How will you use of photos of children versus those of adults?.Whether you decide to develop guidelines or develop a less formal policy, ethical photo/video use should be considered.Ĥ) Collaborate on a clear, succinct approach to taking and using images.Ĭonsider how you will answer these questions: One, to not become exploitative and two, especially for our folks in recovery, the exposure can have negative consequences to their recovery process.” We also have people whose stories, while triumphant, would potentially hinder them if they were publicly identified. We have stories we’ve never shared because a client’s life has taken a bad turn or they are struggling hard at the moment. “I trust our case managers to tell me where their clients are and if it would be good or bad for them to be highlighted. This is usually only ensured if the permission is obtained in the child’s language and if the decision is made in consultation with an adult the child trusts.”Īngela Crist, executive director of Findlay Hope House, shared how her organization’s staff works together to ensure that ethical photo/video practices are in place: Permission must be obtained in circumstances that ensure that the child and guardian are not coerced in any way and that they understand that they are part of a story that might be disseminated locally and globally. When possible and appropriate, this permission should be in writing. “Obtain permission from the child and his or her guardian for all interviews, videotaping and, when possible, for documentary photographs. These reporting guidelines from UNICEF clearly reflect the organization’s ethical considerations: Margot’s statement reinforces the importance of ethical photo use. “When considering photography, it’s important to examine the motives for creating particular images and their potential impact. Not only must a faithful, comprehensive visual depiction of the subjects be created to avoid causing misconception, but more importantly, the subjects’ dignity must be preserved,” says photographer Margot Duane.” You need to understand the specifics to develop the best solution.ģ) Work together through the ethical dimensions of photo use. Are they concerned that showing the faces of clients or beneficiaries may put those individuals in danger of deportation, domestic abuse, or another threat? Are they uneasy about losing clients’ trust? Have they promised clients that their stories are confidential? Or are they concerned that photos are being taken and used without permission?Īll of these concerns are valid. Instead of making assumptions, dig in to understand what’s behind your colleagues’ concerns.Īsk them about their worries. The more your colleagues feel that they have a role in year-end success (and get that they’ll benefit from that success via increased revenue and the ability to provide more services to more clients, and keep their jobs), the more eager they’ll be to brainstorm on creative solutions to your donor-engagement dilemma.Ģ) Listen to your colleagues’ point of view. If possible, use your fundraising software to pull statistics from recent campaigns to show that the fundraising campaigns with photo-illustrated stories did better than campaigns without those stories or photos. My advice is to take these six steps and develop a photo policy that addresses both legal and ethical concerns:Ĭome together with your colleagues to share your fundraising goals and approach and learn about their front-line perspective.ĭuring your meeting, talk about how stories work, share examples from your organization if possible, and highlight why photos make them even stronger. We agreed to honor their request but now we’re stuck: How do I move forward with using client photos and videos?” That plan changed radically last month, when our social workers urged us to put our clients’ privacy first and stop using client photos. Naturally, I planned to feature the same kind of memorable profiles going forward. “Our recent campaigns were fueled by client stories that featured a photo or two. But the challenges for beneficiary or participant photos are particularly tough. Permissions are a must for every people photo. A new study shows that text is more credible when accompanied by photos,” says neuroscientist Roger Dooley.ĭespite the potential, positive impact there’s a significant challenge in taking and using “real people” photos and videos. That’s because, “a picture may be worth MORE than a thousand words. Many organizations go further by sharing donor, volunteer, and staff photos. There’s no question that compelling photos are a powerful component of a successful fundraising campaign.
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