When to Pull Out…Your Camera

Morgan Anne of @morganstayshome once said to capture everything you do in life, even if it seems stupid, because someone will think it’s not. While this is a good rule of thumb in many cases, there are times when pulling out your camera may not always be the best idea. A renown moment can be ruined by someone intercepting your camera work.

One time where it felt completely wrong to pull out my camera took place in April of this year. I was tasked with filming interviews for a promotional video about my department at work. For those who haven’t seen my LinkedIn, I work in a fairly large casino resort with tight security policies.

Pulling out a Canon XA-40 with a full-size shotgun microphone and seven foot tall tripod just seemed wrong. I even had a couple of my coworkers from the security department raise their eyebrows. The important thing in this situation was that I had permission to do what I was doing. My work had already been cleared by the higher ups and they were expecting me to follow through on this project.

Public Property vs. Private Property

Whenever you’re working on a larger project such as this, it’s key to get permission from the property owner or manager to film or take pictures on private property. Be prepared for that person to be uncomfortable with the idea. Not everyone is ready for what they see as a whole production to take place. Remember, the property owner or manager has the right to refuse to allow your camera.

According to the ACLU of Washington D.C., “Taking photographs and video of things that are plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right – and that includes transportation facilities, the outside of federal buildings, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties.” Filming and photographing in public spaces is entirely legal and protected by the first amendment of the Constitution, but just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

This isn’t to say that your right to freedom of expression and the freedom of the press ought to be limited. The point I’m aiming at is to use your best judgement when determining how to proceed. People in a public park may not want to be captured on camera while enjoying an afternoon on a bench. When capturing the finer moments in life, it’s important to let those moments speak for themselves. Authenticity is key, and when you have to force a camera out to create the moment, it loses that special shimmer.

How to Shoot in Public

One of my more recent shoots took place at the capital grounds in Carson City. Several of my friends and I packed up our gear and went to the plaza to take some pictures on a sunny April afternoon. I carried my trusty Nikon D5200 and the aforementioned seven foot Cayer tripod with me. Josyah and Tyler carried a Canon T6i, another common DSLR.

There were other people around, so we made sure to keep the camera pointed away from them. While on public grounds, we were well within our rights to point our camera wherever, but we didn’t want to disturb the other patrons. Because of this situational awareness, we were able to spend over an hour in the plaza enjoying our passion together. In this instance, we captured some truly renown moments from an unforgettable visit.

Sometimes, it’s best to leave the bigger lens or fancier camera at home and stick with a lighter piece of gear. A large camera with all the bells and whistles can be intimidating, especially around other people. I discovered this when filming the promotional video. My XA-40 was far more intimidating than my iPhone was. There are those moments where a more reasonable camera will yield better results and keep the moment authentic.

Whatever the occasion, I’m certain you’ll find the best way to capture the moment!