Responsible photography - creating visuals with values

“A dominant impulse on encountering beauty is the desire to hold on to it: to possess it and give it weight in our lives. There is an urge to say, ‘I was here, I saw this and it matters to me... taking photographs can assuage the itch for possession.” - Alain de Botton, The Art of Travel

The world of content creation is as much about imagery as it is about words. Postcards and slideshows may have slid into that world of pre-tech travel, but social media has stepped in to take their place with Instagrammable idylls or Snapchat Snapsterpieces. So much photographic content is now transient, part of a world that is addicted to scrolling and where photography has been transformed from sometimes being more about obsession than possession. 

The aggressive language of photography

However, the possession impulse still exists, and with the proliferation of more and more social media or content platforms, this need to capture places and people is evergrowing. In the midst of this maelstrom of ‘me-ness,’ however, it’s important that all of us in the creative industry think about what or whom we want to point our lens at, the impression we want to give of a place, and the boundaries we need to respect. In the world of photography and video, the language is often aggressive or even invasive: we capture a woman selling fruit in the market; we shoot some cool kids skateboarding on a riverfront; we seek out powerful shots, and so on. It’s time for travelers and tourism practitioners to change not only the language of photography but also the behavior around it from that of aggression and domination to one of respect.

GLP crew filming with Andean guides sharing their sacred pachamama (mother earth) rituals in Peru.

Creating visuals with value

At GLP we believe in visuals with values. Of course we know that brands need photographic and video content for marketing purposes, but we have spent over a decade learning how to do this ethically. We like to think that we don’t capture or shoot, but engage and empathize instead, using our cameras to celebrate people’s stories as they want them to be told. Here are ways in which we practice responsible photography and filmmaking.

Ask permission to photograph 

It’s simply unacceptable to stick a camera in anyone’s face and take a photo without asking and we always ask permission. It’s invasive and unethical to do otherwise, end of. Taking photographs from a distance with a long lens doesn’t make it any better, if the identity of a person is going to be evident. Responsible photography is about empowering and respecting a community or individual and, if you practice that, you are bound to get better images anyway. At GLP we have a very small, empathetic crew who have worked together for years and learned the skills of integrating rather than intruding. 

“Take some time out and just really think about what you are experiencing in the moment.” - Matt Weatherly, Production Supervisor, GLP Films

GLP Films crew working with a local videographer on location in Raja Ampat.

Time will tell 

This urgency to ‘possess’ a moment through photography is simply the wrong approach when trying to create honest, people-led content. We understand the power of storytelling in sustainability content and, in order to tell a story through photography and film, you need to introduce yourself to people, gain their trust and learn stories at their pace. Our years of expertise allow us to practice what we preach and, consequently, we have been honored to have met and shared stories of some amazing people, many of whom are now friends. 

Child protection and photography 

It should go without saying to safeguard children and young people at all times, but unfortunately some photographers and filmmakers ignore international guidance on child protection. Photographs of kids are seen by many as cute, and they sell, so sadly some photographers will take them without permission. It’s as simple as this - would you want anyone to come into the playground, or your child’s football club and take photos of him or her, and then just disappear? Or even worse, if they were swimming at the beach, or having a cuddle with their grandmother? It’s breach of human rights in our view, as it is of UNICEF:

“Children and young people have the same general human rights as adults and also specific rights that recognize their special needs. Children are neither the property of their parents nor are they helpless objects of charity. They are human beings and are the subject of their own rights.”
- Convention on the Rights of a Child - UNICEF

Permission was given to our GLP crew to film and photograph with a community on the island archipelago of Raja Ampat.

Inclusive photography in tourism

Racial equality and inclusion in brand imagery should be a given, but sadly multicultural and equal representation is still thin on the ground. In a destination where the population is predominantly BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and other People of Color), it is important for destinations - and us at GLP - to commission a local photographer who is not white. We have the expertise and knowledge to hire respectfully and responsibly within communities. It is also vital to assess any historic images you might have on your websites in order to eliminate any that might suggest ‘white saviorism', i.e. where white tourists are posing with local BIPOC communities, in a way that is more self-serving than sustainable.

Encourage your visitors to photograph responsibly

There is a way to politely ask your visitors to photograph responsibly, using videos or thought leadership articles as part of your responsible tourism policies. This is, in fact, a way of showing leadership on the part of your destination. You could create a short film that creates a soft message about not ‘shooting your hosts’, for example. We can help you write a blog about protecting locations from overtourism by avoiding geotagging, or run a webinar with influencers on YouTube or Instagram about responsible photography in your destination. 

Photo by GLP Films

Sometimes people just haven’t thought outside the box about these ethical practices. These include never offering money to take photographs, or giving sweets to children as payment. You can remind visitors to always purchase something from a stallholder, for example, and chat with them about their produce, before asking them if they would happily pose for a photograph. You may also want to encourage guests to share photographs afterwards with their subjects if they would like that. A series of short character-led films with stall holders, fishermen, and other local providers telling visitors how they feel about being photographed will soon get the message across. 

“As a photographer, I have traveled and worked in over a hundred countries. However, counting countries or passport stamps is not what it’s about for me. It’s about sharing stories of people who would like their stories to be told in images or film. I simply can’t do that without getting to know them first, and respecting their wishes. I know that my team feels the same way, and am proud of the films we have produced at GLP as a result. I also value the many friendships I have been able to build along the way.” - Rob Holmes, Founder and CEO, GLP Films.  

Photo by GLP Films

Responsible wildlife photography 

If you are promoting wildlife in a destination, there are a whole series of good practices that you should be aware of. Responsible wildlife tourism operators will be aware of these already, but it is important that destinations understand and support these too. Content can be an excellent way of showing this support, and this short film below, by wildlife photographer Claudio Contreras Koob, is a lovely example of this. His ethos aligns with ours at GLP which is to be as invisible as possible, know your subjects, take your time, and do not disturb - practices which should be applied to all photography really, of persons or animals. 

“You have to get them to accept you...and you get to see the characters of some birds, which are more friendly, or others are more ‘don’t touch me’...no image is as important as the creature you are photographing.” - Claudio Contreras Koob, National Wildlife Magazine Photo Contest Winner.