An Instagram-famous bakery has requested customers refrain from filming staff while capturing content at the venue for social media.
A sign near the counter at Pigeon Whole Bakers in Hobart, which has amassed a following of 18.6k on the platform, reads: “We love you sharing your enthusiasm … on socials, but to protect the privacy of our staff, please don’t include their faces when taking photos or videos.”
Speaking to ABC Radio Hobart on Tuesday morning, co-manager Tori Burnie said being filmed multiple times a day by patrons – often without her knowledge or consent – had become a source of frustration for herself and her co-workers.
“You’re working away, bagging pastries, passing someone their coffee and you look up and they’re filming the interaction,” Ms Burnie said.
“That’s how you know – you look up and the camera is in your face.”
Pigeon Whole Bakers’ owner, Jay Patey, told the ABC he appreciated most customers had the right intentions in capturing their experience at the venue.
“Tourists these days want to film their whole holiday – to create content for their Instagram pages and pop it up on their social media for their followers,” he said.
“Whether or not they end up (posting it online), they’re still filming everything to try and get as much content as possible.”
But, he said he hoped that by putting the sign on the counter, he was helping to protect his employees’ privacy – adding he seeks consent from customers when creating marketing content for the business where they may be filmed or photographed.
“Flip the role, customers could potentially feel quite awkward,” Mr Patey said.
On Facebook, many users responding to the story agreed that the simple but prominent sign was “fair enough”.
“Seems reasonable. Photograph the baked goods,” one wrote.
“I really like this,” another said.
“It honestly should go without saying,” a third commented.
“I love the kind of respect that this employer is demanding for their employees!!” someone else said.