I’m in the yearbook class for my high school. I originally wanted digital photography, but they aren’t very good at forecasting here.
The class has been neutral for me so far. I’m not a huge fan of it, but some parts can be fun. We’ve finally started taking photos to put in the yearbook, so my teacher is sending us out to classrooms to take them.
Before I take photos of other students, I always ask them first. I.e, "Do you mind if I take some photos of you for yearbook?" I do this because I want to make sure I don’t take photos of someone who didn’t want to be photographed but wasn’t able to speak up about it. I have an issue with speaking up myself, so I always take that extra precaution.
My teacher, however, does not like this. He says that I just need to take photos, and that I don’t need to ask. Their body language should be enough to tell whether they are comfortable or not. I think this is bullshit. I always want to make sure they consent, 100%. I have been scolded for this and told that I’m at risk for losing photo privileges. I think this entire thing is stupid and that he should see things from my view. AITA?
NTA. Public schools aren’t considered public property, so everyone has a reasonable expectation to privacy. People who want to fuck with that are skeevy
Exactly this! I am not allowed AT ALL to take photos of someone if they say no, and if I do that without asking them first, that just makes me look shitty. I don’t understand why he insists I don’t need to ask.
Yeah this isn’t OP being difficult, it’s them being thoughtful. Yearbook photos stick around forever. If someone doesn’t want to be in it, that should matter. Asking first seems like the bare minimum.
NTA, your teacher is wildly inappropriate. A crowd scene, no you don’t need permission, but if you’re taking a picture specifically of a person, you should ask. That’s photography ethics 101.
Agreed. I was on yearbook when I was in high school. That was our rule as well. If it was a small group of people where they would be the direct subject of the photo, ask. If it was a crowded hallway, a pep rally, or a candid of a classroom of students working at their desks where you can’t see many faces, don’t ask.
Nta: thank you. Consent is important.
And from a legal point of view: Photography on school property is different than taking pictures on the street.
NTA – I think what you’re doing is very ethical. Beyond that, some students and parents may not have given permission for their photos to be used or published.
NTA and your teacher is weird. You’re a yearbook photographer, not the paparazzi. You’re also not a psychologist trained in accurately reading body language and assessing the nonverbal cues and comfort levels of crowds.
I would also think it would be much more disruptive to the class itself, as well as more uncomfortable to the subjects of the photos, to just barge in and start snapping photos without a word. Is there any chance you could speak to other teachers about it to get other adults with authority to back you up?
NTA
It takes seconds to ask if they’re cool with it.
There could be a student who feels like they’re ugly (but they’re not) and going through some things and doesn’t want their picture taken and put in the yearbook.
There could be a student who CAN’T be in the yearbook.
I personally hate having my photo taken and would appreciate you asking me. It’d be a no, but I’d still appreciate you asking.
>Their body language should be enough to tell whether they are comfortable or not
>I always want to make sure they consent
>I have been scolded for this and told that I’m at risk for losing photo privileges
I’d have a chat with your principal about the concept of consent, and the responsibilities of a teacher to uphold a student’s boundaries. This isn’t a public space, where rules differ on photo permissions.
NTA. This teacher is out of line
The yearbook wants candid photos. This isn’t a matter of if you’re an AH. Its a matter if you not wanting to provide the types of pictures they want. If you don’t want to do that then don’t take that job.
I’m seeing all the comments and thinking “has no one here ever owned a yearbook?”
Maybe I’m old, but half the point was to see how many times you appeared candidly in the final product (and I wasn’t super popular or anything)
NTA. You have a great – and ethical – personal policy on this and your teacher has the opposite lol. Your teacher shouldn’t have to be told that body language does not equate to consent.
Is there a practical limit however? If you were taking pictures of a large group at a pep rally for instance, it seems like it would be difficult if not impossible to get the consent of everyone in the shot. Maybe there is a compromise with your teacher, for instance when going into a classroom to take pics, you could more like *announce* your presence and purpose to give people a chance to get out of the shot or to ask to be left out.
The yearbook is a form of journalism. Photojournalists generally don’t ask for permission to take photos. If you have the permission of school leadership to access the areas where your subjects are located and permission to take photos of students, faculty and administrators, you do not need the permission of the subjects.
The goal is to have photos that are candid, which isn’t going to happen if the subject is alerted ahead of time.
If the subject of a photo protests after the fact, then the photojournalist should *consider* the *request*, though such requests should rarely be honored.
A yearbook full of posed photos is cheesy.
Remember: As a yearbook photographer, you are a member of the press. Your right to take photos is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. You don’t need permission of the subjects.
You are NTA, but if you refuse to abide by your teacher’s instructions in this case, you are not cut out to be a photojournalist and should resign.