Will you allow strangers to take your pictures?

[irenetancd]

I went out clubbing at a different club on Monday. This time, I tried taking a full bodyshot.

Anyway, my main question here is that "will you allow strangers to take your pictures?" Two things happened here;
1. Girls who upon realizing of my crossdressing were keen to have a picture taken with them.
2. Event photographer taking picture for the Facebook group.

It is a bit of a minor dilemma, I like good picture. But I sometimes feel 'exposed' if my pictures were taken by strangers who then pasted on Facebook (or spread around), which I have no control of it. What are your opinions on these?

Picture attached:
L-R: Full bodyshot (1-2), previous clubbing picture where the flash 'washed out' my face (3), picture taken with event photographer's DSLR, and my make up looks quite natural here (4).

[DanaR]

I've always been careful about who takes my picture. Usually if I see that I'm going to be in a picture, I'll move. I'm not sure where it might end up.

I remember years ago, my wife and I were in San Antonio at Dick's Last Resort, near the riverwalk. My wife started to take a picture and the waitress starting yelling at her, because she didn't want to be in our family pictures. Very funny.

[Mikaela]

I don't mind if my TG friends take my picture, nor do I mind as much when the venue takes it because I know the one promoter will take them down if I ask. I stay out or hand up or whatever for strangers. I'm not interested in showing up in someone's spank bank of a flickr pool

[Foxglove]

I don't like anybody, anywhere, at any time, for any reason taking my picture, so I probably wouldn't like it in the circumstances you were describing. But I have a question for you, Irene. How does anybody know you're a CDer? From the photos you posted, you certainly look all girl to me.

[Dana7]

I don't like anybody, anywhere, at any time, for any reason taking my picture, so I probably wouldn't like it in the circumstances you were describing. But I have a question for you, Irene. How does anybody know you're a CDer? From the photos you posted, you certainly look all girl to me.

My thoughts exactly. I have many bad experiences with judgmental people's nonacceptance of CDing and would never want anyone who I know personally to be aware of my "other self" unless they themselves are involved in CDing themselves and fully understand and accept it.

I also echo Annabelle's question. You certainly present in a completely passable way. From your pictures posted here, I'd never suspect you were anything but all girl in public.

[noeleena]

Hi,

Well after being seen on T V two stations nation wide, & in the papers & on the net. & have had my pic taken else were, not to much point in worrying about it. tho i was prepared for that to happen flickr & facebook, plus all the forums im on over 60. & part of haveing a profile that can be seen by who ever,& haveing done write ups for a U K mag = Transliveing, & a womans forum .

...noeleena...

[linda allen]

You don't have to pose for people but you can't really stop them from taking pictures of you if you're in a public place. What would you do, take their camera?

Once you leave the privacy of your own home, you run the risk of being photographed or recorded on video. Ever put gas in your vehicle while dressed? You were probably videoed. Walk though the mall or a shopping center? Videoed. Some cities even record people walking on sidewalks.

These days, ordinary people can buy hidden video recorders. Recorders as small as a ball point pen. And of course cell phones have cameras built in.

[moondog]

I hate having my picture taken at any time. I've worked with some younger (20s) girls at various jobs who would show me their FB pics and I was amazed at what they would post. For them it seemed like no big deal to put online pictures of them puking in a toilet or flashing their crotches at parties. All I can say is, given the cellphone cams and tiny cameras now available I'm glad I'm not twenty anymore. I have plausable deniability.

[Tina B.]

If you are out in public, how are you going to prevent it, everyone has a camera in there phone now days, so if you are out and about, I think it's something you just have to accept now days.
Tina B.

[meganmartin]

Early on it freaked me out a bit but many have told me nobody who knows the other me would never recognize me as Megan.
To give the therory a test drive. There is a gas station i frequent in male mode and if i was outed it was of no consequence. One day when out as Megan i stopped in to get me some gum and bottled water the same fellow who always is attending said hello he was none the wiser. After that i gave into the fear and let others photo me if asked and FYI some will do it without your permission.

Last month I attended a Christmas Party where i had on a festive outfit. A Santa hat and santa suit of sorts. A young female in her 20s asked if she could sit on my lap to take a picture. Sure I replied as long as i get a picture of us with my camera.
What a hoot!

[DonnaT]

Depends in the situation. So, sometimes, yes. If it doesn't feel right, then, no.

[ArleneRaquel]

If you are out & about how can you stop anyone from taking your picture ? Live & let live.

[Tara D. Rose]

I normally don't like my picture taken by strangers, but went with it anyway, for it was taken by other cd's at a cd event. I did discover a few weeks ago, of some youtube clips where I was dancing at a club, I was just looking at the vid and saw myself there, I thought OH NO, or SOB. I cannot get rid of it if I wanted too.
But ob the other hand, Tara looks nothing like her handsome male side...
L&R.........Tara

[NicoleScott]

I post pictures online (here and to some other cd e-mail pals) but I choose which ones.
Yes, you look beautiful, all girl.

[NancyTO]

I probably had a zillion pictures taken of me in female costumes, stewardess, nurse, french maid, etc., at the Halloween street parties on Church Street in Toronto over the past decade and a few zillion more during my two apperances at Toronto Pride Parade which is reportedly attended by more than a million people. One year for a while if you Googled 'Toronto Pride Parade' my picture was first. I also appeared for a few seconds of a mockumentary film, "Lets All Hate Toronto (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135977/)" in the Pride Parade.

I also remember during any group shots in public at Diva Las Vegas, the cameras from passerby would instantly come out.

You just expect it at events like this. It's like your a movie star or something.

Irene, you and I could be sisters.

[Cheryl T]

I was at an Applebee's with some girlfriends for dinner. After we finished the waitress came by and I asked her to take our picture. She replied "I'm sorry, but it's against our rules to do that" (she was joking). I said to her, "Oh I'm sorry too, it's against our rules to tip...LOL".
She said "Gimme that camera"....she took a few and we all had a good laugh.
We've been lots of places and had people take our pictures or ask to pose with us. I consider it good public relations. Maybe they have ulterior motives, but for those that view the scene, it's good natured.
We regularly go to a certain large diner. They all know us there and we've posed with the staff and management quite a few times.

I don't see anything wrong with it. Besides, how many people may be taking our pictures when we are out without our knowledge? It's the digital era...cameras and camcorders abound.

[cdliz15]

If I was out and people thought I was a girl, I don't think I would mind having some pictures taken. However, I would be a little more hesitant to let them take my picture if they knew I was a crossdresser.

[docrobbysherry]

I'm VERY LUCKY on this point! No one wants MY picture dressed! Except by and with a few CD friends!

While, LOTS of folks take pics of Sherry! Which is NO PROBLEM!

[Chickhe]

I compare it to being my more often usual male self... no one has ever asked for my picture when I'm out doing regular stuff...and it would seem odd if I was out shopping at home depot or eating dinner. ...but if I was at a party, met some new friends and they asked me to be in a group shot...why not? Same for CDing...would not like it if doing usual activities, but at a party I could be considered somewhat of an attraction so it might be okay then... I think it comes down to being comfortable with who you are and what you would tell someone you know. For me, its easy to explain parties away...harder to do a explain other situations. If there is no other way to link your image to your alter ego then you are anonymous as long as you want to be.

[JessHaust]

I like taking pictures at my CD get togethers, but I always ask everyone if they mind before taking any pics.
So far the only objections have come from GG's or non-CD men. (they come, but don't want to be seen there!)

[Stephanie47]

Since I've never been out en femme where my picture could been taken, I will say I would not want some stranger coming up to me and taking my picture without consent. I do acknowledge in some situations my consent is implied by my attendance-mainly weddings and similar group events. I think it is entirely rude to run up to anybody and pose with them because of their culture or because you're a photographer and think the subject makes a great picture.

[EllieOPKS]

Cheryl T, what a funny come back, LOL!

[danielletorresani]

Since I'm totally in the closet, I guess it would have to be a No from me. Unless it was another CD.

[Eryn]

It's awfully hard to not be photographed when out, but I don't particularly like it.

I was with a CDing dinner at a restaurant. With a group of tall ladies it was pretty obvious we were CDers. I was standing with another girl waiting for a table to be set when I saw a twentysomething at an adjacent table raise his iPhone to an obvious picture-taking position. I took one step toward him and the iPhone disappeared, so he obviously knew that he was doing something impolite and he didn't want to have a pair of 6'6" (including heels) ladies upset with him.

The problem with the rapid progression of technology is that etiquette is lagging behind. It used to be that photos and video were so inconvenient to take that they were reserved for subjects the person really cared about. Now, some people, particularly the younger ones, seem to think that they have the *right* to take pictures of anything they wish.

Ah well, pretty soon we'll have headband or glasses cameras recording continuous hi-def video of everything we see. Privacy, if not dead, is severely ill.

[Jodi]

At this past New years eve party, I had my pic taken with more than a half dozen gg's. In each case, they ask before taking. I have no idea how many clandestined pix were taken during the evening.

Jodi

[Billie Jean]

I let a girl in a club take my picture with my camera. She took several shots while I was singing karaoke. The only person outside the club that has seen any of them was Rita Rich, I emailed her one. I haven't tried to post one on the forum yet but maybe soon. Billie Jean

[NathalieX66]

After watching the National Geographic docu on the African Honey Badger, this little guy will brave anything for a live meal, and fend off lions: cobras, army ants, you name it. The Honey badger is the most ferocious little creature on Earth.....as the old saying goes, "Honey badger don't care".


Okay, I'm about as public as it gets. I'm not Jennifer Anniston, but I'm happy with myself.
I took a road trip from New Jersey to Atlanta to attend SCC with my friend Abigail last year, and we stopped to shoot some photos in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathalielandree/6190800554/in/photostream
The funny thing is about this photo shoot is we actually had more people ask us to take photos of them. That was kind of awesome since nobody seemed to care what we looked like or how we dressed. I woudn't even call the photo of me my best picture.

I'm pretty out in the internet these days. It's an outlet for me to be me when I'm at work in a conservative corporate environment.

[vivianann]

Yes I will let strangers take my picture when they are posing in the picture with me, there are thousands of pics of me with peaple from all over the world who wanted their pic posing with me in it, it is gg's who want their pics taken with me, I absolutely love it, I usaully have my camera with me and I always get pics of me and the women with my camera also. I have thousands of theses pics with these women, you should see these women I am posing with, they are very beautiful women. They are usually holding on to me in embrace. Most of the pics are taken when I have been in Vegas out on freemont street, or inside the casinos, some of you in this forum know what I am talking about when in Vegas. I was on the local news in a wedding dress at a charity event in Grand Junction Colo. 2 years ago, and no one in my family or friends even recognized me. That was an awesome experience.
Irene you dont have anything to wory about, you look very passable in your pics, and your friends or family will never notice you in those pics. And like others have said in this thread, everybody has a camera on them whether its their cell ph. or a camera of some sort. I would not worry.

[t-girlxsophie]

Once got my picture taken,alongside my friend Joanne by two German Tourists in Edinburgh once,god only knows what became of them:heehee:

Sophie

[PretzelGirl]

Face it, we get clocked when out sometimes (okay maybe more :D) and the fun people want to have their picture taken with us. Make the call you are comfortable with. But I have seen the people like Eryn where the phone just happens to be in the right position while they try and act like they are texting.


I also remember during any group shots in public at Diva Las Vegas, the cameras from passerby would instantly come out.

Probably the funniest one I have been a part of was a DLV (where I met Nancy). Limo tour night and about 40 of us go in a casino. There is a wedding party in the lobby where they all have different colored neon wigs on. So there is some posing of CDs with members of the wedding party and then someone notices a good 40-50 people piled up behind us all snapping pictures. So we did the right thing. Turned around and posed and started taking their pictures!