Ethical Travel Photography: How To Capture With A Conscience

“Leave only footprints, take only photos”.

This oft-repeated adage is supposedly a rule for how to be a responsible traveller. But in reality, it’s much more complicated than that.

Because even taking photos can be irresponsible, depending on when, where and how you do it.

With so many of us voyaging to every corner of the globe, pointing our cameras at everything and everyone, and posting the results online for the world to see, ethical travel photography is something we need to start taking more seriously.

As a travel photographer with more than 20 years’ experience, it’s still something I worry about. When is it OK for me to take a photo? When is it not OK? Should I ask permission? Is it appropriate to share the image online?

It’s a tricky subject and one that’s almost impossible to get right all the time. I know I’ve made mistakes in the past; I’m sure you may have too. There’s no official rulebook or single code of ethics for photographers. We are all still learning.

However, if you have a conscience and want to make sure you capture images in a respectful way, there are plenty of things you can do. Here are my top ethical travel photography tips, to help you be a better photographer and a better traveller.

General rules for ethical travel photography

Even the term ‘taking a photo’ implies a one-sided action. It’s grabby, entitled, selfish.

And for many communities, their history has been defined by foreigners coming in to take from them: gold, land, natural resources, even people.

So if we want to behave more ethically than the visitors who went before us, the main thing to remember is that it’s not OK to just turn up and take what you want without considering your impact on the people whose home you’re visiting.

Ethical travel photography is all about respect and empathy.

Think about what it would be like to be going about your day, and having a tourist shove a camera in your face and take a photo. Or take one of your child. Or walk into your front garden and take a picture of your house. You’d be pissed off, right?

So when you travel, put yourself in the shoes of the people who live there. You’re a guest in their country, and as such, it’s vital you treat them as you would like to be treated.

Ask yourself – would you do this in your home country? Would you want a tourist in your town doing this to you?

If the answer is ‘no’, then don’t do it when you travel either.

Ethical portrait photography

One of the greatest joys in travel photography – and one of the hardest things to get right – is taking photos of people.

In my opinion, it’s one of the best ways to get to know a place and its people. I get so much joy out of wandering a town or a market with my camera, chatting to locals and making portraits.

Even more so when they are colourful characters, dressed in local fashions, going about their day in an environment so very different from what I’m used to seeing back home.

But we need to check ourselves.

There is nothing wrong with being captivated by different cultures. It’s one of the reasons we travel.

Where tourists sometimes go wrong is when they forget that these are people too. You are not on safari, nor are these animals in a zoo.

They are humans, with preferences and opinions. Maybe they are having a bad day. Maybe they think they’re ugly and hate having their photo taken. Maybe you are the 25^th person with a camera to walk past in the last hour.  

Should you ask permission to take a photo?

As a general rule, while taking photos in public is legal in most places, the ethical thing to do is ask permission. If you don’t speak the language, this can be as simple as a smile and a nod towards your camera.

Anyone who is not happy with it will clearly make their feelings known. If that happens, just say thank you and move on.

In practice, it’s not always as simple as that. Sometimes the person is busy, and you don’t want to interrupt them. Often, letting them know you’re there will cause them to change their behaviour, pose unnaturally, or otherwise ruin the natural beauty of the shot.

So while I do try to ask permission when possible, I can’t say I do it every time. Sometimes I’ll shoot first and ask permission afterwards. Sometimes, if I’m far enough away and the person never spotted me, I don’t even do that.

What I always do is think about the image I’m shooting and how the person is being portrayed. How would they feel about it?

If the image is perpetuating a negative cultural stereotype, for example fat Americans, starving Africans, or lazy Mexicans, it’s unlikely to be ethical to take it.

Similarly, if the image is intrusive; if the person is in distress or in a vulnerable situation, for example praying, crying, injured, falling down drunk, or having a fight with someone.

In these kinds of situations, you need to ask yourself what your intent is with taking this image. Why do you want this photo? Do you think the subject would be comfortable with you taking it? Would you be happy being portrayed in this way?

And if in doubt, don’t do it.  

Is it OK to take photos without permission?

Much of the time it’s simply not possible to ask permission. If you’re taking a wider shot of a group or a public space with several people in it, or you’re standing quite far away, it wouldn’t be practical.

If I’m taking photos in a busy place like a market I usually walk around with my camera for a while without taking photos, so that people get used to my presence. You’ll soon get a sense of how welcome you are in the space, who is comfortable with you being there and who isn’t.

But if the image is a close up, that’s usually when I would ask. For these kind of shots, you’re normally standing close enough to be noticed anyway, and of course as soon as you’ve been spotted, it’s game over. Trying to sneak a photo almost always results in you getting caught, which is (a) rude and (b) incredibly awkward!

Ultimately, there are no hard and fast rules. You have to decide in the moment what is right, and what you are comfortable with. But as long as you are being respectful and not exploiting or insulting anyone, it’s probably OK.

Photographing people in Morocco

A few years ago, I was in Fes Medina, in Morocco. As I walked around with my camera around my neck, people glared, shook their heads, and many even shouted ‘No photo!’ at me.

I found it upsetting because there were so many beautiful scenes and interesting faces I wanted to photograph, but I and my camera were clearly not welcome. Even attempting to take pictures in the face of this would have been awkward and would only have resulted in further aggression and unsatisfying images.

I can only imagine that the traders there are fed up with being papped hundreds of times a day. And while it might seem counter-intuitive and frustrating to us – why would you want visitors to feel unwelcome? – it’s their home, so they get to make the rules.

I left Fes with very few images of people, only wide shots.

Code of conduct when photographing children

One area of travel photography ethics where the rules are clearer is photographing children. You should never do it unless you have consent from a parent or guardian.

I know it can be hard to say no, especially in some parts of the world where children run up to you and beg for a photo, and it’s certainly something I have happily done in the past.

But at home, you wouldn’t take a picture of someone’s child without permission, so don’t do it when you travel.

I took the image below of children in Uganda several years ago. They were excited to pose for a photo and I enjoyed interacting with them – but their parents weren’t around and I didn’t have permission. Today, I might still play with them and take photos, but I wouldn’t share them and I’d probably delete them afterwards.

Quite apart from the obvious safeguarding issues, photographing children can be dangerous. In some parts of Central America, there have been cases of children being kidnapped and trafficked, so parents are extremely suspicious of strangers paying attention to their kids. Tourists have even been beaten up for taking photos of children without consent – so be careful!

You may also see children on the street posing with animals or in costume, to make money from tourists. While you may have consent in this case, by supporting this behaviour you are encouraging the parents not to send them to school, which is far worse for the children in the long run.  

How to leave a positive impression

If you’re going to take a photo of someone you meet on your travels, what are you giving them in return? I don’t necessarily mean money – though I will cover that in the next section.

Personally, I feel that someone is kindly giving me something I want they should get something out of the exchange too. Even if that is only a happy experience and a smile on their face.

So here are some of the ways I try to leave people with positive memory of our interaction.

• I learn a few words of the local language. Learning how to say, ‘May I take a photo?’ and ‘Thank you’ shows you’ve made an effort and goes a long way towards breaking down barriers.
• I always show them the photo on the back of my camera with a smile and tell them they look great.
• Where possible, I take their WhatsApp or email address so I can send them the images later. And most importantly, I do actually do this.

Read more: 11 Ways To Make Money As A Travel Photographer

• If you’re really dedicated, you could consider carrying around a portable wifi photo printer, so you can give them a print. But I take so many images this would be prohibitively expensive.
• If you shoot first and ask permission afterwards, and the person says no, delete the image immediately.
• If you’re feeling ill, don’t go close to people. In many countries they don’t have access to paid sick days from work and healthcare like we do.

The main thing to remember is that you are representing not only yourself and your own country, but all tourists. It’s likely that it was bad experiences with visitors that caused the people of Fes to become angry towards people with cameras.

So it’s your responsibility as an ethical photographer to leave the locals you meet with a happy memory of your interaction, not only for them and you, but also for all the travellers who will come after you.

Should you pay for portraits?

This is a question I’m often asked, and again, it’s tricky and depends on the circumstances.

In general, no, I don’t pay to take photos. It sets a damaging precedent where locals get used to tourists giving them money for portraits, and can lead to a bad atmosphere in the community if some people are making money from being photographed and others aren’t.

It also encourages people to dress up and ‘stage’ images – is that real travel photography if people are only doing it for the money?

Personally, when I see someone obviously dressed up, posing in costume or with an animal, asking for money in exchange for photos, I give them a swerve and find someone authentic instead.

But whether to pay for portraits is a matter of opinion. You might feel that if someone is giving up their time, you should give something in return. This could depend on how long you spend with them – if you end up staging a photo shoot for half an hour, then you should probably pay!

But I think it’s better to recompense people in other ways. If they are a market trader, buy something – even if you don’t really want it. Or simply chat to them for a bit, take an interest, and leave them with a positive memory of your encounter.

Should you get a consent form?

Legally, you only need consent or model release forms if you are planning to sell the image for commercial use (eg. to be used in an advert). If you are going to post it on your social media or publish it alongside a travel article, you don’t need a release form.

It’s also not practical. If you start shoving forms in people’s faces, especially ones full of legal jargon, most people will freak out and run away. That’s why I almost never get release forms. A simple verbal consent is much easier to get and really all that’s required for most forms of travel photography.

The ethics of street photography

I’ve talked a lot about how to be responsible when it comes to taking portraits, but that’s not the only thing you need to consider when it comes to ethical travel photography.

Here are some other things it’s important to think about when you’re out with your camera.

• Follow local rules. If a sign says, ‘No photography’ or ‘No flash photography’, then obey it. Don’t be that entitled idiot who barges in thinking the rules don’t apply to them. They exist for a reason – even if you may think they are ridiculous.
• Be aware of local etiquette and cultural norms. In some places it’s considered rude or even criminal to photograph women, police officers, or military personnel. Not abiding by local rules can get you shouted at, fined, or even arrested.
• Show respect in private spaces – such as private residences or places of worship. If in doubt, ask permission.
• No trespassing. Don’t ignore barriers or ‘No Entry’ signs, or walk onto private property in pursuit of a better angle.
• Don’t take risks or put yourself or your subjects in harm’s way.
• Don’t use your big zoom lens to intrude on people’s private moments or shoot into private spaces.
• Check your behaviour in public. How are you coming across? Are you being polite and respectful, or are you being the big, brash, loud westerner?
• If you’re with a group, move away from them. Not only will you get more original images, but being on your own will allow you one-on-one interactions and to be less intimidating to locals.

Travel photography with a guide

A great way to ensure you don’t fall foul of local rules AND get better images is to hire a guide to show you round.

Not only will they help you avoid trouble, but they can also introduce you to people, translate, and generally make sure you have a smoother experience.

I’ve found that people are more accepting when they see me with someone from their community, and having a guide with you can get you better access – and ultimately much better images.

Paying a local guide also helps support the community, and is a better way to give something back than paying people individually for photos.

Responsible photography: taking selfies

If you’re on social media you may have seen the occasional viral story in which some narcissistic influencer posts a wildly inappropriate photo of themselves posing in a sensitive place, like Auschwitz concentration camp or the Berlin Holocaust Memorial.

There’s a reason why many people get upset by this kind of behaviour. Memorials and religious sites are places of contemplation or sadness that hold profound importance for communities, and they should be treated with respect.

But taking a selfie, especially if you are laughing, striking a pose or dressed inappropriately, is disrespectful.

We typically take selfies as an act of vanity, or to get likes and shares from our online followers. I’m sure you can understand why doing something so obviously selfish in places of reflection or remembrance is likely to cause offence.

So when taking selfies, consider where you are, what you are posing with or in front of, and who might be hurt by your behaviour. If your photo hurts someone, even indirectly, it’s unethical.

Wildlife photography ethics

Another type of travel photography that comes with ethical pitfalls is wildlife photography. Wildlife tourism as a whole is still full of unethical practices, so it’s important that your photography doesn’t contribute to this.

You’ll have seen, for example, photos of people posing with captive animals like monkeys or elephants. Obviously, this is terrible for the animals, which are often beaten, mistreated and even drugged so that clueless tourists can get a photo for Instagram.  

A few years ago, I was one of those clueless tourists. In Morocco, I was captivated by this boy and his beautiful fennec fox who we spotted by the side of the road. Now, of course, I realise that by taking this image, I was not only supporting the mistreatment of wildlife, but also encouraging the child not to be in school.

As I said, we are all still learning and improving.

And here are a few other tips for ethical wildlife photography:

• When observing animals in the wild, always follow the instructions. Keep to the paths, don’t walk where you’re not supposed to, and don’t exceed your permitted time.
• Never feed the wildlife.
• Try not to get too close or disturb the animals. Don’t make noises to get a reaction.
• If you’re taking photos on safari or of endangered species such as elephants, tigers and rhinos, wipe your location metadata before posting the images online. Poachers have been known to use photo metadata to locate these animals and kill them.
• If you have a drone, don’t fly it so close that the animals are disturbed.

Read more: Using The Canon R5 For Wildlife Photography: A Full Review

Ethical drone photography

When it comes to irresponsible behaviour, some drone operators are among the worst I’ve seen. Entitlement, a sense that the rules only apply to other people, and a total lack of consideration for others – for some people these things all seem to come in the box when you buy a drone.

But of course, not only is this kind of behaviour unethical and get you into some serious trouble – it can also be downright dangerous.

At least if you take stills in an off-limits area, you’re usually only risking yourself. If you fly your drone irresponsibly, you could be endangering someone else’s life.

So here are a few simple rules that – if you are a drone photographer – you should probably already know.

• Do your research. Make sure you’re aware of all the local laws around where and when you can fly your drone. Particularly in relation to flying near people, buildings, and restricted airspace.
• Get permission. If you are on private land, you’ll need the landowner’s agreement to launch your drone.
• Don’t be intrusive. Don’t fly your drone over or take photos into people’s private property.
• Keep the drone in your line of sight at all times.
• The buzzing of drones is intrusive when people are trying to relax, so be considerate. Keep your drone time to a minimum and avoid flying low over areas where people are trying to quietly enjoy the environment.

The ethics of editing your travel photos

Nowadays editing your pictures is pretty standard practice. We all want our images to look their best, and editing software allows us to do this quickly and easily. I certainly edit mine – in fact you can read about my travel editing workflow here.

But how much editing is ethical?

Editing can be anything from a few tiny tweaks to the colour or crop, to a full-scale removal of objects or replacing of part of the image using AI. Did you visit a place on a cloudy day? Now you can swap in a blue sky at the click of a mouse!

There’s nothing wrong with this – all forms of editing have value – and how much editing you choose to do is down to personal preference.

But as travel photographers, I also think we have a duty to represent the destinations we visit honestly. How often have you turned up at a place you saw on Instagram, only to find that the reality is nothing like your expectation?

We all engage in some manipulation when we take photos by what we choose to include or leave out of the image, but I think there’s a big difference between visiting early in the morning for the best light, or waiting for a place to be quiet, and digitally manipulating a photo so it doesn’t look like the reality.

So I limit myself to quick edits like cropping and adjustments in colour, exposure, contrast and sharpness. But I always make sure the image accurately represents what was in front of me at the time. To me, that’s ethical editing.

Ethical travel photography: Sharing

If you want to be an ethical travel photographer, it’s also important to consider where and how you share your images. Even if you don’t have many followers, a single shared image that goes viral, or the cumulative effect of hundreds of shared images of the same place, can have a profound effect on the people who live there.

The rise of the ‘Instagrammable destination’ trend has contributed to overtourism and the destruction of many previously tranquil areas of natural beauty.

And when it comes to portraits, while some people might be OK with their photo being taken, will they still be fine with you sharing it with your thousands of followers?

It’s important to think about what impression you are giving. While you might have had permission to stand on that private property, or to photograph that child, will the people who see your image online know that? Will they try to copy you without knowing the context?

There’s no right answer here. All I’m trying to do is get you to think a bit harder about what you post online, and what effect sharing your images might have on the people and places in them.

What to do when you see a fellow traveller being unethical?

In Sri Lanka, I visited a temple that housed a famous Buddha statue. Photography was permitted, but there were lots of local people worshipping there, so in order not to be intrusive I stood at the back and took wide shots of the Buddha and the backs of people’s heads.

One of my group, however, walked right up to people and took close-up portraits of them while they were praying, sometimes standing as little as a few feet away. Just watching him made me super uncomfortable, so I can’t imagine how his subjects must have felt.

It pissed me off so much that I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

So later, when we were outside, I suggested that perhaps his actions were not terribly respectful. Even though I was polite, he didn’t take too kindly to being challenged – but I’d like to hope that it made him at least think about his behaviour for next time.

And that’s all we can do. If you see someone behaving unethically, it’s worth politely reminding them of their responsibilities in a non-aggressive way. Gently challenge and ask questions that might get them thinking about their behaviour.

While they may not admit that they were in the wrong, perhaps they will think twice in the future.

Ethical travel photography: My conclusions

If you’ve read all this, congratulations! That means you’re concerned about being an ethical travel photographer, and about respecting the people and places you visit. And that’s really all any of us can do.

I know I have made mistakes in the past, and I may still do so in the future. We are all learning and growing as photographers, and every mistake we make is a chance to do better next time.

Ultimately, there’s no right or wrong answer to a lot of this. Much of it is about context, and your own levels of comfort with how you behave.

But at the end of the day, it’s worth always keeping in mind two simple questions: do I really need this photo? And will taking it cause someone else distress or harm?

If the answers are no and yes respectively, then put the camera down and walk away.

Where to next?

If you enjoyed this post about the ethics of travel photography, here are some more photography guides you might enjoy.

• How to See and Photograph Puffins in the UK: 20 FAQs
• 25 Spectacular Places To Visit For Travel Photography
• 25 Brilliant Tips For Travel Photography
• 19 Easy Wildlife Photography Tips For Beginners
• 13 Top Tips For Taking Great Travel Photos Of Markets

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