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April 21, 2005
Takin' photos at Old Orchard
Having previously worked for a real estate investment trust (REIT) -- that's fancy talk for a company the builds and runs malls -- I'm somewhat familiar with the policies that are often put in place for a property. As much as people choose to forget, a shopping center is not public property, and therefore those who utilize them are subject to the rules of conduct that are imposed. It's even harder to come to grips with this when the shopping center is an open-air mall like Old Orchard because it feels like city streets or a park.
I remember when I was a kid we used to do these photo scavenger hunts with my youth group using Polaroid cameras. The ideal location was the area's largest mall, Woodfield. Given the size of that place, you could easily spread a group out to discover unique situations for film. However, every time we did such an event, we were required to get permission from mall operations first.
For some reason, retailers seem a bit nervous about cameras. Maybe they are afraid that a competitor will take photos of their window displays, signage, or something. Who knows. When I worked out at Randhurst, I don't believe that photography inside the mall was generally allowed. However, being a member of the management office, I was allowed to freely roam and take personal photos if I wanted. I was also often tasked with taking photos of storefronts on behalf of the leasing office. Often, photos are used inside the industry when a retailer is trying to sell a concept to a certain shopping center. They help illustrate what a store will look like, etc.
Given the scope of the Old Orchard Observer, photos help illustrate the "news and views" that I write about. Amy and I have taken photos at Old Orchard before without problems. But, just to be on the safe side, I thought I would walk over to the Customer Service area (which Westfield ridiculously calls the "Shopping Concierge Center") and ask what the mall's policy was on photography. Often, you'll find a Code of Conduct posted at the entrance to a center, but I could not find one.
While I was talking to the folks at Customer Service, a Old Orchard security officer joined the conversation to add his insight. According to what he told me, photography inside a store is not allowed. However, outside photos of the landscaping, such as flowers, topiaries, etc., would be acceptable. If you are taking a photo of another person outside while in the mall, that is allowed. However, they tend to frown on photos of actual buildings. Sounds like an obscure policy, but I can understand the concerns.
So, apparently, to be in the clear, I just need to have Amy included in every shot I take at Old Orchard!
Posted by Tannerman at April 21, 2005 01:02 PM | Categories: Mall Info | Other Malls