How to avoid being photographed in public?

There’s no expectation of privacy in public areas. Your only real protection is anti-slander laws. If you can be seen by anybody walking by, you’re in the public domain. It’s always been like that; it’s just that nobody cared until photography became ubiquitous.

Simply donning a pair if sunglasses will go a long way toward obscuring your identity.

But, as Jerv mentioned, we don’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy when we are in public areas.

However, if someone uses your likeness for profit, you likely do have legal recourse since (presumably ) you aren’t a public figure. But it could also be a huge PITA to follow through in court.

But just wearing dark glasses and a hat can go a long way toward being less identifiable. The eyes particularly are such an important giveaway.

I don’t know if you’ve ever seen photos used in medical texts where the authors are trying to preserve some anonymity for the folks involved in the case studies. The simply place a black bar over their eyes.

Sunglasses would do similar for you and adding a hat of some sort helps to obscure your hairstyle.

You cannot have privacy in public places. You will be seen by human eye or by camera lens and there is no escaping it. My holiday photographs have lots of people in the background. They are completely anonymous and I have no way of finding out who they are even if I wanted to.
Personally, I find being filmed by security cameras more intrusive.

Wear glasses and hats, or avoid public places like shopping malls. Park near the store entrance you want to go to and go to that store, and back to your car. Shop online.

Depending on your style, an umbrella can work. They are good for blockng rain, but also sun.
They are a great blocker from photographers too, especially when you spot the camera before it snaps. Most photographers don’t want such blocks appearing in their work, and will often wait for that person to pass.
Hats can be good, they can also be seen as objects of distinction, and could draw someone’s attention.
There are peel away fearures, such as scars, cuts, burns, etc., but that seems like a costly idea if you have an ongoing problem.
If you have a REAL and lasting issue, I think ski mask is your best bet, but kinda extreme. Lots of people hide in hoodies.

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Try looking the other way, turn your back to them, or hide behind a tree or lampost or duck into a building. Or walk behind them while they’re taking pictures. A hoodie is a good way to cover the face and head.
You could say,“sorry, I don’t do pictures.”

I think the best ways are:
* Wearing a hat with a brim (can be a fashion item, covers your hair, can also somewhat obscure your eyes – there’s a reason why Sherlock Holmes wears one)
* Hoodie could also work, but only if the weather outside is bad. If the weather outside is sunny, wearing a hoodie just makes you more conspicuous.

@AshlynM: There’s no saying “I don’t do pictures” as most people who are photographing in malls or other places are being clandestine. They’re not asking, they’re just snapping.