Contigo or Con usted?
Let's say I am having a conversation with a chef I just met, and I asked, "Can I take a picture with you?"
In Spanish, would you write it, ¿Puedo sacar un foto contigo? or ¿Puedo sacar un foto con usted?
3 Answers
The difference is only the formality of the question:
Formal form: ¿Podría (Puedo) sacarme una foto con usted?
Not formal: ¿Podría (Puedo) sacarme una foto contigo?
The use of puedo or podría does not change the meaning of the question. (In English can be translated as "can" or "could" in interrogative form)
PD: foto is female, because is the short form of fotografía, so un is not correct, it is una.
PD2: You are talking about a picture in whicj you are going to appear, so you must say sacar-me
PD3: It is not necessary that contigo implies movement.
Example: I am here with you -> Estoy aquí contigo
Remember sacar vs tomar depends on your region. In Mexico you would "tomar" a photo. Maybe others can clarify how far south that goes. Also you'll just use the reflexive tomarse or sacarse if you are going to be in the photo.
¿Puedo tomarme una foto contigo?
¿Podemos tomarnos una foto juntos?
Voy a tomar una foto de la playa.
Also, with people you just met it never hurts to be polite and use usted.
Contigo - informal
Con usted - formal
You’ve just met the chef for the first time so using the formal ¿Puedo sacar una foto con usted ? would be the most appropriate under the circumstances.
I’ve always thought that the use of “contigo” implied movement, going somewhere with someone, but maybe this is not the case. Perhaps someone else will enlighten us both on that point.
