There has been a lot of talk on various photography forums I am on about this topic. It is much more of a problem for male photographers, of course. That legal site is good, it is compiled by a lawyer who is also a photographer and his legal summary sheet is pretty up to date.
Basically if you are on public land you can do whatever you like within the law. On private land like shopping malls etc you must comply with the owner's directives.
For those who do a lot of public photography, but are not professional photographers per se, AIPP (Australian Institute of Professional Photography) now offers an 'Enthusiast' membership category. It is for:
"Anyone not currently operating as a professional photographer is eligible to become an AIPP "Enthusiast" and benefit from the association with Australia's leading professional photography community. To be an AIPP Enthusiast, we have one requirement: A LOVE of Photography and the desire to strive for more knowledge in Photography."
There are terrific benefits, you get:
* 3 excellent magazine subscriptions: The Working Pro; Better Digital & Better Photography, plus the AIPP E News;
* discounts on Capture magazine, Australian creative magazine, Ad News magazine & Photo review magazine - Discounted offer
* entry at a lower rate to AIPP events,
* Specialised photography Indemnity & insurance programs,
* The AIPP CPD Program (professional development);
* AIPP membership prices for all AIPP events
* Eligibility to enter Epson state print awards and the national Canon AIPP APPA awards (both from 2011*)
It is $120 the first year then $85 pa. The 3 magazine subscriptions are worth more than that!
http://www.aipp.com.au/aipphome.php?ID=526&cat=Join&A=
A few people on Australian Photography have said they wear the lanyard and card when they are out and about and it helps to be able to show people that you are a 'proper' photographer and a member of a professional body. It reassures people and is useful if you have to deal with the Police. Plus, you can fit a few business cards in the beck of the card holder behind the membership card - handy to have.
One poster said: "I've been quite surprised by how wearing a lanyard which holds a clear plastic card holder with a number of my business cards in somehow gives others the idea that I have a professional reason to be doing what I'm doing - ie taking pictures. The bonus is that I always have a business card to hand out to people enquiring."
Something to think about.
