No More Portraits at the Beach - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/21/2006 03:50:50 PM · #1

I just read this article today in the paper, its soo wrong, there is no way i can charge someone $150 a session just to cover the day pass, i even wrote a leter to the editor, so hopefully people will speak out on this issue,
so i will no longer be able to shoot at the beach, really will take a lot of money out of my pocket,

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) - City officials started responding to beachgoers' complaints about professional photographers interfering with their sunbathing by handing $100 citations to photo pros shooting without permits, officials said.

About 10 tickets have been handed out so far, but officials are pondering more limits on when professional photos can be taken and the number of permits issued at any given time, city revenue manager Glen Everroad said.

Permits have been required for commercial photography since 1968, but officials recently renewed their enforcement because of growing crowds of shutterbugs at Little Corona del Mar Beach, officials said.

"When you get 12 photographers operating here at the same time, it looks more like a film studio than it does a public beach," Everroad said.

Daily permits cost about $150 for local photographers with a business license, a fee Everroad said is on par with other coastal cities.

Photographer Stephanie Hager, who lives near the beach, said she sympathizes with the city, but fears the fee could shut out small, independent shooters.

"It eats right into their bottom line," she said.

Elvis_L

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/21/2006 03:53:24 PM · #2

$150 for the permit or $100 for the fine. I say just risk the fine! I know there maybe and argument that a photo shoot for a clients personal buying is not comercial use.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

07/21/2006 03:54:28 PM · #3

Agreed - it's like they are just daring you to risk the fine. How silly is that.

rasdub

Nikon D70

07/21/2006 03:54:36 PM · #4

Booooooooooooo! I guess I understand a little bit b/c I'm sure that it can get annoying. Hopefully they don't end up policing this policy too much and give out more warnings than actual citations.

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/21/2006 03:55:16 PM · #5

And just how do they determine who is there shooting as a professional and who is just shooting for their own hobby?

fotomann_forever

07/21/2006 03:56:05 PM · #6

Originally posted by Elvis_L:

$150 for the permit or $100 for the fine. I say just risk the fine! I know there maybe and argument that a photo shoot for a clients personal buying is not comercial use.

I was thinking the same thing... LOL

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

07/21/2006 03:57:04 PM · #7

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

And just how do they determine who is there shooting as a professional and who is just shooting for their own hobby?

The generators and the 8 foot gold reflectors might be the first tip off. ;)

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

07/21/2006 03:58:56 PM · #8

Are they just talking about the big shoots with wardrobes, a full support crew... or any shooting?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

07/21/2006 04:00:11 PM · #9

The reason it has become a problem, I am sure, is because the photographers are bringing lights, reflectors, assistants, make-up people, art directors, whatever, and taking over a section of the beach and trying to keep people out of it while they work. I doubt that they'd spare a second glance for a lone photographer working on a model shoot with a camera-mounted speedlight, for example.

And I can sympathize, I really can. Photo crews can REALLY take over a beach, I have seen it happen. They wouldn't be trying to enforce this if it wasn't a problem. By requiring a permit, they can assign times and locations and minimize the impact on the public's use of the beach.

R.

rasdub

Nikon D70

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

07/21/2006 04:13:56 PM · #10

Good point Robert!

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/21/2006 04:16:23 PM · #11

I find the sun bathers get in my way at the beach when all I want is a nice sunrise/sunset shot without people in it. Maybe we should charge them a fee to be there during peak photo hours?

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/21/2006 04:17:38 PM · #12

no no, its not photo crews, its just a single photographer and a camera, sometimes you get a guy with a light or to, but not a whole crew down there,

thats where i do all of my beach shoots, its on my website,

quiet_observation

Canon EOS-7D

07/21/2006 04:17:39 PM · #13

At the Water Works here in Philadelphia, part of the problem I have had, is trying to convince security staff that I am not a professional photographer even when I have a point-and-shoot camera with me.

When I called the Water Works office I was told that even as a student I had to have a permit which requires a $1 million dollar policy.

Fairmount Park Permit

This seems very unreasonable.

07/21/2006 04:18:52 PM · #14

Originally posted by maryba:

same here at state parks, you have to have a million dollar policy to shoot there,

its simply pathetic,

07/21/2006 05:10:28 PM · #15

Originally posted by TroyMosley:

I don't find it pathetic. Why do you think that the taxpayers are obligated to supply you with a free studio? It would be different if the it was a public photography studio and the sun bathers were getting in your way.

If the beach belongs to the public, and you are using it for a profit-making endeavor, why shouldn't they get part of the proceeds, and have control of who, when, where, and how many get to use it?

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/21/2006 05:19:20 PM · #16

Originally posted by coolhar:

Originally posted by TroyMosley:
no no, its not photo crews, its just a single photographer and a camera, sometimes you get a guy with a light or to, but not a whole crew down there,

thats where i do all of my beach shoots, its on my website,

its simply pathetic,
I don't find it pathetic. Why do you think that the taxpayers are obligated to supply you with a free studio? It would be different if the it was a public photography studio and the sun bathers were getting in your way.

If the beach belongs to the public, and you are using it for a profit-making endeavor, why shouldn't they get part of the proceeds, and have control of who, when, where, and how many get to use it?

I'm assuming Troy pays taxes too - so it's also HIS beach.

where does it all end? Sidewalk fee if you take pictures on a sidewalk? People make HUGE business deals on their cell phones standing on sidewalks everyday.

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

07/21/2006 05:47:46 PM · #17

seeing how nature provided the beach - I dont see where anyone has the right to limit access or what you do on the PUBLIC beach. If it were private I could see it, but it is public domain.

fotomann_forever

07/21/2006 05:49:57 PM · #18

I'd be writing letters, bunches of them telling the city council what they could kiss:

Only not so nice and more hairy.

JRalston

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/21/2006 05:55:10 PM · #19

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

I find the sun bathers get in my way at the beach when all I want is a nice sunrise/sunset shot without people in it. Maybe we should charge them a fee to be there during peak photo hours?

So true!

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

And just how do they determine who is there shooting as a professional and who is just shooting for their own hobby?

No kidding! What if you are a hobbiest doing some pics of your neice, without being a student or a pro.

07/21/2006 06:01:11 PM · #20

Originally posted by Megatherian:

... I'm assuming Troy pays taxes too - so it's also HIS beach. ...

It's his beach, but it's not his photo studio.

07/21/2006 06:05:40 PM · #21

Originally posted by coolhar:

Originally posted by Megatherian:
... I'm assuming Troy pays taxes too - so it's also HIS beach. ...

It's his beach, but it's not his photo studio.

what's the difference between taking pictures on the beach (assuming it's just you, your camera and a model) and bringing your laptop to work on a business proposal? Why are photographers singled out so much for doing their business when people could care less about all other types of business?

07/21/2006 06:07:29 PM · #22

Originally posted by JRalston:

Originally posted by ShutterPug:
And just how do they determine who is there shooting as a professional and who is just shooting for their own hobby?

No kidding! What if you are a hobbiest doing some pics of your neice, without being a student or a pro.

Normally the line is drawn where the photographer charges for their services beyond actual costs. And if you make a big enough nuisance the authorities will bother to find out who's a pro and who isn't.

07/21/2006 06:09:43 PM · #23

Originally posted by Megatherian:

Originally posted by coolhar:

Originally posted by Megatherian:
... I'm assuming Troy pays taxes too - so it's also HIS beach. ...

It's his beach, but it's not his photo studio.

what's the difference between taking pictures on the beach (assuming it's just you, your camera and a model) and bringing your laptop to work on a business proposal? Why are photographers singled out so much for doing their business when people could care less about all other types of business?

Any type of business that inconviences the swimmers and sunbathers enough will eventually be regulated.