video permission

boreality

boreality

New member
Location
boreal forest
I'm getting tired of people video taping me working. Either the clients or neighbors. Is there anyway to stop them or is it their right?

I don't mind it if they ask if it's ok but when they just follow me around filming it drives me nuts. I'm thinking of putting a photos with permission only disclaimer on the quote form. Anyone got any other suggestions?
 
This is about your right to privacy... Which you generally relinquish in public venues. Private property (not your own) is a gray area but generally an HO can film anything they want.

If you're in a public place you can be filmed by anyone with a camera. For them to USE the video COMMERCIALLY or in a way that violates your privacy, they must have your wrtten permission on file. Youtube doesn't count as commercial usage but I think you can report videos as violating your privacy.

You CAN specify ahead of time that you wish to not be filmed. It's a place to start in court but doesn't guarantee anything.

I just wish they would send me the video or pics. People film me fairly often but i hardly ever see the results.
 
I just wonder about their motivation. What will they do with the footage. Again if they'd just ask and explain the usage. Some people are just creepy even without cameras I suppose.
 
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I just wonder about their motivation. What will they do with the footage. Again if they'd just ask and explain the usage. Some people are just creepy even without cameras I suppose.

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True. I wonder at times too. Because I often times see tree work being posted on Youtube, which seems like the tree guys don't even know they are being put online.

For the most part, I don't think I have anything to worry about, but you never know...
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But leave it up to a Philadelphia Lawyer to say otherwise.

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I'm not a lawyer..don't even play one on TV either.

A few years ago I drove past a real gem of a tree crew. To start, they were hand stacking brush in the back of a 25' Uhaul truck. When I saw them the truck was about half full. When I did the u-turn to get the pics of the brush hauler I saw the climber...ladder climber...whacking huge chunks off. No safeties...they were using three strand poly rope for pulling limbs/tops. I walked around a little watching them work. Then I told them that I was going to take some pictures. They asked why and I told them that I taught tree work classes and I was always on the lookout for pictures of unsafe work and how not to do treework. With that I kept taking pics as they whacked a few more chunks. I gave them my number incase they wanted to hook up with RMC ISA for training or have me do some work with them.

Later in the day I got a call from their boss who wasn't happy that I was taking pics. The boss told me that I didn't have the right to take the pics since the crew was on private property.

That isn't what I read about a person's reasonable expectation of privacy. One opinion is that if what is happening is in public view then the 'right' to privacy is given up.

I agree with Jerry, there is some lawyer who could argue both sides of the issue and make more money than us!

A polite request to not take pics or vid might go a long way.
 
I find they have to get in close as they don't have a zoom lens and I'd rather not focus on their movements but the work at hand. They also lose track of hazards as they are looking through a viewfinder.

I'll start asking the offenders to stop and stay back. Some just can't help themselves. Again I wish they'd just ask.
 
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Doesnt bother me a bit,heck I tell them to email me a copy.

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LOL
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A couple of times I've told people to get the sun behind them. This way it would improve the color of the photo. I hate seeing all tree work being captured with silhouettes.
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Take it as a compliment, if you can. Maybe they are used to ladders and bucket trucks.

Simply saying to them that you are doing potentially very dangerous work, especially if you are distracted, like when people are hanging around close to the worksite.

They most likely mean no harm, and don't figure that they are causing any. If they understand that what you are doing is compromising your safety, they will most likely stop, I'll bet.
 
I think you hit the nail on the head as they say Sean. My main frustration was the distraction. He also was one of these guys who wants to talk more than let you work.
 
My guess is 90 percent of the folks video taping are just simply amazed at what is going on. The creepy 10 percent are the same ones who watch auto racing for the crashes, they want the next you-tube hit with a fall or a damaged house. My personal favorites are the homeowners or neighbors that try to be sneaky from inside the house. I get a kick out of the curtains opening and closing just a little when they don't think you're watching!
 
As long as they're outside the work zone, I don't have a problem with it. I ask they send copies to me and most comply. Most times they're amazed by the work and want a record of it to show friends.
 
Usually no concerns but this guy gave off a weird vibe. We had been doing all large tree falling the first day. Yesterday we were climbing and rigging. Once he filmed us rigging a top over his building he put his camera away with I'd say some disgust in his body language.

I think he was hoping to make an insurance claim and once he saw our ability he realized there would be no evidence to film. Not cool.

Or he was in the early stages of alzheimers, you never know what your getting into working on a strangers property.
 
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he put his camera away with I'd say some disgust in his body language.

I think he was hoping to make an insurance claim and once he saw our ability he realized there would be no evidence to film. Not cool.


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What a jerk....

It really bugs me dealing with something for nothing guys like that.

One time during katrina a guy had me write up a quote for 8 trees on his house.

I quoted him 15k.

He signed the paper, and I told him we would be there in 3 days.

we got there at 8am and at 10am he showed up yelling and screaming that he had never authorized me to do the work.

This guy must have been on drugs during the estimate, or just to stupid/greedy/sef-absorbed to realize that he was signing a contract/work order.

Anyway we finished the job and he was no where to be found.
He would not answer calls etc.

This jerk just wanted the 15K to pocket. (folks in LA are like that. Crookedness in in the culture down there).

Anyway, The funniest thing is that I got a lawyer and he called the lawyer for the insurance company.

THEY HAD BEEN FRIENDS IN COLLEGE!!! WAHOO!!!!!

The lawyer for the ins co told my lawyer that he thought his client was being a total jerk.

So he put the guys ENTIRE claim check in the escrow account of my lawyer, over 100K, so that I could get paid out first.

I was super happy how it all worked out.

Ok, There is one of my katrina stories.

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