Probably dumb question, but is it ethically okay to take picts of houses with cute/spooky/good decoration of Halloween theme?

Submitted by EksXxx t3_ybmmig in jerseycity

I just moved to the States and still learning of what and what not to do. People keep telling me to not take pict randomly: one time I took pict of a cute cat who sat in a window while I was passing by. I told some friends about that cute cat, but they all said that I wasnt supposed to take picts of the cat randomly at someone'a house. So for Halloween, can I take picts of the decorated house? I saw a lot of houses with cute Halloween decoration in Downtown JC and would really love to take picts! Would love to hear your opinion especially for those who decorated their front yard. Thanks!

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Potential_Ship5662 t1_ith8m0d wrote

I think that’s why people do it - so everyone looks at the decorations which facilitates taking pictures. As the law goes (as a side bar, of course)… you should have very little expectation of privacy in public.

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garth_meringue t1_ithdgcg wrote

It's ok. Just stay on the sidewalk, don't cross onto their property or linger too long.

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KenseiSport t1_itheoic wrote

I think it’s ok to take pictures of the outside. I’d go a step further and just blur out or hide any house #s or identifying markers but that’s just me.

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tamiooo t1_ithgnvn wrote

In other news, has anyone seen the house on Sussex with the kid hanging from the window and the IT clown inside the house? Terrifying

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Mysticblades t1_ithroq1 wrote

You should be fine with taking photos of the decorations. I also do a lot of street photography throughout the city and in NYC for years and never had any issues. I think photos of random pets are fine unless they are being walked or held, then I would ask for permission from the owner beforehand. Like others have said I wouldn’t linger for too long in any case.

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pixel_of_moral_decay t1_iti3oz9 wrote

Replying to Potential_Ship5662 (#191,016)

Right answer.

If you’re physically in a public place, you can photograph it. There’s no expectation of privacy. Sidewalk is a public easement so it’s considered public.

If you step on their door step, you now crossed that line.

If someone wants privacy in their bedroom they can install curtains. IIRC JC requires window coverings on all windows for just this reason.

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Britinnj t1_itilp1o wrote

People take pics of our cat in the window ALL the time. It makes me smile!

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thebruns t1_itj5p1p wrote

In the US, as long as you are standing on public space (sidewalk) you are LEGALLY entitled to take pictures of anyone and anybody is that is visible from said public space. That includes children, houses, cars, etc.

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ffejie t1_itjilwj wrote

It's pics here, not picts!

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thisoneagain t1_itlbe11 wrote

It seems a little strange to me that your friends would say not to take a picture of a cute cat - I'd consider that entirely normal - and it makes me wonder: is it possible there was something ELSE about that photo they were talking about? If you got very close to someone's window, close enough to see well inside their home, or took a picture from that close, maybe that's what they were advising against? If not, I'd say your friends are wrong about what reasonable boundaries are or are even fucking with you.

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