Batsto Village, N.J. Photography Hot Spot

PHOTOGRAPHING IN A GOVERNMENT PARK

You can read more about Photography and the First and Fourteenth Amendments here.

You do need permits to photograph “events” in the parks. Walking around the park to take pictures is not an event; you do not need a permit.

WHAT WE DO HERE IS EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY 

Editorial photography is the art of creating images that accompany articles, stories, or written content in publications, such as magazines, newspapers, or online platforms. The primary goal is not just to capture a scene, but to illustrate or enhance the narrative of the written piece. These images often serve as a visual representation of ideas, themes, or emotions conveyed through the text.

Unlike commercial photography, which focuses on selling products or services, editorial photography aims to tell a story or support the editorial message, offering depth and context to the subject matter.

FROM THE CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION WEBSITE

Although it is geared towards protests, the right of photography still applies. It is your responsibility to verify what the ACLU says pertains to your situation, such as walking in a park and taking pictures for your blog.

BLOGGING ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN A STATE PARK

An office worker tells people, influencers, and those who want to post thier experience on social media that they cannot walk around the park, take pictures, and blog about their experience without a permit.

We created this article and took these pictures ten years before she said this. We are adding this to our old article. Do your research and take the risk of blogging after you decide or consult legal advice.

A decade ago, when we crafted this article to promote the park, we received praise and support from the office staff here, much like we do everywhere now, except for one particular experience.

We frequently enjoy special privileges such as access during off-hours, extended stays, and personal tours to areas not open to the public. This is because we provide free coverage and encourage people to visit, asking for nothing in return and using our own funds for travel, equipment, and other expenses. But here they gave us a hard time and told us we needed a permit to take pictures as we walked around.

Conduct your own research on this matter; do not hold us responsible. Be diligent in your findings. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE.

What to do if you are stopped or detained for taking pictures

• Always remain calm and never physically resist a police officer.
• Police cannot detain you without reasonable suspicion that you have or are about to commit a crime or are in the process of doing so.
• If you are stopped, ask the officer politely and respectfully if you are free to leave. If the answer is yes, calmly walk away and advise that you are doing so.
• If you are detained, ask the officer what crime you are suspected of committing, and remind the officer that taking photographs is your right under the First Amendment and does not constitute reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

***If you are in a location that requires a permit for things such as teaching a photography class, doing a photoshoot with gear and models, wedding photography or this class of photography that is different, YOU NEED A PERMIT. You can be fined if you do not obtain one.