My last semester in college I was struck with the lack of camera etiquette that was occurring around me. The first time was in a bible class when a guy from the yearbook staff randomly burst in the room and started walking around taking pictures. Lets just say this did not go over well with the professor, can't say that I blame him. It's hard enough trying to keep the attention of a class full of twenty year olds while teaching on bible translation without having to compete with some random dude trampsing around the room taking yearbook pictures. Cause lets be honest, no matter how much everyone pretends they don't want their picture taken, when it comes down to it everyone wants to see their face in the yearbook. Long story short the professor kindly told the photographer to get lost and the indecent was forever a glaring memory of what NOT to do in my head.
That brings me to camera etiquette faux pas #2...formal events. As I was sitting at one of my good friends senior piano recitals I was again hit by this idea of bad camera etiquette. The memory of a freshman photography major running around the room taking photographs with her flash on is forever imprinted in my brain. To say it was a distraction is an understatement, it was downright embarrassment to all who call themselves photographers. The flash of her camera in a darkened room created a strobe like setting for the room which I am sure my friend did not intended to be incorporated into her recital.
How could these two incidents have been avoided. Incident #1 could have been avoided by communicating with the professor before ever entering the class room. Remember if it is not a situation where they have invited you to come invade their space you need to communicate your intentions and ask for permission. Simple :-)
Incident #2...while the photographer had been invited to take photographs she was completely unaware of her surroundings. Photographers I KNOW we all have an instinct to get in the position to take the best shot, sometime you must say NO to this instinct. At recitals, or even some weddings the client may want you to blend into the walls so as to not take away from the moment, even if it means at the cost of the photographs.
How can we keep from committing camera etiquette faux pas? It is simple, communicate with those you are photographing/working for, take a look at your surroundings and asses what is fitting for the situation.
