What's the general feeling on this? I live in West Africa and it's common for people here to demand small remuneration for having their photos taken AFTER the photo has already been taken. Sometimes I give it and sometimes I don't depending on the situation (mostly based on their attitude and whether or not I was actually taking a picture of THEM and not some sort of landmark or something).

I ask because I am traveling to Morocco soon and apparently the people there are even more aggressive about payment and want larger sums.

Part of me feels "why not? I have more than they do, I can afford it" while part of me just gets really annoyed and thinks that I would never do that someone.

Thoughts?

The only time I encountered this in Morocco was when I took pics of snake charmers as they did their "magic." I was happy to give them a small tip, just as I would any street performer. But if it were just a person walking down the street who happened to get into my photo, there's no way I would pay them. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but this is the first I'm hearing of it.

The first time I encountered this was 40 years ago in the Trobriand Islands in New Guinea. Why shouldn't people expect payment? You're getting a benefit out of photographing them (otherwise, why do it?), even if it's not a commercial benefit. Either refrain from taking the photograph or ask permission first and be prepared to pay, if your subjects are clearly more than just an incidental part of a landscape or crowd scene.

John

I'm in publishing so I don't really have an issue with paying people for their images. As I've written in my trip report elsewhere, though, by the time you ask the person's permission and negotiate a payment, then they want to pose a certain way and you've lost the spontaneity of your photo, so for the most part we just avoided taking photos of people, except from a distance, and only from the side or rear.

kmania,

Yes, that can be a problem. We also shoot for commercial purposes occasionally. But courtesy to their photographic subjects should be the main concern of most travellers.

John

That why I like photographing animals, not one of them has me yet for payment

LindaS:

That is because you do not understand animal language.

What do you think that dog was barking for !!!

or that lion roaring in Tanzania.!!

In Morocco ,if that camels grunts ,better throw a few pennies at his feet, because if he kneels down quickly with you on top...you are going to go head overheels!!!

Percy