Everyone has their own boundaries when it comes to privacy, and those boundaries should be honoured. But if you’re worried that booking a photographer means giving up control over your images, here’s my firm belief:
Your family, your choice. Always.
Even if you’d like to keep your gallery totally private…
Even if you don’t want any photos on Instagram…
Even if you’re happy to share photos of yourself, but not your kids…
Why?
Because I believe your photos are yours. You don’t owe me public visibility in order to have beautiful, meaningful images of your family.
As a photographer, I of course want to share images — because if I don’t have photos to show, it’s hard for other families to imagine what working with me might be like. It’s crucial for me to share the work I create. But your wishes will always come first.
Privacy options you can choose
Every family is different, so we’ll agree together what feels right for you before your session. Some of the options families choose:
- Completely private. Nothing is shared anywhere, and your photos are just for you.
- No children’s faces. I only share images where your children can’t be identified, such as hands, silhouettes or photos taken from behind.
- Only images you’ve approved. You choose which photos (if any) I’m allowed to share.
- Website, but not social media. Some families are happy for a few images to appear on my website or blog, but not on Instagram or Facebook.
You can also change your mind later. If you’re no longer comfortable with an image being online, just let me know and I’ll remove it
Why some families keep their photos private
There are so many good reasons to keep family photos offline, and you never need to explain yours. Some families I’ve worked with simply prefer to keep their family life private. Others are thinking about their children’s digital footprint and want them to decide for themselves when they’re older.
More and more parents also tell me they’re worried about AI. Photos shared publicly online can be copied, used to train AI tools, or even edited into images that were never real. It’s a completely understandable concern, and keeping your photos private is a simple way to stay in control of how your family’s images are used.
For some families, privacy is essential: foster and adoptive families, kinship carers, families going through a separation, or parents whose work means they need to stay out of the public eye. Whatever your reason, it’s respected.
Documentary photography is all about trust, and I’ve written about how I handle consent with families in my Kinship case study, where every family had a say before and after their photos were shared.
What is a model release?
It’s a standard part of photography contracts allowing photographers to use photos for promotion, portfolios, websites, or social media. When booking any photographer, it’s a good idea to look out for this clause and ensure you’re comfortable with it. In my contract, I include a model release — a legal agreement that permits the sharing of images publicly. However, I’m always happy to remove or amend that clause to suit your preferences.
How your photos are kept safe
- Your gallery is private and only shared with you through a personal link. [check: is it password-protected?]
- You decide who you share your gallery with, such as grandparents or close friends.
- If you’ve chosen to keep things private, nothing goes on my website, blog or social media.
What matters most to me is that you have these images, beautiful and meaningful memories of your family, whether or not you’d like me to share them online. There is no pressure from me!
FAQs about privacy and family photos
Can I have family photos taken without them being posted online?
Yes. You can keep your whole gallery completely private. I’ll simply amend the model release in your contract, so nothing is shared.
Can you share photos of me but not my children?
Yes. Many families choose this. I only share images where your children can’t be identified, or none at all if you prefer.
Can I change my mind after the session?
Yes. If you’d like an image taken down, just let me know and I’ll remove it. However, once it’s been online, it can sometimes be difficult to remove completely.
Will my family photos be used to train AI?
Not by me. I never share your photos with AI image generators or sell them, and your private gallery is only shared with you.
Ready to chat?
I’m a documentary family photographer, capturing the beauty in real family life, a genuine slice of your story. I’m based in Bromley, South-East London, and photograph families across London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, and further afield, including the Netherlands. Find out more about my documentary family photography, or read what documentary family photography is
You can send me an email anytime or book a free discovery call to talk through your ideas and questions.
I’d love to hear from you and explore how we can create photos that feel true to your family.
