling on this thread? Unless you include polite and civil disagreement.

It's not trolling to disagree with the OP 🙄

I hate having my picture taken , so I would decline politely and refuse to have my photo taken or put on any social media platforms.
I've done this before and it was fine

How awful to have someone politely ask if they can take your photo. Must have ruined the whole night. 😀

“I think you need to examine what’s behind your overreaction”

^This. Your reaction is not normal

also universities unfortunately feel the need to film everything because of people's previous behaviour. Maybe think why so many places feel the need for CCTV etc.

But they can still advertise. They can simply post a picture of themselves speaking, the product or ask some friends to fill up the space.
**
They don't need to use their customers as props. It's distasteful

It’s not ‘distasteful’.

I’d MUCH rather hear from genuine customers than mates who are ‘filling up the space ‘.

You really do have to examine why you’re reacting that way. It’s not normal.

Oh fun another post on AIBU where the OP refuses to accept she is in fact unreasonable

I agree with you OP.
I went to a beautician and at the end of every facial/treatment she would ask if she could put a photo on her Instagram. I would say no every time, but she kept asking. I found another beautician.
I saw photos of other women on her Instagram who may not have felt confident to say no. None of them looked happy to be in the photos.

🙄

Put your settings on private.

Would you really rather a biased view of an event than seeing actual customers enjoying/experiencing it and hearing from them?

Christ alive. It’s not difficult to say “Sorry, I’d rather not”, is it? You’re making a massive fuss about nothing. Grow up.

This is entirely your issue.

I don't like being filmed or having my photo taken so I just decline. I don't feel like a 'weirdo' and if anyone views me as such, well, as the old saying goes, what other people think of you is none of your business.

Time to develop a thicker skin.

You're perfectly entitled to not want your photo taken and to decline.

But this second post means all my sympathy for you has evaporated. What a silly over reaction.

Social media is a HUGE part of business success and of course they are going to want to document a course/event with happy people. This won't change, it's part and parcel of life now and many businesses get a large part of their income/customers from posting social content.

Step away while photos are being taken as is your choice, but don't act like they've done something horrible or wrong, they haven't asked you to strip off and swing your nipples for them.

Again, it's your perception it's a "weirdo" thing to say. It's not.

Plenty of people have perfectly reasonable reasons to decline. I've worked with survivors of DA/stalking who do not want photos that could indicate their location online - would you call them weirdos for declining? I hope not.

it ruins it for you? Are you always so dramatic? They’re not singling you out; everyone is asked. Chill out, say no and forget.

Distasteful?

Over-egging it a bit now OP! You must know how social media marketing works fgs.

That is quite an extreme reaction. Just move on surely

My work runs events/courses.

On the marketing we like to include photos of previous courses we have run, that show delegates enjoying the courses. It's very common in marketing, and we would rather use actual shots from our actual courses rather than some faked promo shots using models.

We always ask all delegates if they are happy for their photo to be taken and used. Some say yes, some say no. If they say no, then our photographer is made aware and he doesn't include them in any photos.

It's honestly not a problem for us. Please don't feel uncomfortable saying no, it's absolutely fine to do so!

Being filmed and being used for online publicity are quite different things.

There could be any number of reasons for filming in a lecture theatre, from security to making the lecture available to disabled students who can’t attend in person. None of which means your image is being broadcast or made available to the general public.

The online publicity, I understand why some people don’t want to be in that. Declining is reasonable and understandable. But photos of an actual event rather than a description or a staged event with actors is a more honest and authentic way of communicating with potential customers. So objecting to the idea of photos of real events being used in advertising and being upset at being asked because you are “being forced to say no.” is absurd.

My work runs events/courses.

On the marketing we like to include photos of previous courses we have run, that show delegates enjoying the courses. It's very common in marketing, and we would rather use actual shots from our actual courses rather than some faked promo shots using models.

We always ask all delegates if they are happy for their photo to be taken and used. Some say yes, some say no. If they say no, then our photographer is made aware and he doesn't include them in any photos.

But marketing is your responsibility, not your customers'. Why can't they just attend and focus on what they've already paid to do, rather than being pestered and made to feel awkward with these requests?

Also, imagine survivors of domestic abuse (as was mentioned upthread) worrying that the photographer may make a mistake and their picture may end up on the internet even if they've denied permission?

There could be any number of reasons for filming in a lecture theatre, from security to making the lecture available to disabled students who can’t attend in person

They could just film the lecturer, surely? Perhaps sensitive topics are being discussed in those lessons and students are not happy for what they say to be recorded?

YANBU OP.

This sort of thing happens increasingly often I’ve found it is quite common to get a negative reaction from the person who was asking you as a formality. If they even ask. Last time I had a hair cut I found the hairdresser with her phone out taking photos of my hair. I asked why expecting it to be for her own portfolio and she said it would go on Instagram. For a variety of reasons I wouldn’t want that so said I’d rather not. She tried to talk me around and when I wouldn’t be she rather sulked whilst finishing off. It made me feel very awkward and took the shine off what was otherwise a good experience.