Just joined this forum, but have been writing google reviews at local areas for years. I highly enjoy writing reviews for local areas and businesses but I am really lacking at taking pictures and videos to upload. This is mostly due to how awkward it feels to take pictures and record videos at most of these places. I really only do it if theres nobody around. Am I the only one who feels this way? Have others found a way to take them discreetly? Have any of you ever experienced any backlash from anybody for it?
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Hello @Harold_B
Thanks for expressing your anxiety.
But you are not the only one to feel that way.
A lot of people may feel awkward to shoot in public places.
You can overcome that with some practice.
Next, it’s the right act to capture pics of places when no one is around.
Further, we should never shoot discretely.
Seeking permission before a click & avoiding pics of strangers is the right way to do so.
If we do not get permission or sense frowning, it’s better to back out.
BTW: You will find a lot of articles along with tips on how to overcome fear while shooting in public.
It’s not right to provide links here. Nevertheless, you can discover those through a web search.
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Hi @Harold_B , I admire your courage to come up with what bothers you. I believe it is the first and most important step towards getting over it. 
I understand your feelings. 
I can reassure you, practice makes perfect.
I can share a few insights I gained through my journey. I always make the least fuss around taking photos. If it is a food photo I only picture my own plate as quietly and quickly as possible. I don’t stretch my arms or stand up to find the best angle, as it is for documentation, rather than art. 
I never take a photo of people’s faces. Like hands on the table at a restaurant is OK. If it’s needed I cut the frame to live up to it. I set up my phone in a way that there is no shutter sound effect when touching the record button, so the process is seamless. I shortly and casually informed my friends when taking the photo: it’s for Google Maps. They didn’t mind. And from time to time it served as a nice conversation starter, so by now my friends understand what LG means. I listen to them when they speak about the food they eat. I include that too in my review.
I realized that in the era of selfies people are used to phones popping up here and there to take photos. Nobody really minds. If it is like an art fair I make sure I inform the artist what and why I do. They appreciate it.
Keep up practicing. I hope it is becoming more and more comfortable for you.
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Hi @Harold_B thanks for sharing this, actually it happened with me as well. I have been rating and reviewing since many year but I think I have started to capture photo and upload it in Google map in October/ November 2020 itself.
And funny thing is that I have joined LG connect in November and since then I did not posted anything in connect. May be this post of your is encouragnent to me and I might be able to post something on connect and overcome fear. So you know keep clicking and posting and it may overcome your awkwardness as well.
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WOOOO… so frank…
Hello dear LG friend @Harold_B
I fully agree with our @C_T @Beata_Ory & @Zafermdjaved
My story too is not different - when I started, I had this feeling more than you…
I use to be very embarrassed - very uncomfortable -
But, later - when I used to it, I found it as a part of my LG ship - now, I have more than 62,000 contributions…
Some shop owners ask me to take more photos & some people looking at us with suspicion.
Here is a story for you:
Recently, after Covid, when I was walking & reporting “Temporarily Closed” as “Open”, some local shop keepers complained to the police; the police came & asked me what I am doing - I explained how I am helping them - the police Inspector, in turn, called more people & told them to support me.
Then the shop keepers not only thanked me but started calling me to their shop for serving Coffe… someone wanted to give me compliments (which we are not supposed to accept), etc.
In fact, I have more than 100 Small Businesses registered in a small hill station called Yercaud (Tamil Nadu, India).
So… keep walking…
Take photos & videos - help as many people as possible.
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@Harold_B You’re definitely not the only one. I use to be more self conscious before, but I’m a little bit thick skinned these days. There was one time I was eating at a sushi bar, taking photos of the food, and somehow I felt the sushi chef was glaring at me, but he never said anything. After finishing my meal, I was about to pay for the bill, and noticed there’s a sign near the door that says “no photography”. Oops? Wish I had seen that before.
But yeah, in general it’s always good to understand the local regulations for taking photos. Public spaces and restaurants are generally fine, as long as there aren’t any photos of kids in it. If the appearance of people can’t be avoided, try not to make the people the center of the image. If you’re not sure if it’s okay, find an authority personnel nearby and ask.
If someone ask you why you’re taking photos, just be calm and just explain your intention. I got asked once and basically I just opened the Google Maps app and gave the person a quick walkthrough on contributing on Google Maps. Most of the time they’ll understand and won’t have issue with it.
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It’s an issue that most face at some time or another @Harold_B . We need to use discretion and take snaps only when we are confident that it’s not going to be objectionable in any way but of course, sometimes it’s hard to judge. I recall that while overseas traveling I once visited a Bank in a foreign country which was affiliated with my home Bank, and at which I’d just managed to sort out a complex US dollar transfer that I had difficulties for several weeks at other previous locations. It was in either Spain or Italy, but to be honest I now cannot remember. The service was great and I wanted to post a review of this positive experience and so as I was leaving the Bank I took a couple of photos of its façade. I was quickly approached by two police and was told this is a no, no and that I wasn’t allowed to take photos of the Bank!!! Even though I explained things they insisted that I delete the photos and they watched me very carefully doing so before allowing me to move on 
I guess in some countries around the world we need to be careful of what we photograph!!!
1 Like