RFF photgraphers' credentials

Hi Frank- On one side I like the idea, we do "publish" here.

On the other side a voice in my head is quoting a character from a French film - "Diva"

Gorodische: "You know what ID stands for? Idiots Delight."

I'm wondering if it would cause more hassle for some.
 
shutterflower said:
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.
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I'm guessing your model was rather attractive and they didn't pay much attention to you :D
 
Yeah, she was

Yeah, she was

Here is a pic when we were playing around, getting her loose for the shoot to begin. The farm boys came down no more than 10 minutes before this picture. You can see in her face the sort of playful, naughty effect that took over after having been visited by the locals.


Usually, telling someone something is for school gets them to lay off. I have had people to threaten me with calling the police (in England this happened - little old lady told me she'd have the police after me if I didn't push off). Just talking to someone gently and sincerely will generally get you though hard times with anti-photographer types.
 
I've been asked several times by people who see me shooting or looking through equipment/film if I were a student doing it for a class project, and I always honestly said no before, but now I'm thinking the idea has merit and could save me from a lot of trouble/hassle.:)
 
I think a fake gold badge that says "RFF Deputy Sheriff" would be good.
 
How crazy, FrankS! I thought exactly about it this morning on my way to work, while thinking of streetshooting on the tramway. :) I like the idea.
 
Hrm.. people keep asking me if I'm a journalist.

Guess I gotta shave more often.
 
tedwhite said:
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
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Ted: I'm shocked you didn't realize how important malls are to national security. Good gawd man, if we couldn't buy useless plastic crap and the latest designer clothes sewn by little kids, and do it in soulless caverns that turn us into zombies, why else would we need all that middle east oil for RoveExcurMmers carrying all of one person? :angel: ;) :D
 
FrankS said:
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.
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Frank's idea could still work if the credentials were given on the basis of independent contractor status. Liability is limited in that instance. And the credential would be helpful as Todd suggests in getting us into areas we wouldn't otherwise have access to.

Or just print up cards that say:

I.P.M.M.
International PhotoAdventurer and Man of Mystery
(have camera will travel)​
 
Todd.Hanz said:
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
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That sounds weird, Todd.

R.J.
 
copake_ham said:
And we could call it the:

Racoon Fondlers Forum (wooo hooo) :D
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George,

When someone gets stopped for shooting, all they have to do is start foaming at the mouth.
jester.gif


R.J.
 
Usually, telling someone something is for school gets them to lay off. I have had people to threaten me with calling the police
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In my previous photographic career as a photographer for the extreme sports industry, I can't tell you how many times we had to deal with people threatening to call the cops on us.

I also can't tell you how many times the "Its for a school project" excuse got us out of trouble.
 
That's great for you youg'uns who can pass off as students, but us older more mature types have a bit of a problem. Yes I know there are mature students, but it is a bit of an intellectual leap for those dim enough to be offended by photography in public.
 
One thing has crossed my mind since I first read this.

It's a silly one, I know, but I think I must write it down here as I'm not sure about it.

If a photog with credentials from an XYZ paper, shcool or organization put him/herself where he/she shouldn't be and that ends in trouble.

Is XYZ responsible in any way ?

I mean, RFF is in a creation and registered name of our big cheese Jorge and he's the ultimate responsible of the place, but NOT of what people with an RFF credential do.

Currently, if somebody asks me for some sort of credential, this is what I show them.

Oscar
 
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