COLUMN: Don't fear CM Life photographers
As the current Central Michigan Life Photo Editor, I’d like to say; please don’t be afraid of photographers when you see us taking photos.
This came to my attention during Welcome Weekend. A lot of students get scared when they see CM Life photographers walking about while on an assignment.
A male student actually stopped me and said: “You know, people get kind of scared when they see the CM Life photographers out.”
I want to make it clear that no one, students or community members alike, should be scared of our photographers. We are just doing our job, we are looking for photos that truthfully document what is happening at the moment.
Now, say that you’re throwing a party, there are a lot of people there and you are doing something that you aren’t supposed to be doing. You might be worried about us passing by, looking for something to take photos of. I have one piece of advice for you.
Don’t do that thing that you are not supposed to be doing at least not in the public eye. It’s pretty simple.
Our photographers act in a professional way and aren’t out hunting for incriminating things to take photos of. We don’t prepare to go out to take photos by asking ourselves: “OK, what bad behavior can I capture tonight? Who’s semester will I ruin tonight?”
But, if something happens that we deem to be newsworthy, then we will take photos.
We have a right to do that.
Unless I am taking photos on your property, you can’t ask me to leave. Photographers are able to stand on sidewalks and photograph something that is happening on your lawn.
Although asking photographers to leave your property is legal, tampering with our equipment or threatening us, isn't and is considered a criminal offense by law.
Due to COVID-19, and everything else going on in the crazy world of 2020, tensions are high. Please, I encourage you to come talk to us if there is a possibility that you could be a subject of a photo assignment. More often than not, we will ask if we can take your photo. We want to build a good, trusting relationship with students as well as Mount Pleasant residents. But, if we don’t talk to you while we are on an assignment, come see us if you have any concerns.
About a dozen Welcome Weekend partiers came to talk to us asking them not to take their photos. We didn’t. If there is a possibility that you are photographed in a crowd, and don't want to be, let us know, because once a photo is published on our social media or articles, we can't take it down.
I want to make sure that people know that we’re just trying to do our jobs. Again, if you have concerns about anything we encourage you to talk to us. We will explain to you what we are doing happily.
