Being filmed by another diner in a fancy restaurant

[Changedmymindtoday22]

Here is the scenario.
I went to a very fancy restaurant this week.
A couple at the next table were very keen on filming every move they made on their phones, fine.
Next thing… they whip it out a tripod in the restaurant and place their phone to film themselves enjoying their meal.
The camera is also pointing at me.

They take the camera and I can see that I am also (unnecessarily captured) by the angle they were shooting.
They proceeded to do this 3 times, for a couple of minutes at a time.

WWYD in this situation?

A. Say nothing?
B. Ask couple to stop?
C. complain to fancy restaurant staff?

I did one of the 3, but am genuinely torn about what the best thing to do in this rather bizarre situation that made me quite uncomfortable.

I will share what happened next once I gauge opinions.

There will already be a journo post somewhere asking if you are the couple who were asked about taking photos of another person in a central London dining spot? 🤣

Professional film crews need permission to film people in a private venue if they are broadcasting. You have a reasonable expectation of privacy which was completely ignored.

if this was a TV crew, they would have gained permission from the restaurant and the staff would’ve warned people that filming was taking place.

Id complain to the manager’s boss. This is not on. As you’ve already explained, it completely changes the ambience.

do they know where and how this video will be broadcast? Are they happy with how their restaurant is being presented online?

I think they owe you a free dinner- without intrusion!

The daily fail picking this thread and making an article would be the best thing, yes it would give the restaurant more publicity but they won’t be portrayed in a good light specially because it’s a fancy restaurant were wealthy people wanting to keep a low profile like to go. Yes there’s something such as bad publicity that can hurt your brand. Setting up a tripod and filming people is something pretty crass you can get away with in mac Donald’s. .

I fear that a news paper article, bad reviews on google business listing/trip advisor etc…comes out that manager is loosing his job.

I won't dare ask how much it is per head. What an eventful evening.

No, immediately behind the rather slimline tripod was a fancy mahogany table which held glasses. It was not a bar and is firmly behind the tripod. I appreciate it may not be clear, but is factual.

No there isn't. The bar is off the top of the post it!

D. Tell them I was in witness protection and that they were endangering my wellbeing, my person, my very LIFE. Then burst theatrically into noisy, snobbery tears and insist they are removed from the restaurant this instant.

I like a bit of am dram.

I would have approached the couple, ask them politely if they were influencers and then ask them to blur me out.

I would have also asked for their social media handle, so that I could double check at a later date

There's a marina near us. Boat owners requested live webcams so they could check on their craft. Management did put one in which is a long distance shot not showing any detail of entrance. The reason being we discovered is because sometimes couples arrive enjoy a weekend of boating etc. Once in a blue moon another woman arrives who is in fact the wife/partner of the boat owner.

The staff know to not assume anything and show no surprise.

The restaurant was at fault for allowing this level of intrusion on their premises, sad people do like to log every second of their sad lives but they do not have the right to intrude on others. Who are the people who are thick enough to be 'influenced' by these nonentities?

Well done Claridges, were I able to afford it I'd be there every day! Other restaurants maybe should copy the idea, they would see an increase in their revenue.

Tbh, whether I was in the frame or not, I would not want to go to a smart restaurant and have another diner filming their meal with a tripod-mounted camera ffs. I would complain to the staff and expect them to stop the whole circus in its tracks. In fact, I would expect them to do that anyway without having to be prompted by me. It's completely unacceptable behaviour and makes the place look as tacky as the diners that they allowed it to continue.

I would also be expecting my meal to be free because of the filming, and another (hopefully camera-free) meal on the house at another time to make up for the spoiled experience and the useless management response at the time.

And I would name and shame.

God knows what is wrong with people that they think this is in any sense an OK way to behave.

B and C. Any restaurant which allows this is just awful, I would never go back. Also consider warning other diners via social media that they might be filmed while they're enjoying their expensive food.

I would hate this and really complain, their choice to film shouldn't infringe on me. I wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy the experience

Also about to suggest this.

I accept that people take photos of what’s on their plate or of their fellow diners when out celebrating.

However, I wouldn’t be happy in that situation either and I agree that should make a more formal complaint to the restaurant. If I’m spending a lot on a meal out, I want to enjoy the experience and not feel harassed by the childish antics of people who have zero understanding of normal social etiquette.

I've seen similar happen actually. A couple were on the beach near me and kept getting their tripods out (really small but quick to set up!)

They posed for "picnic on the beach" style photos. Quickly ran in the sea and out again for max 2 mins.

Their whole time on the beach was posing. They didn't actually get to sit down, enjoy their food, and relax.

I found them on Instagram (they tagged the beach location) & from there I found their YouTube channel. Which focused on slow living, UK travel and being outdoorsy.

Literally all lies 😂 I couldn't believe it

Name and shame on social media. Their behaviour was bad enough but the management response was appalling.

Where’s the option for walking past them, knocking the camera over and accidental standing on it. Who the fuck films themselves eating? The world is fucked!

The tripod goes all the way to the floor. And so the tripod is in front of that bar/table you can see the tripod leg going down past the wood of the table.if you look closely enough.

Did you comment on what you actually saw them do on their social media accounts? I would have!

DH and I went to Paris in February and it was full of instagrammers with their partner in crime & tripods on wheels. Many of them were casually filming themselves walking across the roundabout to the Arc de Triumph whilst the traffic weaved around them. I don’t know how anyone wasn’t hurt.

Peurile Moi stood behind them pointing and gurning. Maybe that’s your Option D, OP: pointing at the camera and gesticulating the Tosser movement.

No, they aren't so far away.

You blind "fruitcake". 🙄