RFF photgraphers' credentials

[FrankS]

What do you guys think about the usefulness of an official-looking photographer's credentials based on RFF membership? I've been reading posts about getting stopped by police and security, and I wonder if a form of credentials wouldn't be helpful. Sure, it's pretty bogus, and anyone could make something up on a computer and printer, but a membership to RFF could be verified. We could demonstrate an affiliation with a benign organization if/when challenged. Just thinking out loud.

 

[kmack]

I had been thinking of having some business cards printed up. It would be a bonus if there were some kind of "Offical Member of the RF Photographers Society and Glee Club" logo and tag. They would be handy to have to pass to people on the street that I have just 'harassed' by taking thier photo but I don't know about the wisdom of reaching into a camera bag or jacket pocket for a card when confronted by a police officer.

 

[rover]

I nominate Frank as our first Poobah...

 

[rover]

I had been thinking of having some business cards printed up. It would be a bonus if there were some kind of "Offical Member of the RF Photographers Society and Glee Club" logo and tag. They would be handy to have to pass to people on the street that I have just 'harassed' by taking thier photo but I don't know about the wisdom of reaching into a camera bag or jacket pocket for a card when confronted by a police officer.

Print a basic model's release on the back so they can serve 2 purposes.

 

[Bobbo]

I think it's a pretty bad idea. Nothing like RFF getting sued over someone taking a photo illegally and then showing off RFF credentials to the cops or security guards.

Remember, in the US, you can sue for any reason pretty much. You might not win, and it might not even go to court, but it's a huge hassle that would put massive financial strain on a privately owned and operated web site.

I have never been stopped or questioned for shooting ever...then again, I don't photograph subway stations, malls, or small children, either.

I'll stick with my college ID, NPPA card, and buisness cards.

 

[JoshRoot]

Sadly, I have to agree with bobbo.

I think the liability might be too great.

 

[FrankS]

No problem. Like I said, I was just thinking aloud.

 

[tedwhite]

For the same reason(s) mentioned by Bobbo I don't think it's a good idea. You never know when a seemingly innocent and well-intended action on your part will end up in some sort of litigation you never could have dreamed of, even if you took a PARANOID NOW drug. I speak from some experience. Go to www.bisbeemarquee.com. Then current columns, then archives, then columns by ted white, then click "browse all columns by ted white"; the one to read is The Barber Shop Part V. It's part of a novel-length memoir. Nearly all of it is true.
I had to reconstruct the dialogue from memory.

Ted

 

[PaulN]

Sadly, I have to agree with bobbo.

I think the liability might be too great.

I don't get it. Does the NRA get sued when a card carrying member accidently shoots someone? For example, Whittington would most likely sue Cheney, not the NRA.

 

[JoshRoot]

Does the NRA get sued when a card carrying member accidently shoots someone?

Probably not, but they COULD. and if they did, the NRA has the money, lawyers, and insurance to defend itself easily. I don't imagine that RFF has the same level of defenses.

The disgusting amount of litigation is one of my least favorite aspects of our society. It ruins a lot of perfectly good & harmless fun.

 

[oftheherd]

I don't get it. Does the NRA get sued when a card carrying member accidently shoots someone? For example, Whittington would most likely sue Cheney, not the NRA.

In this country, if the VP offered an NRA training certificate as a reason he shouldn't be sued or the penalty lessened, or if a plaintiff simply learned the VP had been to an NRA safety class, I suspect the NRA could indeed be sued. They would not likely win, but think they could be sued.

Perhaps Copake-ham could comment on just the tort part of law.

 

[tedwhite]

At present, I have a bonafide Cochise County Sheriff's Department Press Card, laminated, with my photo on it (all press credentials in this county have to be issued by the Sheriff's Department, and then only after receiving a letter from the requesting media), and even with that I still got expelled recently from a local mall ("Nobody takes pictures in here, it's a matter of national security," I was told). Jeez. I guess I should have realized the profound importance of malls in America to our national security.

Ted

 

[RJBender]

What do you guys think about the usefulness of an official-looking photographer's credentials based on RFF membership? I've been reading posts about getting stopped by police and security, and I wonder if a form of credentials wouldn't be helpful. Sure, it's pretty bogus, and anyone could make something up on a computer and printer, but a membership to RFF could be verified. We could demonstrate an affiliation with a benign organization if/when challenged. Just thinking out loud.

Frank, do you have something like this in mind?
http://www.fzippererphoto.homestead.com/gldpress.html

I know someone who used the IFPO press credential kit to get helicopter rides at an air show and tickets to baseball games. It might work.

R.J.

 

[RJBender]

I nominate Frank as our first Poobah...

Second the motion.


R.J.

 

[RJBender]

Or we could write to IFPO and see if they can give us a group discount.

R.J.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

Frank,
I've been thinking along the same lines ever since I was shooting at a KKK rally, several PJ's were allowed to cross the police lines and I wasn't. All they had were "official" looking laminated passes. One guy was from a small newspaper in Arkansas, another was from a school newspaper, the police didn't care as long as they had something around their neck.
As long as we post our images on this site, I don't see the problem with being labeled a freelancer for the RFF.

I'm all for it!
Todd

 

[dostacos]

I nominate Frank as our first Poobah...

that's GRAND poobah to you! 😀

 

[sf]

In reply to Frank's initial post :

So, though it seems a less than prudent idea to make RFF membership a "Credential" in the classic sense, it does make a lot of sense to add your affiliation with RFF to certain documents and communications. Sort of an unofficial credential - just a way of offering someone access to a pile of information that defines your personality, trustworthiness, sense of humor, etc.

When I sell on the auction site, I give my RFF screen name and some mention of the site, so that buyers (or sellers) can access the site and research me. By doing that, I offer buyers and sellers a chance at becoming as familiar with who I am as customers are with their local camera stores - they know who I am, how i think, how i feel about things, how I communicate and lots of other stuff.

I believe that Frank meant NOT that RFF credentials should be posted in a way that suggests their status as something on the order of membership in the NRA (or other nationally recognized organization), but that it could be used to add a deep source of information about yourself. Put it on a business card and give your clients a way to get to know you - if that seems like a good idea. . . .

2 cents

 

[JoeFriday]

I've been kinda kicking around the idea of printing up some cards, too

there are pros and cons to having credentials.. the pros are being taken seriously and hassled less.. it also helps to have a card if you run into someone who questions your 'right to photograph them'.. in which case you can flip them off.. I mean, flip them a card and say "contact me and I'll get you a copy" and wink at them and walk off.. most people would feel better if you offer them a free photo

on the other hand, having credentials takes away your ability to play dumb if someone questions you.. but then, it's not like you have to show them the card

as for dragging RFF into a legal battle, who says we have to use RFF as the organization? we can just go with some official-sounding acronym like "DORC".. Division Of Rangefinder Collectors.. after all, we're all DORCs, aren't we?

 

[sf]

Back when I was taking pictures of girls . .. clean pictures on my site . . . I had a couple farmboys come down out of their house, across the street, and into the lot where I was shooting (this is 3 years ago - seems like a decade or more). They were VERY drunk, and asked if we (actually referring to both myself AND the model), worked for CBS. Funny, more than anything, but I said "no, we are both students at the UW, and this is for our photography class." I was lying, of course. I was never able to get into the photography classes at that school, but my age lets me get away with such little white lies.