"Is it all right if I post your photo on my Facebook page?" This is a question that is sometimes asked of the photographed person... I find it interesting that people would take a photo of a person or people without first talking to them about it. Yes, practice makes perfect, but when someone is objectifying your person and wanting to share it (especially over the internet), they should have permission prior to clicking the shutter.
Image courtesy of roughstockstudios.com/
Some people may not want their likeness available on the internet for all to see. For whatever reason, photographers, and general people with cameras, need to be conscious and sensitive to this sort of situation.
Now, there will always be at least one person being a ham for the camera... (thats usually me... and I shouldn't be talking about ham... I want some ham... lol) but not everyone can be so comfortable in front of the lens.
I used to be very camera shy! I would hide my face whenever someone whipped out a kodak... But I came to find that the images of myself weren't so bad and it helped me jump a very big hurdle of self consciousness. I became a model over six years ago to break myself of that unsightly habit of low self-esteem and negative body image.
Even though I am usually a good sport, I wonder if others feel photo snapping is a breach of etiquette and possibly security.
"To capture a sense of life in a new destination, many travelers have used zoom lenses and hidden-camera tricks to surreptitiously snap photos of locals without their permission -- and likely -- without their knowledge. But approaching photography like a covert operation is not the most ethical way to get a great shot." - http://tinyurl.com/BBC-Photo-Snaps
Image courtesy of BBC.com
Simply making eye contact with the subject and showing your camera to signify what your intention is makes for very felicitous behavior. The possible subject will let you know if they are interested in your taking their photo.
It is best to remain conscious of overly sensitive scenery. One example of this is a tourist wanting to take photos of a cemetery and a grieving person at a head stone. It is acceptable etiquette to photograph the cemetery or other emotionally stirring settings, but not the person in the emotional state.
Sometimes photographers forget basic etiquette when traveling to countries of different cultural beliefs. The natives of more poverty stricken areas may not appreciate feeling like they are on display for others to gawk at let alone be captured via film. Some religious customs have people not very appreciative of the idea of their photo being taken.
The person with the camera should treat every subject with respect and care. If a rapport is established and if it is a collaboration between the photographer and the subject, the portrait and the experience of taking it are far more indicative and memorable!
Image courtesy of tinyurl.com/sam-grover
