Any Laws about Photographing in Public Buildings

[Larry_Hornburg]

I am interested in putting together some new architectural portfolios, but I plan to visit some hotels and office buildings and maybe an airport or so, to get these shots, does anyone know if there are rules or laws that apply to photographing in these structures. I don't want to make my next post from the Slammer!

Larry Hornburg

[Leslie_BurnsDellAcqua]

You will need property releases to shoot in these places. Portfolio use is commercial use, so you need to have permission to use these structures.

Carolyn Wright has lots of info about releases on her website: http://www.photoattorney.com/ (also read her blog).

Best--
Leslie

[John_Luke]

There is a difference between public use buildings like those mentioned, and publically owned buildings. According to the ASMP, a release is not needed for advertising use in the case of publically owned buildings. However, permission, and or permits may be necessary to gain access.

Public use buildings like hotels, malls, etc, are privately owned and you are best served to ask permission beforehand, as they call all the shots here. As mentioned, releases are required for any advertising use of privately owned properties.

Becareful of airports. Post 911, lots of things have come under scrutiny about photographing in and around strategic structures. Even local law enforcement has trouble interpreting these things. IE, you may be right, but if it costs you attorneys fees and bail to get you out, you loose.

Be honest, cooperative, and friendly.

Here is another link with a download.
http://www.krages.com/phoright.htm

[Waleed_Alzuhair]

Here, we need a clearance from the Ministry of Information (where I got my original photography licenses). One can get the clearance almost immediately; Those are only for public buildings and areas like public schools, gardens, streets, ...etc. For privately owned buildings such as malls and tower buildings, a clearance from their admin or security department is needed.

For both, dates and durations are needed with photocopies of the ID and licenses.

[Eliot_Z_Cohen]

Part of the issue is where you're photographing from.

The way the law stands here, I believe, is even with private buildings, if it's a view you are able to get from a public thoroughfare - street, footpath, etc - then they can't stop you taking the photos, but they can stop you if you're taking the shots from on the property of the building itself.

Either way, it's always a good move to get on the good side of the building owners/managers and their security, because it's not much fun to be hassled by a 6'4" rent-a-cop with a 5th grade education and being paid $7 an hour, he's likely to hassle you simply because it brings some excitement to his day.

[Mike_Guilbault]

I was about to take a photo of a beautiful sunset reflected in the buildings of an oil refinery. Apparently, at least in Canada, there's a WWII law that's still in effect that you can't take photos of oil refineries. I was in the parking lot and a jeep pulled up pronto and stopped me!

[marc_gerritsen]

I would like to contradict some of the previous posters
fake it before you make it!
If you need architectural shots of interiors just for your portfolio I would take them without permision, just don't be too obvious about it, use ledges and pilars for timed shots instead of a tripod. If you get noticed just pretend to be a tourist and claim ignorance. If you were to ask permision it might take weeks and actually if you are really honest about it, it's likely they will not give you permision.
For all architectural shots fom the outside do the same unless you shoot from public spaces then you're fine
Once you have a good looking portfolio you can go through the normal channels and likely you will get the permissions you need
good luck