Can I film my customers or patients for social media?

Consent should be specific and easy to prove later. Explain where the video will be posted, whether it might run as an ad, and how long it will stay up. A short written note or a recorded 'yes, you can post this' at the start of the clip is far better than a nod across the counter. Anyone can change their mind, so remove the video promptly if they ask, without arguing.

Some trades need extra care. In healthcare, patients should not be identifiable without explicit permission, and videos should avoid before-and-after promises or claims about results; platforms also restrict how health services can be advertised, so footage meant for ads needs checking against their current rules. Salons and gyms need to be especially sensitive about filming women clients, many of whom will not want to appear online at all. For children, get a parent's consent and think twice even then.

Background people matter too. A wide shot of a busy restaurant in Blue Area will catch diners who never agreed to anything. Film wide shots before opening, angle the camera so faces are not the focus, or blur anyone recognisable who has not consented. This is general good practice rather than legal advice; for anything sensitive, ask a lawyer. On our shoots, consent is part of the plan, and footage of people who have not agreed is never used.