Ethics Statement

In my work, I aim to interpret and represent human presence and place with honesty, sensitivity, and respect. My photographic practice is grounded in the principles of fairness, transparency, and responsibility toward those I photograph.

I believe that making and sharing a photograph involves a relationship between photographer, subject and viewer. The fact that I may be legally entitled to make or publish an image does not, by itself, make doing so ethically appropriate.

I believe being entrusted to photograph someone carries a lasting obligation. Where my artistic, documentary or commercial interests conflict with the safety, dignity, privacy or legitimate interests of an individual, I will put the safeguarding of that individual first.

Consent and street photography

My approach to consent depends on the circumstances in which a photograph is made.

When making a street portrait, I always approach the person and ask whether they are willing for me to make their portrait. I respect their decision if they decline. Where relevant, I will also explain how I expect the photograph to be used.

Candid photography is different. I do not assume that because someone is in a public place they have no reasonable expectation of privacy. Before making a candid photograph, I consider the circumstances, the person's apparent expectation of privacy, the nature of the image and the potential consequences of making and sharing it.

If I believe that a person may not be aware that I am photographing them, I will, wherever practical, make the image in a way that does not unnecessarily identify them — for example, by obscuring or hiding their face.

I recognise that consent to being photographed and consent to having a photograph published or otherwise shared are not necessarily the same thing. I consider both separately.

Local laws, customs and cultural context

When photographing in a country or area with which I am unfamiliar, I research the relevant laws, regulations and local customs concerning photography before working there.

Where appropriate, I also seek advice from a local guide, fixer or other person with relevant knowledge. When language or cultural differences may create barriers to understanding, I use appropriate assistance, including interpreters where necessary.

I recognise that ethical expectations surrounding photography can differ between communities and cultures. I do not assume that practices which are acceptable in one place are necessarily appropriate elsewhere.

Children and vulnerable people

I generally avoid photographing people who may be particularly vulnerable, including people experiencing homelessness, illness, distress, poverty or other difficult circumstances.

There may, however, be circumstances in which photographing such people forms part of a considered documentary or project-based purpose — for example, a project intended to draw attention to the circumstances or experiences of a particular group. In those circumstances I take particular care to consider dignity, privacy, safety, context and the potential consequences of publication. The purpose or importance of a project does not override the need to safeguard the individual.

When children are included in a photograph, I make their responsible adult or guardian aware of my presence and seek their consent, whether expressed verbally or through clear non-verbal agreement. I also consider the child's own dignity and circumstances rather than treating adult consent as the only relevant consideration.

Responding to concerns or non-consent

A photograph cannot literally be "unmade" once it has been taken. If someone subsequently becomes aware that I have photographed them and expresses concern or objection, I will listen to and try to understand the reasons for their concern.

I will apologise and thank them for raising the issue. In almost all such circumstances I will avoid publishing or exhibiting the photograph. Depending on the circumstances, I may retain the original image for personal archival purposes, but usually I will delete it.

I do not regard the fact that I have made a photograph, or that I may have been legally entitled to make it, as a reason to dismiss a person's genuine concerns.

Dignity, privacy and safeguarding

I consider the dignity and safety of people represented in my photographs throughout the life of an image — from making the photograph, through editing and selection, to publication, exhibition and licensing.

Where necessary, I may obscure identifying information, including a person's face, location, background or other contextual details. I may also use cropping, resizing, reduced exposure or increased shadows to help protect someone's identity.

The protection of an individual takes precedence over my desire to use an otherwise successful photograph.

My aim is to convey humanity, not to expose or objectify.

Editing and authenticity

I edit my photographs to achieve the visual qualities appropriate to the work, but I do not manipulate an image with the intention of misrepresenting a person, place or situation.

I will not artificially introduce objects or elements into an image, nor will I edit an image in order to manufacture a message, narrative or agenda that was not reasonably present in the scene when I made the photograph.

I will not add, remove or alter elements in a way that misrepresents the scene or its meaning.

Protective editing is different. Where necessary to safeguard an individual, I may deliberately obscure identifying features or contextual information, including through cropping, resizing, reducing brightness or increasing shadows.

For impressionistic or abstract work, I may apply more extensive post-processing. I will not, however, present a substantially altered image as documentary or factual.

Captioning and context

I generally avoid extensive captioning. Where context is important to understanding an image, however, I will provide factual information that helps the viewer understand the circumstances in which the photograph was made.

I do not intentionally use captions, accompanying text or presentation to lead viewers towards an interpretation that is unsupported by what I actually witnessed.

Publication, social media and ongoing review

I recognise that publishing an image online can give it a reach, permanence and context very different from those associated with making the photograph or displaying it in a physical exhibition.

I use the privacy and sharing controls available on the platforms on which I publish my work and review those settings periodically. I take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of photographs being reused without my knowledge, while recognising that I cannot completely prevent copying or redistribution once an image has been published online.

I also periodically review photographs published on my website and social media platforms and may remove images where I believe that doing so is ethically appropriate.

If someone represented in a photograph raises a concern about its continued publication, I will consider that concern in accordance with the principles set out in this statement, including the primacy I give to the individual's safety, dignity and privacy.

Removal cannot undo the fact that an image may already have been viewed, copied or shared. Nevertheless, I believe that continuing to review and, where appropriate, withdraw photographs is an important part of my responsibility as a photographer.

My ethics statement is linked from my social media profile so that people represented in my work can understand the principles that guide my practice and how I respond to concerns about photographs in which they appear.

Licensing and reuse

Before licensing or selling an image, I try to understand the intended scope, context and extent of its proposed reuse.

I will not license or sell an image where I believe that the proposed use is likely to diminish the protection, dignity, privacy or safety of an individual represented in the photograph.

I recognise that a photograph can acquire a meaning or context different from that in which it was originally made. I therefore consider foreseeable future use rather than relying solely on the circumstances in which I originally took the photograph.

Where I work with corporate, media or other clients and intermediaries, I will take reasonable steps to understand who they are and how the image is likely to be used.

Working on or within private property

When making photographs in public-access spaces that form part of privately owned property, I remain mindful of the interests and responsibilities of the property owner and of security personnel.

I will explain my intentions politely and respectfully when appropriate. If I am asked to stop photographing, or not to photograph while on or within the property, I will respect that request and stop or refrain from making further photographs there.

An evolving practice

Photography is not just about observation — it is about relationship.

I do not regard this statement as a fixed set of rules. Ethical decisions in photography are often contextual, and my understanding of them will continue to develop through experience, reflection and engagement with the people and communities I photograph.

I will therefore periodically review this statement to ensure that it continues to describe how I actually work.

Stuart Humphreys

October 2026