Good Manners and Photography

This doesn’t really apply of course if you’re taking shots of inanimate objects. A tree is not likely to get offended if you shoot it at a moment when its branches look forlorn and sad – but a person might.

Perhaps you are lurking in the back alleys of a Third World city, or maybe your own, attempting to capture a specific ambiance. You get an old woman in your viewfinder who has obviously seen better days. Nevertheless, there’s a certain grace in her pose, and a nobility in her expression, so you shoot.

Afterwards you can give the images a good color balance in image editing software for your friends to admire. You get that pleasure for your efforts – but what did your model get?

Back when I was first taking photos I caught sight of a one legged man on a crutch hobbling towards me along a city street. It was a striking image, so being a god with a Nikon I brazenly stepped out and took it. The subject got very upset – and I immediately saw his point: who wants to be immortalized looking your worst?

When I got back to my studio I trashed the negative and vowed to never do that again. Should I have asked his permission first? That would not have solved the situation and he most certainly would have said no. The real point was, what was my original intention for taking that shot in the first place? If I’d thought about it I would have taken a shot from the back and at least spared his feelings.

Sometimes the true value of the image when you take a candid shot, is in the subject not being aware of you. These pictures can be great and the effect would be spoiled by going up and announcing your intention beforehand. However, what you can do is once you’ve got your shot, approach the subject, let them know you’d like to take a photo and do the best job you can of taking a flattering picture of the person. As in many things it is the thought that counts and this hold true here even though they may never see it.

Another suggestion, often appreciated in poorer countries or areas where the local people have been assaulted photographically on a daily basis by throngs of tourists, is to offer at least some polite financial exchange for the modelling services provided. This is most often well thought of and it’s good for your soul.

Some other examples: one time I did my own personal photo essay on a school. Offering an individual print to every teacher and student was impractical for me at the time so I burned a collection of the best shots on to a CD and gave it to the principal.

On another occasion, I took some shots of a dog training class and gave the trainer some of the best prints to hand out at the next class.

Good manners are always appreciated and all of this comes under that heading. Furthermore if you want or need to return and re-shoot, you’ll find yourself welcomed not resisted.

Try it.

Tags: Candid Photography, candid photos, candid portraits