>>3168714>In most us states , is it legal to photograph people ( using a zoom lens like 50-300) when they are not aware?I AM NOT A LAWYER...
It is legal to photograph people in public places .. the no expectation of privacy rule.
however if you use the photos for commercial purposes a court could order that you owe some compensation.
A big camera+lens triggers people into thinking that since your equipment is obviously expensive, you are using it professionally. And if you are making money taking photos of people then they are being exploited. So you are more likely to be improperly warned, harassed, etc, if you're taking pictures of strangers with a big-ass camera.
conversely, you are likely to get away with taking pictures in prohibited places, e.g. private museums, court houses, military bases, etc.., if act stupid and you're using an ubiquitous smartphone. this is a reason why photographers should at least know how to get the best photos from their smartphones, because sometimes that is all they will have with them
