Received Friday October 19, 2007
Troubling sighting. This is not a bad nanny sighting but a warning for nannies and parents. This morning. Around 10:40 AM. Your nanny was wearing a cream colored cardigan and black pants, She had soft brown skin, wide set eyes, very sweet looking face, medium brown worn gently curled. Her race was AA. She was with a baby dressed in pastel prints, a girl with very white skin, brown curly hair and blue eyes. The baby was very pretty. The nanny picked the baby up out of the stroller to adjust her or something. She had a fold up stroller with a green frame but the baby was in her arms when this happened. A white woman, solidly built but not fat, blondish hair, freckles, no make up, about 40 years old passed by as the nanny was adjusting the baby. She remarked on how pretty the baby was. The white woman then reached inside her large, rectangular pink & brown messenger bag and pulled out a camera and said, "would you mind if I took her picture". The nanny was caught off guard but it would not have mattered what she said because the woman took her picture as she asked. The woman said, "just beautiful" and smiled and walked away. Now, is it me or is there something wrong with this? The woman walked to Bryant Park. The nanny stood there puzzled and not sure what she should do. This awful woman put her in a really bad position.
edited by OP @ 2:45 PM
In a world of cell phones, minicams and digital cameras part 'quality' time moms are fighting a losing battle against weirdos, pedophiles and busy bodies who are interested in their kids when they are out in public.
ReplyDeleteSo, the nanny did nothing wrong here? You are just posting this in case the nanny does not tell the child's mother what happened? I am a bit confused.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very troubling but, the Nanny didn't do anything wrong. I think all child care providers should be alert and aware that taking pictures of your charges should NEVER be allowed as you never know what the use for the picture may be. (At centers or schools the parents or guardians must sign for their children to be photographed.) I hope that picture of that sweet little girl isn't used for anything......I shudder to think of the possibilities or the reasons which this woman would've snapped her picture.
ReplyDeleteWell, I am a bit puzzled as well.
ReplyDeleteIf nanny had body blocked the intrepid photgrapher, she would have been risking an arrest for assault.
If nanny had grabbed the camera once the pic was taken, she would have risked an arrest for stealing the photographer's property.
I am just not sure of the exact problem here, and I would love further clarification on what the nanny did wrong, and what OP believes SHOULD have been done.
OP, what would you have done if you were the nanny you reported?
Honestly, I don't think the OP is suggesting that anything the nanny did was right or wrong. It just sounds like a random occurrence s/he happened to witness that happened to involved a nanny. I'm not sure what the point of posting it was, either.
ReplyDeleteThis is a silly sighting. Yes, a person taking a picture of a baby that is not yours is obnoxious, but the idea that this moron will "do something" horrible with a little picture is a cute baby is silly. Unfortunately there are people that go crazy over cute babies. They are annoying people, but the nanny didn't do anything wrong besides saying "no".
ReplyDeleteisyn is to blame inviting anyone to take photos of nannies bad or good. this is so wrong taking a persons pictre whether adult or child unless emergency calls for it
ReplyDeleteI don't know why she took the childs picture. Its kinda of weird if you ask me. But I agree with the other post, the nanny was caught off guard. And before she could answer the lady yes/no, she snapped a picture.
ReplyDeleteI was offended about what you wrote in this post. Why did you think it was important to mention that she had a large torso. She had a large stomach?? What did this have to do with the post?
this is totally random... the nanny had no chance to begin with
ReplyDeleteI am the OP-
ReplyDeleteI posted it as a warning to other nannies and parents about this woman. The nanny was engaged with the child. The nanny did nothing wrong. Why does everything have to be about someone doing something wrong. The problem is with some woman walking around taking pictures of children. And I do wonder, if she would have so easily snapped a picture had the child been held by his/her mother.
Be on the lookout for the woman with the brown and pink messenger bag. As for the nanny, she was a perfectly lovely person that got caught in a troubling situation. What could she do?
ISYN doesn't ask for pictures of children! And bad nannies should be outed. What are YOU hiding?
ReplyDeleteIt said at the beginning of the post that this isn't a bad nanny sighting. I just think, as the op said, it is for people to be on the lookout.
ReplyDeleteNow I am a mom and not a nanny, so I may have reacted differently, but I personally would have stopped her (even after the pic was taken), asked who she was, what the pic was for etc and then perhaps even demanded she erase it.
ReplyDeleteThat said, a nanny caught off guard may not have thought to do anything of that nature. I do find it disturbing though.
Even though the child was clothed, etc., someone I know from a social site just found out that an "agency" supposedly offering babies and young girls for sale as sex slaves (in another country) was lifting photos off of various sites to put in their ads. Her child was one of them. May be few and far between but not a chance I would take.
At the very least I would want to know why she wanted the pic. Normal people don't go around taking pics of pretty babies for no reason.
Just wanted to make it clear, I was not faulting the nanny here at all. Just stating what I, as a parent, would have done. I think this poor girl probably felt powerless to do anything.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you posted this! As we've learned from the disgusting pedophile Jack McClellan, taking photos of babies and children, for your own sick pleasure is not a crime! *shudders*
ReplyDeleteIn fact, to add to this, the last time I was at the park with my niece, some random guy walked up to us didn't say a word, pulled out his cell phone and snapped a picture!! I was semi blocking her (in a defensive gesture) just because I am cautious and didn't like having a strange man (without a child) approaching us. However, it happened so fast that there unfortunately wasn't much I could do! After snapping the photo, he turned and left so abruptly that all I could do was scream "hey" after him. I even stood up, trying to figure out any thing I could do, but my niece is only 6 months old, and I really don't think a woman chasing down a strange man is going to help the issue! I still can't fathom why he would want a photo of my niece (who is a beautiful baby) and am shuddering at the possibilities! Is there any thing I could have done? I tried reporting it to the police, but they said although it was a bit stranger, that there wasn't enough info., and that taking a photo in a public place is fine!!! People please watch out! This world is so crazy!
oops, sorry for the typo (typing too fast) I meant: although it was a bit strange not stranger.
ReplyDeleteThis world is a scary and disturbing place.
ReplyDeleteOP, this is a great post because it brings to light the fact that some people do not exercise photography etiquette. There's got to be something in the line of self defense that a nanny or parent can do (legally and immegiately) when someone uninvited and without confirmed permission walks up to a parent or nanny with baby and starts clicking away with a camera at a baby.
ReplyDeleteIt is very scary that some people think that just because it is a public place, they can zoom in on anyone they want. Some people are too stupid to realize that it is an abuse of freedom. Freedom to take pictures in a public place does not mean freedom to zoom in on anyone they wish. By don't using common sense and common courtesy, idiots with cameras are inviting the government to dictate to everyone when they can use their cameras. The same idiots would be the first to cry out because their civil liberties are being threatened because they can no longer zoom in on anyone they want. What about our children's freedom. Their freedom to not be photographed or filmed by camera-crazed strangers?
I was reading a book in Central Park a few years ago when I heard a lot of clicking, looked up, and saw this ugly ass man with a powerful camera taking pictures of me at close range. Before I could say anything, he disappeared into the crowd. What about my freedom to read a book in a public place without some creep walking up to me and photographing me from all angles without my permission? I think there ought to be a law to govern idiots who need help using their cameras responsibly. Even more crazy is that there is always an idiot out there willing to defend these idiots.
Kelly,
ReplyDeleteWATCH OUT.
I am in LA and we have to be careful of people like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/malingering/collections/72157600000302568/
not too mention, there is a problem with people stealing and getting pictures of children and using their pictures on facebook or myspace with ridiculous graphics or sayings. Like someone's innocent two year old with a sign that says "i like my hooch".
7:31pm, thanks for your feedback. Some people need help using their freedom. Some people need no freedom at all. There are times when we do too much 'helping' and too little punishing, and I think that is why responsibility has reached a new low. In cultures where punishment is serious business, people think twice before doing stupid things.
ReplyDeleteSomething similar happened to my nanny and baby at the Seaport in NYC. A woman was admiring my baby and then snapped a picture. My nanny who is very tough immediately got upset and demanded that the woman erase it off her camera. The woman eventually did. My nanny was very upset by it but she is the type of person to speak up. I probably would not have reacted the same way. I don't know why random people think it is okay to take pictures of babies.
ReplyDeleteMakes one wonder what the lawmakers are smoking allowing this kind of invasion on our personal privacy.
ReplyDeleteI know there are lots of weird people out there, but any chance that some of the photographers might be tourists? My mother told me that once
ReplyDeletewhen I was a baby she found herself surrounded by Japanese tourists that kept snapping at me. Many people photograph people and children when they find themselves in a foreign country for no particular reason...better be safe than sorry, though.
2:17...I think in most palces it is techinically illegal (under voyeurism laws) to take photos of someone without their permission, but what are the "lawmakers" supposed to do? Post the photo police all over the country in public places?
ReplyDeleteI, for one, would freak if someone took a pic of my kids, but I don't expect a cop to pop out of nowhere and arrest the person.
It is up to the parent or caregiver to follow up, if at all possible, by calling the police with descriptions, license plate numbers, etc. but unfortunately this not often possible. The best we can do is try to keep our eyes open and our children shielded.
I don't think 2:17 is saying that the lawmakers should post the photo police all over the country in public places. I think she/he is trying to say that if walking up to children and snapping photos without consent was prosecuted, maybe the camera people would be a bit more considerate. Even if we have our eyes open or sheild our children physically as some posters above have tried, someone will still take pictures whether we like it or not. Pictures are going from camera to Internet in seconds, and before you can say, 'hey', your picture is already posted on some mail order bride website. The poor girl that OP mentioned clearly was not given any reaction time. It all happened within seconds, and it is creepy.
ReplyDelete11:46, I understand what she was trying to say, but it just is not possible when they snap and run. I was just saying the best we can to do is try to get any info we can and report it. especially if it is excessive in a particular park or area.
ReplyDeleteIt is creepy. The world is a creepy place and unfortunately is not getting any better.
It's not illegal to take pictures of people in public places, but it is illegal to profit off those pictures without written consent of the person who's in the picture.
ReplyDeleteNow the problem is that most people would not know if their picture was used in a magazine, photobook, if the face was cropped out and used elsewhere, etc. unless you saw the material.
So parents really have no right in this regard. You would think Peter Vollone would make a law or something. But he only cares about 20 year old hipsters from the midwest, not parents.
How do you know she's not an overzealous nanny "seer" taking a photo for the blog? Maybe she thought the nanny was in the wrong for not strewing rose petals in the child's path.
ReplyDeleteI remember when I worked in the kids section of a department store I had some B&W film in my camera that I'd taken some pics of my younger siblings on and wanted to finish out the roll...so I asked the moms with kids around the Thomas the Tank Engine table if I could take pictures of their kids...and only did after getting permission...wish I'd gotten their addresses so I could send them those pictures (as I didn't need them)...
ReplyDeleteI've taken pictures of people I didn't know on the street before without their permission...but only as they were a part of the bigger scene I was taking a picture of (couldn't have personally asked everyone walking down the street for permission)...
But I do think it rather creepy to single out a kid and take a picture without permission...