Being photographed

[wildrover]

Like various people mentioned in the PoWM thread, if you choose to wear something unusual, you have to assume that it will attract attention.

Worrying over your picture being taken and posted on teh internets somewhere for lampooning? Sure, it'll happen. It's just another form of "nice skirt". Deal with it, or wear pants.

I don't wear a kilt daily, so I haven't been exposed to this as much...but consider that it is invariably one type of personality that will seek a negative photo, and that personality is happily a rarity. Most often, photos happen because people think it's damn cool that we're wearing the family colors. YMMV depending on venue and attire .

[Riverkilt]

I've never refused a pic when kilted. I have asked that a copy be emailed me, which is how I got this photo, and the goal of purchasing a camera like the one that took it.



With the photographer's permission, and my permission, Jeff used it as advertising for Pittsburgh Kilts.



So good things can happen from letting yourself be photographed. And, note to newer rabble, don't be calling Jeff - he's been out of the kilt business for some time, his website is still up with some great kilt pics.

[tulloch]

I don't mind being photographed, asked or not. I aim to always be respectable and respectful. I expect the same from others. So far nobody has attempted an up-the-kilt shot. That would be too much and I would say so.

[Tobus]

Of course, being in public, there's no expectation of privacy, and simply wearing a kilt means you'll draw more attention than someone wearing jeans and a t-shirt, AND that same person can simply take your picture anyway and there's nothing you can do about it. But there is a difference to me appearing in a clandestine pic and a posed one. Sometimes I'm not in the mood to stand and smile or pose in any other way for someone else, and wearing a kilt shouldn't force a change in that.

Very true. It's almost like being a celebrity in many ways. No matter what they do, the paparazzi is going to be there taking pictures, and there's nothing they can do about it. They can either choose to constantly run and hide and live in torment, or embrace it by posing and being friendly with the paparazzi. Wearing a kilt produces much the same effect, though to a smaller degree.

It's certainly understandable not to want to pose and smile for every goofball with a camera; that will get old real quick. Maybe we should get some suggestions from the rabble for 'canned answers' as a way to politely say no to such requests?

I know a guy who travels all over the country selling leatherwork. He's very eccentric (he wears a top hat!), and people are always asking him if they can take his picture. He started charging $5 per picture. Apparently it's a pretty lucrative thing, because he's raking in some decent money from it!

[kykilted]

Not sure if I've had anybody take any pictures without me knowing and really don't care. I have had two or three requests so far and always agreed. Those wanting pictures were nice and we all had a good time having the pictures taken. Now if they would just post them so I could see them.
If you don't want to attract any attention just wear blue jeans and you'll blend in with everybody else in the room.

[artificer]

As a rule, I don't like photographs taken of me. There is (quite literally) a 10 year span with a grand total of 3 (family) photos taken. No pix of drunken college shenanigans (and there were PLENTY of those), no casual shots, nothing.

I don't allow my wife to post pix of me on her facebook page, and even though her settings are private, I only grudgingly accept that she's going to post pix of our son.

XMarks is the only place I've ever had a pic of me appear on the interweb where I'm reasonably identifiable and nameable (my son, while pictured a few times, is never named).

Some of my friends think I'm paranoid, until I bust out a google search and turn up a handful of pix of them in an image search Google is big brother, kids.ith:

[Spc. Scott]

As a rule, I don't like photographs taken of me. There is (quite literally) a 10 year span with a grand total of 3 (family) photos taken. No pix of drunken college shenanigans (and there were PLENTY of those), no casual shots, nothing.

I don't allow my wife to post pix of me on her facebook page, and even though her settings are private, I only grudgingly accept that she's going to post pix of our son.

XMarks is the only place I've ever had a pic of me appear on the interweb where I'm reasonably identifiable and nameable (my son, while pictured a few times, is never named).

Some of my friends think I'm paranoid, until I bust out a google search and turn up a handful of pix of them in an image search Google is big brother, kids.ith:

*bold is mine*

This is hitting the nail on the head. Can't tell you how many times I searched for a picture of a tartan and had pictures from our site here pop up.

[wildrover]

Keep in mind that the internet is a big place, but teh internets are forever. If you're caught screwing up online, you'll never live it down...particularly if it's funny somehow. In other words, when you stand out, do it well.

Also bear in mind that if there is no association with a photo, it cannot be used to identify you except by people who you presumably already know. In other words, if some random tourist (or a kid in WalMart) takes a "crazy guy in a kilt" photo, it is highly unlikely that you will be correctly identified as Joseph Q. McFramenkrantz in somebody's Facebook album.

Keep an eye out for unintentional links, or multi-step links, to information you'd prefer be kept private. Photos of you in others' posts, identified by your username or first name, while your real name sits in your signature line. Some people are comfortable with this...some of us keep the mindset that keeping things a bit hidden is simply good practice, whether we're hiding anything or not. Social media sites are the greatest risk, but can be mitigated. My kilted rear is all over Facebook, but there's no name to match .

Understand and minimize the risks, and go enjoy being the center of attention. There's no reason to live like a paranoiac ...particularly when the vast majority of people you meet are going to appreciate your kilt!

[artificer]

Also bear in mind that if there is no association with a photo, it cannot be used to identify you except by people who you presumably already know. In other words, if some random tourist (or a kid in WalMart) takes a "crazy guy in a kilt" photo, it is highly unlikely that you will be correctly identified as Joseph Q. McFramenkrantz in somebody's Facebook album.

Have you read about the 'face matching' software google is developing? Where, if you have one image of a face you can actually search the web for the same face...

THAT gets freaky in a hurry.

[brower247]

I only have one firm and steadfast rule on photo requests,... NO Up-Kilt photos please