An Instagram account with 15 million followers called attention to a photographer at a kids soccer game for taking pictures.
The account is named HilaryDuff and you can access it via this link.
According to PetaPixel, what happened is that the owner of the Instagram account called out the unnamed photographer and asked him who he was with at the kids soccer game.
He replied that he was with himself and the account owner then proceeded to relay the following per PetaPixel:
“It’s legal…I’m taking pictures. I’m practicing photography. I’m not here to scare you or anything like that. Your paranoia is unwarranted.”
After some back and forth, HilaryDuff then responds:
“Okay, then I will just post this to my 15 million followers on Instagram and let people know how creepy it is that this is what you’re choosing to do on your Saturday morning.”
Needless to say, the story has gone viral in the photography world.
In general, in the United States you cannot have the expectation of privacy while in a public space and thus photography is permitted.
PetaPixel has an awesome guide to this in case anyone needs a refresher on “The Photographer’s Right.”
HilaryDuff concludes, “Like, if a parent is asking for it to stop, the laws should be changed for you to not be able to photograph that person…If those kids are a subject of your ‘photography’ practice, over and over and over again for minutes or half-hour, however long it was, and you ask someone to please stop that, you should have that right. And we really need to work on changing that law.”
What do you think about this story?
Do you think the Instagrammer was being unfair in posting the guy’s picture to her personal account and then inciting her followers even further through her Instagram stories?
Do you have any stories of something similar that has happened to you?
Let us know in the comments below if you like.
And don’t forget to check out our other photography news articles on Light Stalking by clicking here.
5 Comments
Sue duff for harassment. My son is a professional photographer.
I think if you are asked to stop taking photo’s you should. Especially if you have no people in that picture. When it come trees to kiss to many predators are out there
Hillary Duff is an actress and musician who, as someone who got their start as a child star, has a very long history with the paparazzi, which explains the reaction entirely. It’s kind of weird to just refer to her as an instagrammer?
I agree with Carol. If asked to stop. You should stop. There are plenty of places to practice photography in this world. Why make a parent nervous, when we live in a society that is as unsafe as the one we currently live in.
He is a MUCH braver soul than I am. As a Black man growing up in the U.S., being a part time photographer, and a police officer I have had an opportunity to see situations like this from both sides. My advice to ALL photographers of color photographing White children in public would be to be careful and know the laws regarding public photography in your area. In addition, I would caution all men of color against photographing White women in public as well. Yes, it’s legal but just like this video shows, it increases the possibility of a altercation happening. The U.S. racial situation is too volatile and in my opinion, it’s not worth it to photograph this particular group of children, ESPECIALLY when one of the children’s mother is a celebrity.