My husband, who is over 20
years older than me was taking this outfit-of-the-day photo by this
plant in our front yard. We came inside and I edited the photos and my
husband and I were sitting on our couch. I was reading a magazine, he
was playing a video game on a smart phone. The doorbell rang twice,
then there was a loud knock. I looked outside to see there was a police
car parked in front of our house. My husband answered the door and the
officer said there was a call about a 16 year old being photographed
under duress. I was asked to show ID, I asked if I had to and was told
no, but I was still asked my age, and name. This is not the first time
an incident has happened that is similar to this. I feel violated, and
abused. This complaint was ridiculous and unfounded and the police
should never have violated the sanctity of our home to check on such a
call. I feel that my husband and I are treated unfairly because of our
age differences; I KNOW we are. If you are not safe from police
questioning and harassment in your OWN home, then where are you ever
safe to live in peace? How is it that people that make these calls are
not jailed for false reporting? I am a fashion blogger, I take photos
nearly every day, sometimes on my own property. I have NEVER had another
problem like this when being photographed on public property, so it's
even crazier that when the police are called it would be while my
husband and I were on our own front lawn. Now my husband says he
doesn't want to photograph me in public anymore, or on our own front
lawn. He says he doesn't want to hold my hand in public from fear of
being accused of being a child molester, kidnapper, etc. Just why is it
worthy of a 911 call if I WERE 16? A man is not allowed to photograph
a 16 year old in an outfit like I am wearing? What if he
was my father? My paid professional photographer? What were we doing
that someone felt the need to call 911 over? The responding officer did
not even apologize for wasting our time. I can only assume the person that called the police did so out of malice, or they are so stupid they have no business driving down the street. If you really believe in
justice and equality and peace for all, please SHARE this story.
You can see three other posts about similar incidents here:
http://libertadgreen.blogspot.com/2012/04/texas-border-patrol.html
http://libertadgreen.blogspot.com/2011/03/nightmare-in-torrence-ca.html
http://libertadgreen.blogspot.com/2012/04/gardena-police-department.html
You are not alone. I encourage you to follow Photography Is Not A Crime (PINAC) to see how government officials interfere in the lives of so many others.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much! I will.
DeleteSorry to hear about this kind of abuse. I am a photographer and I'd certainly say the photographs are fine even if you were "underage". The person doing the complaining is a bit sick.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the support!
DeleteYour husband needs to continue to photograph you in public! Do not let him lose his artistic talent because some jerk calls the police. And by the way you are a beautiful subject to photograph
ReplyDeleteThank you so much :) We've been getting back out there and taking photos. All the support has been a great help!
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