Street Photography Ethics

Jun 9

The ethics of street photography has been called into question since the practice began. However, I think there has been more talk of it in recent years.

To my knowledge, there wasn’t as much public discussion about the ethics of street photography in its early days. I don’t think it had entered the public consciousness as much as today.

Today, social media has allowed for more discussion about it. Some have voiced their displeasure towards it.

Since I learned about street photography, I have believed that it’s an ethical practice that has value when done respectfully and maintain that position to this day.

The Law Is on the Side of the Street Photographer (In Most Places)

In the United States, you have no expectation of privacy in public places. The right to photograph in public places is protected under free speech.

From the ACLU:

“When in public spaces where you are lawfully present you have a First Amendment right to photograph anything that is in plain view. That includes pictures of federal buildings, transportation facilities and police. Such photography is a form of public oversight over the government and is important in a free society.”

— ACLU

Street photography is a form of documentary photojournalism. And to state the obvious here, photojournalism is important! It’s in authoritarian states where photojournalism and other forms of journalism are banned or censored.

I Believe that Street Photography Is Ethical, and Here’s Why

Street Photography Benefits Society

Street photography provides value to society. There is value in seeing other time periods than your own.

We can learn from history. It is possible. We don’t always learn from history as a people, but we should try. Street photography gives us a way to do that on some level.

I think seeing the work of street photography from other places is good. It’s good to see other people who are different from you. It’s good to see how they live. To see the similarities and differences. At the end of the day, there is more that is the same and that connects us than not.

Street photography makes people more empathetic. It helps us connect with other people. Both in seeing street photography as a viewer and going out and doing it.

It’s an Art Form

Street photography is a beautiful art form. It’s very difficult to create a street photograph that works. There are countless variables that the photographer has no control over. So when everything comes together to form an artistic photograph, it’s a thing of beauty. It’s kind of a miracle.

The fact that creating photographs from light is even possible is a miracle of science.

The reason I know that street photography is an art form is that it makes me feel something deep inside me.

It Doesn’t Harm Anyone

Street photography harms no one. It’s making a little photo is all. Simply the documentation of a moment in time.

There is no violence involved.

Anyone who overreacts to having their photo taken on the street is probably dealing with something in their life that has nothing to do with being photographed. And being photographed triggered some unrelated emotions.

I Avoid Photographing Some Things

I tend to avoid photographing the homeless. That’s not a hard rule for me, as I think including a homeless person within a photograph on some level is fine. I just usually avoid making them the center of focus.

Homeless people are a presence on the street and a reality of our current political system and society. So, considering they’re a part of life on the street, I don’t think street photographers have to follow any sort of rule in regards to photographing them. Under the law, they’re the same as anyone else, and you can photograph anyone in a public space.

I just believe that for me, I have empathy for homeless people, and I wouldn’t want to jeopardize their ability to improve their situation is all.

When it comes to photographing kids, I think having some caution is a good idea. The law regarding photographing people in public places and that there is no expectation of privacy in public places applies to kids as well; there are no age stipulations. I personally don’t want to upset any parents, though. So getting at least implicit permission from parents if they’re nearby, I think, is wise. Some great street photographs have included children in them, so I don’t want to totally limit myself from taking street photos including kids - it’s just something I’m cautious about.

Etiquette and Respect

So, as I’ve laid out here, I’m in the camp of street photography = ethical.

For me, that means doing it in an ethical way, namely having some etiquette and respect for those around me while doing street photography.

It’s never my intention to cause any mental harm whatsoever to people through my street photography. So if someone asks me to delete a photo, for example, I have no problem doing that. I delete and move on. It’s no sweat off my back.

What it really comes down to, in my opinion, is respect. I respect those around me on the streets, and I expect respect in return.