5 Rules of Etiquette that Every Photographer Should Follow
by Paul Nguyen & Allie Richards
The “poster child” of leaf-peeping mania, now closed off during peak leaf season © Allie Richards
It's that time again: Foliage season. When the tour buses come to "leaf peep," and photograph the beauty of our mountains and forests at their best. The flurry of both photographers and tourists lining the roads and byways have become a big point of contention in recent years. As a workshop provider and educators in photography, we find that etiquette is an important conversation to have and to take on the responsibility of passing it on to our students and fellow photographers. Etiquette and ethics are an important part of our mission statement.
What’s the issue and why do we need to write this post?
With the advent of social media and "influencers," there is a disturbing trend of overall disrespect and an abandonment of ethics, especially when it comes to photography. Somewhere along the line, our cell phones and the constant influx of "content" have ingrained in us a sense of entitlement to "getting the shot" by whatever means necessary. In fewer words, too many people think the rules do not apply to them.
The result: fewer locations to photograph, bad interactions, tarnished reputations, less enjoyment and even permanent damage to the earth and our environment.
It is up to us to reverse this trend. We all carry the responsibility of having our own code of ethics.
Why is this important?
In a word: self-preservation. A major part of photography is in sharing our experiences and interpretations of nature with others. What will be left to share if we continue to destroy and disrespect our subjects? We must "be the change we want to see." Let's work together to be good humans, forge camaraderie and ensure the longevity of our environment.
The farm owners here have been kind in allowing photographers to access their land, but no more © Allie Richards
Here are just a few real-world examples of what we’re talking about:
The temporary closure of roads around the most photographed farms in Vermont during foliage season
The permanent closure of Garwin Falls in NH due to vandalism
The impact on local resources like Artists Bluff in New Hampshire for becoming a "viral photo spot"
The closure of natural wonders and native lands like False Kiva in Utah and Grand Falls in Arizona to the public due to vandalism, littering, and land degradation
Grand Falls - a beautiful location on Navajo Land now closed off from public access due to vandalism and littering © Paul Nguyen
To address these issues, we’ve come up with 5 Rules of Etiquette that Every Photographer Should Follow:
Leave No Trace
We know that your shot is important to you. But the truth is, no matter how important you and your photography are, you are only one of many, many people who are doing exactly the same thing. And if everyone continues to prioritize their own shots over the environment that they are photographing, everyone suffers, and so does the environment.
The general attitude that our shot is so essential that it’s okay to leave behind trash, tromp or drive over sensitive lands are why these places are being closed off to the public. We are sad to see that it has come to having the authorities shutting down access to abused sites, but there is an unfortunate side-effect: the sites are also closed off from people who have been treating the environment with respect from the very beginning.
As respectful photographers, let's choose to think differently. Instead of placing our own short term wants at the forefront, let’s think of the greater good. If we treat our shooting locations with care and dignity, minimize our footprint on the environment, and clean up after ourselves, then the spots we love will continue to stay open for all of us to enjoy year after year, generation after generation.
Respect the Rule of Law
This goes hand-in-hand with point one of “Leave No Trace.” Ignorance of the law is no defense; it is up to you to be aware of and understand local laws and regulations.
Our mascot, Kanab the yellow-collared lizard, going no further
You should learn the difference between what is public land vs. private land, respect signage, or the wishes of landowners.
If there is a fence in your way, it is probably there for a reason.
It is illegal to access private railroad property anywhere other than a designated pedestrian or roadway crossing. This includes taking photographs on train tracks.
If you are flying drones, you must obey the laws set out by the FAA, most notably - no flying on protected lands. Respect “no drone zones.”
In many of the U.S. National Parks, “light painting” is specifically prohibited as it disturbs wildlife and other people. Consider using natural light sources instead.
First Come First Serve, but Learn to Share
We’ve all been there. Maybe you woke up in the middle of your peaceful slumber in a comfortable hotel bed, drove through the night, and arrived an hour before dawn to secure a fantastic vantage point on the rocks below Bass Harbor Lighthouse in Acadia National Park, so you can be ready to catch the rising sun illuminating the cliffs and lighthouse in all their golden Downeast glory. You’re the only one there. Your tripod is all set up and your settings are dialed in. The horizon starts to get brighter as the morning sun approaches, and so far, it seems like all your diligence and perseverance is going to pay off. Then, the sun peeks over the horizon; it’s officially sunrise now, and the tour bus full of people who timed their arrival at exactly sunrise are now descending onto the rocks in front of you, completely disregarding the fact that you have been setting up your shot for the past hour.
Bass Harbor Lighthouse - a Northeast Gem © Paul Nguyen
The reality of sunrise at Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Think about how this feels. You don’t appreciate this happening to you, so don’t let it happen to your fellow photographers. If you are the one arriving later than others, politely walk around behind where others are set up, and set up your own equipment behind or beside theirs. If the vantage point is already crowded, politely ask if there’s room for one more. You’ll be surprised at how courteously people respond if you simply approach them with the same courtesy. And if you don’t like where you end up having to set up, you’ll just have to arrive earlier next time.
The flipside of “first come first serve” is, what if you are the first person on the scene? Being first still does not entitle you to monopolize the entire landscape and prohibit others from enjoying it at all.
We’ve come upon shooting locations where another photographer was already set up, and when asked where we may shoot, he spread his arms out in a 180 degree arc and said, more or less, “This whole area is mine.” He proceeded to berate anyone who entered his self-appointed photo studio for the next hour, whether they were photographers or just tourists just looking to have a good time. This is unfair. If you really need to claim the entire landscape for yourself, look into acquiring a special use permit that entitles you to that.
The rule here is: Learn to share. The world, and photography, will be in a much better place if we simply give others the time and space they need to enjoy where they are, and we politely claim only the time and space that we ourselves really need.
Keep Your Distance
A bison; cute and docile-looking, but dangerous © Paul Nguyen
The problem of tourists and photographers having disastrous encounters with wildlife is all over the news these days; whether it’s a Yellowstone “touron” trying to take a selfie with a bison and being gored as a consequence, or Snowy Owls on Cape Cod leaving their nests due to stress caused by too-close-for-comfort “appreciators.” People will seemingly go to extremes to get “their picture,” tossing common sense out the window in the process.
The truth about this behavior is that it endangers not only the individual and the creature, but it results in the closure of protected lands, and exhausts local resources and personnel who have to deal with the fallout.
The animals you encounter in the wild are not your friends; and they don’t exist to entertain you. This guideline applies not only to photographers, but to all visitors to the outdoors: Please see wild animals for what they really are. They may tolerate you for a short time, but if you get too close for comfort or invade their space for too long, they will react as wild animals do: They will get violent in order to protect themselves, or they will suffer due to the stress that you have caused them.
Being a respectful photographer and visitor to the outdoors is simple: Keep your distance.
If you feed the wildlife, they might stand on your head © Allie Richards
Follow all published guidelines when it comes to keeping your distance from wildlife. If Yellowstone’s brochure says you must keep two bus lengths of distance between you and a bison, then do exactly that.
Never feed the wildlife. They can get along just fine without your Cheetos. Have you ever heard the saying, “A fed bear is a dead bear”? A large creature like a bear, if fed, will develop a dangerous relationship with humans in which it seeks out people in the hopes of receiving food. This can lead to fatal outcomes. Through no fault of its own, the bear has become a threat to humankind, and the bear must be killed in order to prevent future attacks.
Please remember; the photo you make, if you make it without respect and responsibility, could cost you or your subject its life.
Be Discreet, and Use Discretion
This is what popped up on my feed when I clicked on the location tag for “Sleep Hollow Farm”….
One of the first lessons we were ever taught as kids was how to share. But when it comes to photography, sometimes being a little selfish is a good thing. We all have those special picture spots we love and keep going back to that have given us memorable shots over the years, and there can be no greater joy than sharing that with another person so that they can enjoy it too. Unfortunately, that sharing can have unintended consequences.
In the innocent days of yore, giving away your big secret was done by word of mouth, to maybe one person or two. Now, “sharing” means something different: posting it to social media, oftentimes using what’s called a location tag, where thousands now know your “secret.”
Public ‘Over-sharing’ has contributed quite a lot to the problems we’ve touched on earlier. Many localities are now extremely resentful of all outsiders, even if the visitors’ intentions are good. This is especially apparent when it comes to birders; even taking out a camera around a rare bird often leads to negative interactions and the very least “major side-eye.”
As we strive to be more mindful photographers, we can at least do our best to be more responsible about how we dispense information. Let’s practice responsible sharing: only share your special photo locations with people who you trust will treat those locations with the same respect and discretion as you do. Do so in person, or in a private message; don’t put this information in a public comment. Refrain from using specific location tags. This is a very easy but important way to protect our environments and wildlife.
So let’s give locals a reason to trust outsiders again by helping to keep their secrets safe; and lastly, remember that the childhood rule of sharing does not have to apply to everything- if you have uncovered a treasure, it’s okay to keep it all to yourself!
