Hi all,

Just recieved an email from a model I'm arranging a shoot with and got asked "Will i get arrested doing lingerie in a public place?!"

Now I cant answer that as I've no idea and cant find any suitable answer out on the web.

The public place is a small nature reserve in a quiet village.

So was wondering if anyone has come across this before and if anyone knows if its legal or illegal?

Techie

I think the problem will arise if you offend public decency and somebody reports it to the plod

If you are discrete and don't cause offence then shouldn't be a problem

If it was a town centre full of chav's then you may get done for insighting a riot as they all rush to see some skin

Rob M


Remember: - If it ain't fun, it ain't worth doing

I'm looking to do the shoot in a Nature Reserve which is quite quiet, has some good backgrounds which I would like to try and use if possible.

a usefull himnt i was told once, was to get intouch with the local police for that area (literally the local station, not the county), explain what it is that your doing, show some examples if you can so its demonstrates that its tastefull work. i recommend informing them of a different date to the one your using at this point.

If there on side, then a few days before the shoot, get in touch with them and say change of plan, the shoot date has moved to the actual one. (if they say no, then the chances of them hiding in bushes is reduced lol)

as far as my freinds in the force are concerned, there is no law against being naked in public, ther ARE laws however to public indencey and offending public by standers.

having the local bobby onside minimises the the fall out if some one does spot you.

failing that, find an area off the beaten path.

Keiran Bingle

Find me on facebook - Keiran Bingle

Not sure I agree with you on informing the local plod. After 31 years in the police (24 years in Surrey and the rest in the Met), I can almost guarantee you'll have 75% of the entire force coming along to have an oggle!  

Its a risk i know, but the local town where i live, has the same police person on the beat, really is the local bobby, so ive managed to build up a good rapport with him and manage to smooth the 2 incidents ive had quite quickly once he got wind of them.

Keiran Bingle

Find me on facebook - Keiran Bingle

No.  You won't get arrested.  If the police see you they will do their usual stop and question and waste your time and their time.  For the police arrive it's because someone has seen you and reported you. 

I regularly shoot art nude models in various public places.  It's a case of being really sensible and careful.  It's advisable to visit the location on a couple of days before the shoot to check it out.  If it is a weekend shoot then the walkers will be out in force.  Weekdays not so busy. 

I would never inform any official as to what you intend to do because I have no doubt that they will turn up during the shoot.

From my experience 9am - 11am-ish the dog walkers are out in force.  Lunchtimes and late afternoons are usually the quietest.  The advantage of woodland is that you can usually hear people coming before they come into sight.  I always have a spare tripod near me to hang a coat on - easily available for me to throw to the model if a dog walker appears.  I don't usually work near pathways.  I tend to go as deeply into the woodland as I possibly can.

I have photographed nude models in various states of undress in very public places - beaches, woodland, parks, streets and even town centres.  Maybe I have been very fortunate but I have never had a problem whatsoever.  It can be done providing the photographer and the model work as a team and keep an eye out.  The photographer watches to the sides and behind the model and the model watches from the sides and behind the photographer.  You both need to agree on what to do if someone does appear.  If you both panic it will end in tears.

I was once photographing a model in my favourite woodland.  She was standing amongst waist high fearns and I was standing about 30 metres away using a 70-200mm lens.  We agreed that if anyone came along she should simply duck down in the fearns.  10 mins later a mountain biker came hurtling into sight.  He obviously caught a glimpse of the model who immediately ducked.  When the mountain biker looked again he couldn't see her.  He was looking so hard he lost his balance and crashed into the undergrowth.  When he got up he came over and said...

'Did I just see what I thought I saw?' 

'Don't know.  What do you think you've seen?'

'Girl.  No kit on.  You taking photos of naked birds?'

'Where?'

'Over there' (pointing to where the model was hiding)

'Nah.  I'm just photographing the birds in that tree over there'  (pointing to where the model was not hiding)

(silence as he thought about this)

'Oh.  Right.'

Off rode off - still checking out the ferns.  We carried on the session.

It's easily done if you plan well and and have plenty of confidence.  If that you will look after her. 

Go for it!

Gordon  

I'm thinking of hiring a model to do nude at this disused factory on the other side of the Island, I been there twice as have a few other togs. But I do worry about being seen amd more worried for the model being nude there too. It's turned in to a council yard but it not being used. Would I be in the wrong for doing it? My aviator pic is the said place, Loads of ideas for that place but should I do it or forget it? You only have to climb a little wall about 2ft tall, and though a broken fence and your there. Whats the worse that could happen?

........JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”

I'd doubt anything would happen JJ! - I'd hope the police are out looking for criminals, the parking wardens are out after the motorist, and the council officials are concentrating on preventing photographers from taking pictures on Bournemouth beach. If anyone challenges you, I'd (personally ) give my details, (you don't have to and you're exercising your rights not to if you wish to make a stand), but most of the problems encountered by tog's and officials stem from their refusal to do so, - so pre-empt that one! And whisper. Common to most threads it's alleged the tog became threatening and abusive - so pre-empt that one too!   

Cheers for the info it put my mind at rest. I don't do threatening and abusive it gets no one anywhere! If I'm wrong then hands up fair cop I say if I'm right then I say so till proven wrong. I take your advice on and do as you say. But as I have said, been there twice now and I seen images from the same place on diffrent forums and never seen anyone there before so thanks for the info and see if some poor soul of a model will be happy to model for me.
.....JJ

Rankin's Quote “There’s no point in dressing it up, I love women and I love taking photos. It’s more like a fantastic hobby than a job.”