What must it actually see?
The storefront needs two different scenes: the door scene to identify the face of anyone entering or leaving, and the street scene to cover the pavement and the parking in front of the shop.
A single camera can't do both jobs: set it on the street and the face becomes tiny; set it on the door and you lose the street.
Backlight is the biggest enemy
A camera pointed from inside the shop toward the storefront faces strong daylight, so faces come out completely black.
The fix: a camera with good WDR, an angle set to avoid facing the sun directly, and reviewing the scene in the morning and afternoon — not only at install time.
The limits of privacy
Covering the pavement in front of your shop is acceptable, but pointing the camera into a neighboring shop or at facing residential windows is not acceptable, legally or ethically.
Set the scene angle to stop at the boundary of what belongs to you, and document that in the placement plan — it's what protects you against any complaint.
Regulator requirements
Retail cameras are subject to specific requirements covering coverage points, retention period, and image clarity at the point of payment and the entrances.
Istifa isn't measured by the number of cameras but by compliance with every clause. That's why we issue a readiness report that shows what is compliant and what is missing before the official visit.
Practical takeaways
- Separate the door scene from the street scene
- Require WDR and review the scene at different times
- Don't point the camera at property that isn't yours
- Document the angles in a placement plan
- Check your readiness before the official visit