Photography is great for many things – whether that’s telling and documenting interesting stories, creating eye-popping imagery or just being a casual hobby – but one thing it excels in is its ability to bring action to the frame in a way that no other visual medium can. And it is for that reason that so many famous photographs over the years have endured.
Photography also connects with us on an emotional level, demanding not just answers but questions too. There is therefore little wonder as to why certain images transcend the boundaries of time, no matter how old they become.
Virtually everyone will have seen or at least heard of the photos depicting a burning monk in Saigon, the scaffolders eating lunch along a New York skyscraper, and the man standing in front of a row of tanks. Of course, with such imagery comes the concern for ethics and the welfare of those being photographed, and these are important things to consider in the world of digital photography.
What Is Ethical Photography in 2025?
Traditionally, ethical photography focuses on the need to respect those being photographed, as well as their surrounding environment in the process of capturing the subject. When shooting your subjects, you should always seek informed and appropriate consent, acknowledging and respecting any vulnerabilities or discrimination they may face.
Naturally, over time many things can change – whether that be cultural sensitivities, general laws regarding public photography, or even attitudes to photographers themselves. But one thing that has changed more so than others is technology, and with that has come many important privacy concerns.
In the current year then, ethical photography should also include additional guidelines to better reflect the modern world. For example, make sure you inform your subject if you plan on altering the image with AI, or heavily editing their likeness as this could cause offence if not first disclosed.
In a similar vein, you should also be aware of their lifestyle and what they do for a living. Is the photo you plan on taking politically-charged, and could it cost them their job or even their life? If photographing them in their local environment, have you made sure that road signs and street names are out of view, so as to protect their privacy from prying eyes? In the age of satellite technology and Google Street View, these are all things that must be strictly considered.
Planning Projects with Cultural Respect & Consent:
When planning your photoshoots, there are several other elements that you should keep in mind. For example, it is vital to ensure that you leave enough time to explain to your subject how the image you capture of them will be used. You should take extra care to explain this in a clear and concise manner, so that the subject does not feel rushed into anything or later regrets the shooting process.
Additionally, you should ensure that you have left no room for ambiguity or miscommunication with your subject. If you were shooting overseas for example, then there could well be a language barrier between you and your chosen subject, where understandings could be easily misconstrued without a translator. Keep things like this in mind when shooting or travelling to remote locations.
When photographing in a public place overseas, you should also be aware of the cultural sensitivities that may or may not exist in certain environments. For example, a country like Japan is home to many sacred temples and monuments, and many of these will have photography restrictions in place. Additionally, even public shopping areas and public streets in Japan are known to have “no photography” signs so it is important to look for these and observe the rules.
Publishing with Ethics in Mind:
As previously mentioned, it is important to keep in mind the subjects you are photographing and how their appearance is being used. Much of these elements are similar to those found in traditional street photography.
For example, it may well be legal to capture a candid photo of a homeless person in a busy area, but by highlighting them specifically within the frame you are drawing attention to them and could therefore be violating their right to privacy, so it is essential that you obtain their permission before – and not after.
You should also consider where you might publish the photo in question – would the subject be happy if the image went viral overnight and they ended up with their face plastered across social media platforms?
This is the digital era after all and it only takes a certain number of people to push an image into the spotlight, so ensure that were this to happen, your subject would not have an issue with it. If they are, say, elderly or possibly out of touch with modern technology and the digital sphere, then ensure you explain this to them in a way they can understand.
Visual Techniques for Documentaries & Photojournalism:
When it comes to storytelling in photography, there are a whole range of great techniques out there. Most of these involve using visual elements like using natural or artificial lines such as roads, paths and fences to draw the viewer’s eye toward the main subject.
You can also consider layering your photos. For example, elements in the foreground, middle ground, and background can be used to create a sense of depth and context, allowing multiple parts of the story to unfold in a single frame.
Another key element to consider is visual juxtaposition. Place contrasting elements within the frame to highlight the divide between the two objects or subjects. Most important perhaps is the focal point. Consider using manual focus and not autofocus as this will allow you to organically capture the subject in a way that feels more real and more authentic.
Speaking of focus, what lenses and cameras are best for photojournalism in 2025? Well, the Canon EOS R6 Mark II is a great choice for documentary-style photography due to its impressive subject-detecting autofocus, high-speed shooting, reliable performance, and versatility for both stills and video. Its improved battery life, large buffer, and robust build quality make it highly ideal for longer shoots in more remote locations.
Furthermore, you can also pair it with the EF 24-70mm lens, which is another reliable choice for photojournalism due to its versatility in focal range, enabling capture of wide scenes and tighter details within a single lens. Its constant f/2.8 aperture is also highly reliable in low-light conditions, which makes it ideal for shooting at all hours.
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