Hi! I had a video call about a housesit to look after some cats, everything was going really well, she was asking me questions and I was asking her… until she suddenly asked me if I was an influencer. I was totally surprised! I said I didn’t understand, and then she explained that the previous sitter took videos and photos of her home (which was beautiful), and she really doesn’t want that.
Do you usually take photos or videos of the place you’re staying in? I think it’s completely normal and understandable.
One last thing I’ll add is that I was surprised she knew the sitter had taken those pictures and videos… maybe yet another home with hidden cameras? So, what do you think: photos yes or no?
Influencers tend to post everything they do on their socials. Sitters shouldn’t be posting photos/videos of a HOs home or pets without their permission.
She called her an influencer, so to speak, but really what she doesn’t want is for photos of her house to be taken. In other words, to make it clearer. Of course I take pictures of the house where I’m staying and the pets what I’m taking care…and that’s not a reason to call someone influencer
We stayed in an airbnb in Brazil that was lovely. The rules of the house included “No commercial photography” which I interpreted to mean no posting of pictures of the interior on social media by influencers.
Taking pictures doesn’t make you an influencer but if you post said photos to social media without the pet owner’s knowledge and a lot of people see them because you have a lot of followers, that would somewhat qualify. Maybe the host wound up seing those photos or someone informed her.
Absolutely not. I never show photographs of someone’s home, it would be a dreadful invasion of their privacy.
I always ask permission to take photos of their pets and if ask if I can post them on social media. I avoid mentioning the name of the pets. I would also ask permission to show photos of their garden if they had one.
If I take photos of the pets inside the house I try my best not to show much in the background, I crop it out.
I don’t understand why you assume this, are you trying to shift the blame onto her? She most likely saw photos of her own, supposedly private home plastered all over social media. I’m sure she was furious.
I am shocked that you think this is acceptable behaviour, there is no ‘of course’ about it. Although ‘of course’ you shouldn’t.
Surely THS are encouraging this type of behaviour.
The Trusted Tailblazer rewards program is designed to celebrate our incredible members who share their TrustedHousesitters adventures with their following. Tailblazers earn points by completing various tasks, like sharing snaps of their house sitting adventures or connecting with fellow Tailblazers on social media. Points can be redeemed for rewards such as gift cards and discounts, and also help members climb the tiers of the program.
I wasn’t aware of Trusted Trailblazers, I had to look it up. I wonder how many home owners are aware of this? The entire ethos of THS has changed completely since I first joined. It’s very depressing. However in the information I found about it it does say this,
“Yes, you’ll need permission from the homeowner before sharing any photos of their pet or property. It’s best to get this in writing or as a screenshot so you have a record of their consent. And of course, always respect the homeowner’s wishes when it comes to what you share.”
Yes but only to provide updates to the HO. I think the “tone deaf” issue here is not respecting the HOs privacy and assuming the HO has cameras is a stretch.
She probably knew the influencer took the photos because the photos were made public on the influencer’s site and social media. Whether someone is an influencer or just someone with an instagram account, most people don’t want photos of their homes and pets – especially with identifying information public on the net.
If I could opt out of my apartment occassionally showing up on “free” THS accounts and advertizing, I aboslutely would and at some points when I haven’t had an active listing, I’ve taken out the photos.
Given how much people (especially) younger people, document everything, I wouldn’t bother asking someone about not publicly displaying photos of my pets and homes, but I probably should. It would make sense to me if homeowners asked that any photos of their pets not be used commercially, or with any identifying information – pet’s name, location, etc. It would make sense also not to have a lot of information about apartment or house photos.
Just like sitters have an expectation of privacy for themselves and don’t’ want to sit in homes with internal cameras, sitters shouldn’t be trashing or joking about homeowner’s homes or exploiting the pets.
I’ve taken pictures of pets in the house to share with the HO, and will sometimes take pictures of the spectacular view for my own enjoyment but would never post them online. When I am sitting and have meetings online, I use a virtual background out of respect to the HOs privacy. It would feel creepy to share interior or identifiable exterior pictures of someone else’s home.
Exactly…but are we influencers? If we take pics or videos to our family is there any problem? I’m already a little bit tense because of the "cameras recording " and now this…no pictures? But you can record me?
Now everybody’s in shock…cmon!! You also take pics of the place where you are staying also in case something happens…please please and please be sincere and honest here! Don’t try to show something what isn’t true.
But Cathy I’m not talking about sharing on social media…I’m only talking about taking pictures for you for your family…whatever…
That’s why I didn’t like it when the owner says influencer…why?? Just because that sitters was taking some pictures…? Because she wasn’t an influencer..but she thinks that if you take pics that’s what you are…
