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Taking a photograph takes only a second, and sharing it may take another. But being in front of your camera does not automatically mean someone wants to be photographed, and agreeing to a photograph does not necessarily mean agreeing to have it posted online. Modern photo etiquette begins with one simple idea: the image may be on your phone, but the face in it is not yours alone to decide about.
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Ask Before You Take the Photo
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner recommends asking before photographing or recording someone and asking before sharing the resulting image. Genuine consent should be informed, freely given, and not obtained through pressure.
UNICEF Egypt similarly advises people not to photograph others or share their photos and videos without permission.
Being present in front of a camera is therefore not the same as agreeing to be photographed.
Permission to Take Is Not Permission to Post
Someone may happily agree to a group photograph while expecting it to remain among friends.
Posting it publicly changes the context.
Consent to take a photograph should not automatically be interpreted as consent to post, tag, forward, or use it publicly. eSafety specifically advises checking before sharing photographs of other people online.
A simple question can prevent an unnecessary conflict:
“This picture is lovely. Are you comfortable with me posting it?”
Sharing Changes the Audience
Once an image is uploaded, control over how it may later be copied, forwarded, or used can decrease.
The relevant question is therefore not only:
“Do I like this photograph?”
but:
“Are the people in it comfortable with the audience I am about to show it to?”
Research Shows That Photos Can Have Multiple Privacy Stakeholders
Researchers José M. Such, Joel Porter, Sören Preibusch, and Adam Joinson studied privacy conflicts around what are sometimes called co-owned photographs.
Their peer-reviewed 2017 ACM CHI study examined responses from 496 people who uploaded photographs and 537 people represented in them. They found important differences between uploaders and the people shown in photographs, including differences in perceptions about suitable audiences and privacy.
In practical terms:
A photograph that feels harmless to you may feel private to someone else.
Closeness Is Not Permanent Permission
Being someone’s sibling, best friend, or long-term partner does not remove their ability to decide how their image is used.
Research on collaborative photo sharing has shown that preferences depend on several contextual factors, including relationships, image content, and the intended audience.
Familiarity is therefore not a substitute for asking.
Respect a No Without Making It Awkward
If someone says they do not want to be photographed, avoid turning the refusal into a debate.
Genuine consent must be freely given rather than created through social pressure.
A simple response is enough:
“Of course, no problem.”
They do not owe you an explanation.
If Someone Changes Their Mind, Respect That Too
A person might originally agree to a photograph and later feel uncomfortable having it online.
eSafety advises removing a photo or video when the person involved asks for it to be taken down and recognizes that someone may change their mind about consent.
Respecting that request matters more than proving that they previously agreed.
Children Require Extra Care
UNICEF emphasizes children’s dignity, privacy, best interests, and their right to have their views considered according to their age and maturity. Its ethical reporting guidance recommends obtaining permission from the child and guardian for interviews, video, and, where possible, documentary photographs, and avoiding images that could expose the child to harm.
UNICEF’s guidance on sharenting also encourages parents to involve children in decisions about sharing their images when developmentally appropriate and to consider whether information could embarrass or harm them now or later.
Look Beyond the Face
A photograph can disclose more than a person’s appearance.
It may reveal a school logo, location, workplace, address, vehicle details, or other identifying information.
UNICEF specifically recommends considering location information and identifying features such as school logos when sharing children’s content online.
The useful question is therefore:
“What else does this photograph reveal?”
Etiquette and Law Are Not the Same Thing
Privacy and photography laws differ between countries and contexts.
For example, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office explains that an identifiable person’s photograph will usually be personal data when used by an organization, while purely personal or household photography may be treated differently.
So this etiquette guidance should not be treated as a universal statement of law.
Its purpose is simpler: respecting another person’s choice about how their image is captured and shared.
A Five-Second Check Before Posting
Before sharing a photograph containing someone else, ask yourself:
- Did they agree to the photograph?
- Do they know I intend to share it rather than simply keep it?
- Do they roughly understand who will see it?
- Does it reveal sensitive information about them, their location, or their children?
- If they later ask me to remove it, will I do so without arguing?
If any answer creates doubt, asking is better than assuming.
“Being inside your photograph does not make the decision yours alone. Respect begins before you press the camera button—and continues before you press ‘post.’”
Your Etiquette… Respect can also be shown in what we choose not to share ᥫ᭡
Rana Elgogary
Expert Tip
«Before posting any photograph that includes another person, don’t ask only: “Is this a beautiful photo?” Also ask: “Does the person in it know where it will be shared, and are they comfortable with that?” Sometimes the best choice is not selecting the most beautiful photograph… but respecting the image someone else chooses not to share. Your Etiquette ᥫ᭡ Rana Elgogary»
Conclusion
Organizations such as the eSafety Commissioner and UNICEF recommend obtaining permission before photographing people or sharing their images, with consent being clear and free from pressure, and respecting a person’s wishes if they do not want an image posted or later change their mind. Additional care is needed with children: UNICEF emphasizes their privacy, dignity, best interests, and views according to their age and maturity. Academic research on co-owned photographs also shows that uploaders and the people depicted in images can differ in their judgments about appropriate audiences and privacy. Asking before posting can therefore reduce misunderstanding and respect each person’s say in how their image is presented to others.
