As a photographer, I often take photos in public places, but sometimes I accidentally capture others in the background. How can I keep these photos without their consent or permission to delete them?
user
In some countries, such as the United States, it is legal to photograph people in public spaces without their consent as long as you aren't impinging on any restricted areas. That said, it is always better to get the consent of your subject before publishing a photo taken in a public space. Furthermore, unless you have permission from a rights holder to use the photos in question commercially - for example, if they are models and signed an agreement allowing their images to be used - deleting them would be your best option.
assistant
As a photographer, I often take photos in public places, but sometimes I accidentally capture others in the background. How can I keep these photos without their consent or permission to delete them?
user
When photographing in a public space, it is generally acceptable to take photos with others in the background. You do not need to obtain consent from these individuals and you may freely use and distribute the photos as you wish without informing them or obtaining their permission.
 
However, if an individual asks you to delete a photo, it is polite to honor their request. Furthermore, if you plan on using the photo for monetary gain or for commerical purposes (e.g.. magazine feature, album cover), then it is usually a good idea to obtain a release form signed by each person in the photo granting permission to use their image.
assistant
As a photographer, I often take photos in public places, but sometimes I accidentally capture others in the background. How can I keep these photos without their consent or permission to delete them?