Photography Reflector Stand
Commercial photography on the streets of New York City legal without written permission?
Hi!
I’m from Germany and I’m currently planning my third trip to New York City. This time I’m thinking about taking a few nice photographs from my accompanying friend for her model portfolio.
Here in Germany it’s not a problem to fire away in public places (as long as you respect the pesonal rights of pedestrians) but what is the situation in New York City? Are you allowed to take pictures on streets, bridges or in parks if you plan to use them commercially AND if someone is standing nearby holding a reflector or a strobe? Of course I do NOT plan to disturb traffic or pedestrians – but it will be a little bit more complex than a tourist taking snapshots with his digicam…
Do I need a written permission for this? Or can I just fire away?
Thank you! 
In general, ou would need a permit from the City of New York if:
- there are more than five people involved in the ’shoot’
- you anticipate needing to string cables across sidewalks for lights
- you expect to work in the street rather than on the sidewalk
- you require special assistance from the City (in particular, from the police) during the shoot
Getting a permit is not difficult, but a requirement is that you must have insurance to cover any liability that you might incur during the shoot. The cost of insurance makes the permit unattractive except for major productions.
There are additional rules for special locations. For example, you need a special permit from the Stationmaster to use a tripod in Grand Central Station. And obviously, you would not be allowed to use a tripod during rush periods.
Brand new photographic reflector holder
Tags: diy, howto, lighting, Photography, photography reflector stand, reflector