Should I e-mail a restaurant or store owner ahead of time for permission of pictures?

<p>I'm a blogger and I'm about to go visit Beverly Hills and while I'm there I'm going to visit many restaurants, attractions, spas, etc in order to write my own city guide for it for my blog. <br>

Should I e-mail restaurant/business owners ahead of time if it's okay for me to take photos in the restaurant of food or atmosphere etc because I will be writing a review on it for my guide to Beverly Hills? Or should I ask when I get there? I'm afraid if I ask when I get there I will have more no's than yes's on the photos because they weren't expecting me. Let me know what you think? Thank You! </p>

<p>You answered your own question. </p>

<p>How intrusive is your photography going to be? I wouldn't show up with a huge Nikon/Canon XX-40,000 but with a capable compact. Are you only taking photos of your own food orders at the table, or are you thinking of roaming thru the restaurant?</p>

<p>I wouldn't ask ahead. Just do your (hopefully non-intrusive) photos. If they object, you already may have gotten your shot(s) and can just apologise profusely. If you have bought food, you'll be a customer and how much can they/should they yell at you?</p>

<p>It is easier and better to ask forgiveness than permission.<br>

I would also NOT mention that you are a blogger. They may think- Restaurant Reviewer and wonder if you're going to trash them. Play the part of an out-of-town tourist and tell them you absolutely LOVE the place.</p>

<p>Rebecca,<br>

I think you ought to read George's response carefully but rather than following his advice of permission on the day, I would email or telephone before.<br>

Work out exactly what you want to photograph and write about. It is important to talk rather more about the 'writing' part and your potential readership. Concisely expressed views in words count for more in reviews than a picture. They could not stop you from taking a picture of the outside of the restaurant. <br>

There is another advantage to asking for prior permission. When you show up and introduce yourself, you may be offered a better quality service and free food! I am sure that you are not writing your blog for money. So you might as well enjoy some of the perks? Those restaurants who have said no may well be worth approaching a second time when you turn up should you really wish to eat there. If they still refuse then just say that you will be mentioning this in bold in your blog!</p>

<p>LA's a big area.</p>

<p>You can do a survey about which is the best method by selecting small groups of restaurants to contact different ways . . .</p>

<p>I would recommend telephone calls first, or preferably a snail mail formal letter announcing your visit, but that's based only on instinct. The snail mail, done properly on letterhead announcing a phone call to come soon is a very attention getting way to introduce youself IF you have a super site to draw them to, but if you do not have a great, eye and soul catching site, then I wouldn't.</p>

<p>You haven't given us a link to your blog, so I can only offer general advice.</p>

<p>The first reply above gave some excellent general advice.</p>

<p>'It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.' is more than just a quotation -- in many cases it's words to live by, but not always.</p>

<p>Permission by business owners is routinely denied and only granted where there is clear favorable reasons foreseen by the business owner and then they seek to control the content; take it from me -- I once worked for a major US busienss magazine and was charged for a year occasionally with traveling the US taking photos inside of major US chain department stores.</p>

<p>I was followed by more store detectives than you could imagine - including six at one time disguised as shoppers in the basement of one Detroit downtown discount department store, but I would just have them call my publisher and their home office (and talk to executives I often talked to frequently as an editor/writer,) they'd get approval confirmation retroactively for my continued shooting, and it woud blow over quickly. My (unknown) magazine had then huge influence in the market, and everyone in its market nationwide sought to please us, PLUS I was not taking photos of empty stock rooms (empty stock rooms means no cash to buy stock . . . which often preceded bankruptcy filings or otherwise meant bad financial condition.)</p>

<p>I was after photos of people shopping and the way stores were merchandised, but hoped my photos rose to a higher plane; one is displayed in my portfolio here and has some of my highest rates; I did NOT ask for permission until afterward.</p>

<p>In any case, choose three or five restaurants you will telephone cold calling, another you will e-mail (cold) only, and another five you will walk into unannounced.</p>

<p>With a sampling like that, in no time after the start of your visit you'll be an expert on which is the best way to approach for what you want.</p>

<p>And I think we're somewhat uncertain what you do want . . . . a free meal, more readership for your blog, a cozy relationship with restaurant owners/staff or whatever . . . . . each might militate for a different approach.<br>

<br /> <br />If you want to be the Emily's List of restaurant bloggers' you'll never accept a free meal or announce your presence -- or like many great restaurant reviewers let your likeness be known, for fear of getting different and more deferential treatment.</p>

<p>If you are seeking free food and better treatment, I really wouldn't want to read your blog.</p>

<p>If you are after a true, honest evaluation of the restaurant, the food, service and prices, you must do so anonymously (at least before you're finished with your evaluation - maybe returning, or at the end of forming opinions then announce yourself if you must.)</p>

<p>Take a high power digicam (low-light sensitive and lots of pixels), and if you take a partner with you - take photos of food and the atmosphere plus the front of the restaurant and/or any lounge or other special area.</p>

<p>One famous restaurnat I like in Los Altos/Mountain View, CA -- a Chinese restaurant -- has a glass enclosed huge kitchen with more than a dozen workers all the time on view from the waiting area. it's wonderful for customers to watch all these Chinese preparing the wonderful food and knowing it's going to be clean (and no cats!). Unrebutted rumos of cats in another, nearby Palo Alto must dine and famous restaurant caused it to shutter its doors -- all because the owners were too proud to counter that urban myth about cats and Chinese restaurants. (My boss, an attorney and friend of the owners, counseled them to publicize against the rumor, but they refused and soon shut their doors for good; a legend closed forever [Ming's, Palo Alto, CA RIP] Such disasters are known to most restaurant owners and it doesn't take much to cause a restaurant to fail anyway; they're very high risk venture with half failing in the first year. Owners have a right to be wary of strangers bearing cameras and saying they're writers.</p>

<p>Without a doubt in such a restaurant as the one with the glass kitchen wall you could take great photos, and they'd encourage it.</p>

<p>Health and safety (sanitation) violations are a major problem with far too many restaurants, even the most high end.</p>

<p>It is a little kept secret that high end hotel restaurants for instance at one time reused butter from bread and butter left on tables for cooking in their kitchens later, no matter how many butter knives had dug into it . . . . a clear violatoin of most cities' laws, but still done then routinely (I don't know about now, but suspect).</p>

<p>I've seen roaches in my best and most favorite restaurant in San Jose, CA when they were tearing up nearby sewers. Pests are an everpresent problem. That restaurant is famous for its fine food and huge clientele. It's not infrequent when I"ve gone to a late night restaurant to find it closed and being fumigated -- shut down 'that night only' and for you can only guess what reason -- rats, roaches . . . . ?</p>

<p>These are the owers' livelihoods, and they may feel put upon by anyone wanting access to their areas which almost always have code violations for fear that those violatoins will be exposed.</p>

<p>I once knew a Dairy Queen operator (Warren Buffett's favorite place to snack) who had the drip pan droppings that sat in the drip pan under the dispenser most of the hot afternoons put back in with the fresh mix in secret, also a health violation . . . . The local health inspector couldn't ever figure out why the frozen ice cream mix's e. coli figure bacillus count was so high.</p>

<p>Threre are lots of secrets in restaurant kitchens, so don't expect too much access unless someone has pre-arranged the kitchen for your visit.</p>

<p>You could be a health deparment spy for all they know . . . . and nothing you say is going to prove the opposite to a suspicious owner or operator, though showing a very professoinal blog to them (if they have means to access it) can help somewhat. (carry a smart phone with 3-G or 4-G if you do in case they don't have Internet access or it's inconvenient; also you control or monitor and can explain their viewing of your site if you provide the Internet access to view your site.)</p>

<p>I've never asked permission (when acting as a journalist in long ago times) but these are concerns that I figured out in a few minutes -- they're drawn from extensive experience (and a sister publication where I traded secrets was called "Nation's Restaurant News', co-owned with mind and located in the next room)</p>

<p>These thoughts are not meant to be any final word. You'll figure out what is best for you based on your needs, more experience and maybe testing as I proposed above.</p>

<p>Hope these thoughts help.</p>

<p>john<br /> John (Crosley)</p>

<p>LA's a big area.</p>

<p>You can do a survey about which is the best method by selecting small groups of restaurants to contact different ways . . .</p>

<p>I would recommend telephone calls first, or preferably a snail mail formal letter announcing your visit, but that's based only on instinct. The snail mail, done properly on letterhead announcing a phone call to come soon is a very attention getting way to introduce youself IF you have a super site to draw them to, but if you do not have a great, eye and soul catching site, then I wouldn't.</p>

<p>You haven't given us a link to your blog, so I can only offer general advice.</p>

<p>The first reply above gave some excellent general advice. </p>

<p>'It's better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.' is more than just a quotation -- in many cases it's words to live by, but not always.</p>

<p>Permission by business owners is routinely denied and only granted where there is clear favorable reasons foreseen by the business owner and then they seek to control the content; take it from me -- I once worked for a major US busienss magazine and was charged for a year occasionally with traveling the US taking photos inside of major US chain department stores.</p>

<p>I was followed by more store detectives than you could imagine - including six at one time disguised as shoppers in the basement of one Detroit downtown discount department store, but I would just have them call my publisher and their home office #and talk to executives I often talked ot frequently as an editor/writer, they'd get approval confirmatoin retroactively for my continued shooting, and it woud blow over quickly. My #unknown# magazine had then huge influence in the market, and everyone in itsought to please us, and I was not taking photos of empty stock rooms #empty stock rooms means no cash to buy stock . . . which often preceded bankruptcy filings or otherwise meant bad financial condition.#</p>

<p>I was after photos of people shopping and the way stores were merchandised, but hoped my photos rose to a higher plane; one is displayed in my portfolio here and has some of my highest rates; I did NOT ask for permission until afterward.</p>

<p>In any case, choose three or five restaurants you will telephone cold calling, another you will e-mail #cold# only, and another five you will walk into unannounced.</p>

<p>With a sampling like that, in no time after the start of your visit you'll be an expert on which is the best way to approach for what you want.</p>

<p>And I think we're somewhat uncertain what you do want . . . . a free meal, more readership for your blog, a cozy relationship with restaurant owners/staff or whatever . . . . . each might militate for a different approach.<br>

<br />If you want to be the Emily's List of restaurant bloggers' you'll never accept a free meal or announce your presence -- or like many great restaurant reviewers let your likeness be known, for fear of getting different and more deferential treatment.</p>

<p>If you are seeking free food and better treatment, I really wouldn't want to read your blog.</p>

<p>If you are after a true, honest evaluation of the restaurant, the food, service and prices, you must do so anonymously #at least before you're finished with your evaluation - maybe returning, or at the end then announce yourself.#</p>

<p>Take a high power digicam #low-light sensitive and lots of pixels#, and if you take a partner with you - take photos of food and the atmosphere plus the front of the restaurant and/or any lounge or other special area. </p>

<p>One famous restaurnat I like in Los Altos/Mountain View, CA -- a Chinese restaurant -- has a glass enclosed huge kitchen with more than a dozen workers all the time on view from the waiting area. it's wonderful for customers to watch all these Chinese preparing the wonderful food and knowing it's going to be clean #and no cats!#.</p>

<p>Without a doubt in such a restaurant you could take great photos, and they'd encourage it.</p>

<p>Health and safety #sanitation# violations are a major problem with far too many restaurants, even the most high end. </p>

<p>It is a little kept secret that high end hotel restaurants for instance at one time reused butter from bread and butter left on tables for cooking . . . . a clear violatoin of most cities' laws, but still done then routinely #I don't know about now, but suspect#. I've seen roaches in my best and most favorite restaurant in San Jose, CA when they were tearing up nearby sewers, and pests are an everpresent problem. That restaurant is famous for its fine food and huge clientele. </p>

<p>I once knew a Dairy Queen operator #Warren Buffett's favorite place to snack# who had the drip pan droppings that sat in the drip pan under the dispenser most of the hot afternoons put back in with the fresh mix in secret, also a health violation . . . . and the local health inspector couldn't ever figure out why the mix e. coli figure bacillus count was so high.</p>

<p>Threre are lots of secrets in restaurant kitchens, so don't expect too much access unless someone has pre-arranged the kitchen for your visit. You could be a health deparment spy for all they know . . . . and nothing you say is going to prove the opposite to a suspecting owner or operator, though showing a very professoinal blog to them #if they have means to access it# can help somewhat. #carry a smart phone with 3-G or 4-G if you do in case they don't have Internet access or it's inconvenient; also you controll or monitor and can explain their viewing of your site if you provide the Internet access to view your site.</p>

<p>I've never asked permission #when acting as a journalist in long ago times# but these are concerns that I figured out in a few minutes -- they're drawn from extensive experience #and a siter publication where I traded secrets was called "Nation's Restaurant News' and co-owned and in the next room#, but these thoughts are not meant to be any final word. You'll figure out what is best for you based on your needs, more experience and maybe testing as I proposed above.</p>

<p>Hope these thoughts help.</p>

<p>john<br>

John #Crosley#</p>

<p>Sorry for the double post -- some changes were made and the site indicated the first post was not made and I was 'editing' the first post. Read the second post, please.</p>

<p>Also, for clarity's sake: I suggested using LA (which surrounds Beverly Hills) as a test area, as there is a wealth of restaurants, even high end ones. </p>

<p>There will be special issues related to the special clientele expected in so many Beverly HIlls restaurants, so I'd concentrate in doing a survey first on how to approach 'high end' restaurants or at least those in nearby LA which are more likely to be akin to the ones in Bevely Hills. In any case a survey of how to approach restaurant owners BEFORE getting turned down cold might be of great help in honing your approach and learning what objections you're going to encounter so you may at the start negate those objections, which is a major part of 'selling yourself' and your blog.</p>

<p>john</p>

<p>If you are going to publish a review about restaurant, and include phootos taken there, you will definitely need to get their written permission to take pictures there, and explain the purpose of your publication.</p>

<p>Most places will be happy to get some free advertising, but if you do it in a a partisan way, then you may get into real trouble.</p>

<p>Given that the OP is 17 years old, how much success can she expect getting cooperation, or even reservations, in high-end Beverly Hills restaurants?<br>

Frank, restaurant reviewers for newspapers etc. dine secretly several times, then contact the owner/manager to arrange for a photo session before the reviews are published. Reviewers pay for their own food and certainly don't expect any kind of freebies or special treatment.<br>

<Chas><br /><br /></p>

<p>Charles is right about how it works. What might make sense for you is to try to review a restaurant today, wherever you are, take some photos with your phone, and then, after you've been in the restaurants you are reviewing, show it to them and tell them how much more classy their restaurants will look (assuming you're in the classy joints) if you can come back and shoot with your camera.</p>

<p>i've been both a news reporter/photographer and a business PR person, so this is not too far from what I deal with in my work life every day. If you were a reporter/photographer for a major, well-known newspaper or magazine, maybe even web site, you would definitely want to call ahead and make arrangements. Some places would be very coopoerative and go out of their way to accomodate you. Others would say no thanks. But at least you would know what to expect before you got on the plane. As an unknown 17-year-old blogger you would be highly unlikely to get your emails or phone calls even returned, let alone cooperated with. There's just nothing in it for the business owner.<br />My advice is to go do your thing. Use a good point and shoot that doesn't call attention. Shoot what you like and you most likely won't be regarded as anything but a tourist and shouldn't have a problem. If somebody asks you not to shoot, don't shoot. Leave them out and most along to the next place.<br />If you do come out of this with something good, then you have it as an example of your talent and abilities. If if gets any attention it might be something you can point to and help get your foot in the door for the next project, Could lead to a job, or at least be something to put on your college applications.<br />Good luck.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>If you were a reporter/photographer for a major, well-known newspaper or magazine, maybe even web site, you would definitely want to call ahead and make arrangements.</p>

</blockquote>

<p> <br>

My experience has been that this is only true for features. For reviews, the paper doesn't want the restaurant to be watching for the reviewer, and photos are done afterwards.</p>

<p>"this is only true for features"<br />Agreed. Reviewers usually try to be anonymous.</p>

<p>I like to take the "wait and see" approach - "It is always easier to ask forgiveness than permission" LOL</p>