Can I put your picture on the web?

by Steven Garrity

After resisting for months, I finally gave into peer-pressure at work and bought a digital camera. I couldn’t justify spending the better part of $1,000 (Canadian, that is) since I really just use the camera as a toy. I opted for a refurbished 2-megapixel Canon Digital Elph PowerShot S330 from a shop called Carman’s Foto Source via eBay.ca.

The price was right and I’m quite happy with the camera. Now, thanks for my friends at silverorange, I have a photo gallery. This new found photo publishing power has brought up some interesting questions about permission and privacy.

When I take photos with close friends and family, there is implicit permission for me to post the photos online for anyone to see. They all know I have the gallery and generally trust in my discretion as to what gets posted online and what stays private.

This gets a little more complicated when the circle of those photographed expands beyond this close group. If I go to a party (which I may, someday) and snap some group photos, with friends and friends of friends (aka, strangers), may I post these photos online? Must I ask permission of all those photographed?

I don’t link prominently to many photos, but security by obscurity just doesn’t work in the age of Google. Even if you prevent search engines from indexing your photos, a link from another site (by a human being) can put a photo of an unsuspecting friend at the top of Google when you search for their name. After posting about a set of photos from a recent para-sailing excusion, I got an email from man England wondering where I got my leather shoes – as he was in the market for a pair and liked what he saw (they were from Payless). Apparently, people are looking at these photos.

So far, the tack I have taken is to use my own judgement and discretion. If I think a person might have a problem with a particular photo being online, I either don’t post it, or I ask explicit permission (explaining the implications).

This is really just an extension of the dilemma many webloggers face when writing about personal issues or other people in their lives. This hasn’t been an issue for me on Acts of Volition as most of my writing does not focus directly on personal issues or other people in my life. Having a digital camera, though, has brought the issue to my attention, as many of my photos are of friends and family.

I’m curious to how others are dealing with this issue. Do you always ask permission? Do you avoid posting any photos online for these reasons? Do you have a story about photos posted online showing up in awkward ways?

 

64 thoughts on “Can I put your picture on the web?”

  1. Up until the past month I have avoided all pictures with people for this very reason. So many people hate getting their picture taken in the first place, let alone posted for the world.

    Currently in my gallery, everybody knows of their pictures online (I’ve sent them all the links) and have not received any complaints. However I’m going to continue to handle this issue with care as I know my family would shoot me if they ever found their picture online.

    Photos can’t do much harm (with in reason) but I feel it’s people with very little knowledge of the Internet that are more nervous.

  2. I personally don’t really care if a picture is posted of me… I mean a lot more people see me in real life, what’s a few extras on the web who don’t even know who I am?

    I generally don’t post pictures without the person knowing about it.. Usually when I take pictures, everyone knows it’s fair game what is done with them… unless it’s of someone I don’t know, in which case I’d steer clear of posting it without their permission.

  3. As far as I could find when I wrote my paper, there is no legal interest in your appearance except if someone else is trying to make a buck off of you. If that weren’t the case, with all my old team photos and junk in my articles, I’d have to deal with a whack load of folks and their permissions.

  4. What if you just don’t put names with the pictures? That limits the number of times the images will show in Google searches and means the inly people that will be identifying those in the pictures are people that already know them.

  5. I do the same as Ben, not putting names to the photos. Doesn’t get round the problem of people linking to them, but what can you do?
    Being doubly paranoid I only give my websites index file name (not index.htm) to people I know.

  7. I remember when my mother freaked out when she found out people could find her phone number on the internet. For some reason it seemed a lot more invassive to her than a phone book or directory assistance. I guess some people could feel the same way about pictures. Personally, I agree with Brad and Alan when it comes to my picture being online.

  8. Among friends and family, it’s known and accepted that photos I take might be posted to my website. I have only had one complaint, and that was because my mom wasn’t happy with the picture itself. I only post first names in my photo gallery so Google isn’t really a problem there either.

    The only issue I’ve really had is that people have come to a page containing a picture of my pregnant wife through perverse search phrases.

  10. Good issue Steven! Much like Acts of Volition has the “authors” pages, my website has a “friends” page, the main difference being that all (4,000+) photos on my website are tagged with who is in them, which means on any photo if you see someone interesting you can click there name to find more info about them… I do ask permission before I add them to my friends list and before I post photos with them in it, unless it is group photo and they aren’t a major person in the photo… If there is a party picture that is questionable then I always ask permission before posting, some people are more of an exhibitionist than others. Also if a photo is unflattering I don’t post it, or if someone doesn’t like a photo I am happy to remove it. Most friends (granted these are generally college students) LIKE it when a photo of them comes up tops on google 🙂 The main problem I have is idiots posting derogatory comments about the photos (usually lewd comments about girls) but I am quick to delete those comments and may switch to only registered users being able to comment.) It is such a tough situation, “make posting for everyone more difficult to eliminate the 5% of idiots, or keep it all open and put up with them?” Please keep us updated how your experience pans out, this is an interesting area of technology. PS As Alan said, I don’t believe there is any legal problems with posting non-inflammatory photos of someone (unless they are a minor) though I’m only a 1L so there is much law I am ignorant of!

  14. This site is no help, I am sorry to say but it did not help me with what I was looking for. I think you should make a better one, on ethat helps.
    Thank you!

  15. I feel that photos on the web is a neutral thing. They can be very good, or very bad. Posting photos on the web could be a very positive experience for the individuals, if used in the correct way, such as for helping all of those in the photos, be promoted in some positive way. It is when a picture creeps in that is not wanted by the individuals, that problems can occur (say the neighbor takes a random photo through a house window)- invasion of privacy. Discretion is always important.
    -Rev. Kepecs

  21. hello my name is kayla shafer, i used to model. and i would love it if you can put my pictures on google. or take more pictures of me. right now im auditiong to be in disney channel i live in denver colorado. thank you for your time. bye.

  22. i think that it is fine puttin ur picture on the internet, just dont give out to much infomation like where u live or ur phone number

  23. Aup peeps my name is Mia but also known as mimi well im 15 but dont go school i love going out with my mates and having a laugh and i smoke and drink. Erm…… i want to know how u put pics onto google so if u tell me i will be very greatfull thanks erm and can u go on my website please and sign the G-buk ang what you think of me xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx bizzle xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

  24. I would really like to put my pic on Googgle and conpare it to Hilary Duffs but I don’t know if I can.

  27. …can u put the 5th pic down on the site??? i relllee find this interesting and u guys are such a genious how u guys figure out how to put this stuff on…thanx soo much e-mail me and tell me if u can pllzzz thank u !! 🙂 =) MUAH!
    Name: Emma
    Age: 14

  28. okay all i need you to to do is tell me how i can post a runescape screen shot into google images that’s all after that i can show my friend i played runescape then it was posted on google images! oh the link there is for runescape its awesome! try it oh and if you already play or just started(you gota try it) add me to the freinds list————–maucay2———–

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  32. I like the photo gallery!
    I’m not much of a website developer but my friends at geckodomains.com have
    made it so easy that for just a few euro’s I had the option to just click and voila,
    i had my own gallery! And this one has many options like uploads, responses and even e-cards with my own pictures 🙂

    the demo gallery site of my provider is http://www.geckodomains.com/photos/

    enjoy! I know i do :0)

  37. I have reason to believe that a vindictive former boyfriend has posted pictures of me on a pornographic website he or another man has. I do not know where the site is, but others have said they saw it. No one will tell me where it is. Does anyone know how or IF I can sleuth out the site?

  44. how do i add my nude pictures on web for everyones view please tell me u hot and lovely guys

  54. Hi what’s up.
    I want to put my photo in google but i don’t know how i’ve tried million times but i just can’t do it.So please help me I know you can .
    Best wishes Tonny

  63. i want to put pics of me nude on the web (i mite have a small dick but i love to fuck and can go on for ever i love to hit wet pussy so please help me get some pics of me hitting hot pussy on the web send me a gurl ill fuck the shit out of her lol i will, help me out send me a chick
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