Asking permission

[Fireball]

We live out in the country and everyday I pass some awesome ponds, old barns, etc. and would love to take photos there, whether portraits or nature shots.

Do you try to find the owner and ask permission, pay them a small fee to use their old barn, or don't use it unless it's free?

[KdLaneJr]

In your area, simply introducing yourself, what you do and asking the landowner should be enough. If you feel the need to offer... don't. Wait until later and gift a landscape of the property. Do a good job on it and you'll always be welcome back.

Make sure you keep good contact information so you can call ahead in the future (and also so you can ask about adjacent properties).

I wouldn't trespass with a client. It's a good way to have a landowner tell you to not come back. Use your county resources to locate the landowner. If they live on the property or near by, pay them a personal visit. Don't use the phone for your first contact.

[danchez]

ya know, I was just going to leave this one alone, but seriously. Come on, are you asking if you should ask permission to be on someone's property? What do you think? Do you honestly need to ask that question? Is it ok for some joe schmoe to be on your property taking pictures without your permission? or do you think that because you are a photographer that the rules don't apply to you? or do "country folk" have different rules than us city folk?

Has common sense gone the way of the dodo? Didn't we just have a long drawn out discussion about trespassing?

[David Whatley]

I think you need to ask Captn Tom about this one :)

[toverman]

You might even offer a portrait session in trade for using it for another client. Country folk might just invite you to use it, but I'd definitely get permission first. Sounds like that's what you were going to do.

[Fireball]

Dan, was that really necessary? Good grief, of course I'd NEVER go on someone else's property to take photos for ANY reason!

I was wanting to know how you would approach the owner with wanting to take photos on their property, especially if you'd like to use it for portraits. Would I need to show that I have insurance in case someone got "hurt" on their property or should I even mention that?

[danchez]

Originally Posted by Fireball

......Do you try to find the owner and ask permission....

I would be a little more careful on how you ask your questions then....

[ronocnikral]

my family has had a farm in the family for over 100 years in iowa. here are the steps anyone wanting to do something on my grandparents property took when i was young.

1) drive down the driveway, make my grandma wonder who you were.
2) walk in the side door, no knocking needed.
3) sit down at table in kitchen, drink a cup of coffee with my grandpa.
4) have my grandpa tell you where you could and couldn't go before you even asked.

of course, my grandma has wised up to all this, so no one is suppose to be on their land, my cousins included.

i would do as jonny did, just ask. skip bartering, offering services, payment etc. just ask. most likely, they don't care or they don't want you on their land.

[revjvegas]

Looking at it from the property owners perspective, I'd probably have a better feeling about it if I was presented with a release from liability form so I'd have less to worry about should someone get hurt while on my land.

And after you ask them and they say sure, then I'd perhaps do as Todd suggested and offer them a portrait in return for their kindness.