An open letter to white photographers covering Black Lives Matter protests

June 1, 2020 by Grace Stillman 20 Comments

I am from Minneapolis. This is in regards to posting photos of protesters and to be mindful + protect them!

As a photographer, I believe it is my responsibility to document this movement, this turning point in history. We are living through the continuation of the civil rights struggle. I believe anyone who considers themself an ally has a duty to contribute to this righteous cause in whatever manner they have the ability to. This is mine.

BUT…

As a white person there are also many other responsibilities that it is imperative that I consider:

I MUST NOT diminish the experience of others, especially the POC leaders taking a stand.
I MUST NOT fill space that would be better served filled with faces and voices of color.
I MUST understand that I am an invited guest to these protests and not insert myself where others are more appropriate.
I MUST allow photographers of color the opportunity to document their movement in any way they see fit, before me if possible.
I MUST respect the crowd: its needs, emotions, and especially individual members.
I MUST critically examine my content before posting, taking time to settle and digest before sending images out into the world without considering their impact.
I MUST NOT be afraid to take critique, criticism, or suggestion of change from the black community. They are the ones driving this movement and they are the ones who must be heard.
I MUST NOT act as though I am entitled to create these images. I will ask permission to photograph, post, and respect the wishes of my subjects without ego or resistance. I will not watermark or seek credit. I am doing this for the historical value, not for clout or fame.
I MUST NOT sell these photos. This is non-negotiable. I refuse to capitalize off of the suffering of others. These images are for the people, so that their struggle cannot be ignored.

People of color, if there is anything you feel needs to be added to this list please tell me.

This is my oath as a white photographer doing her best to be an ally and a participant in a pure, genuine, transparent, and vulnerable manner. I encourage all other white folks attempting to document this moment to take this oath with me.

I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.

-Rosa Parks

About the Author

Grace Stillman is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota currently documenting the protests happening in her city. If you want to help, Grace recommends visiting the Minnesota Freedom Fund.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.

« A guide to back button autofocus for wildlife photographers

How I create 2D animation with drone light painting »

den321

There is no special obligation white people have in any situation whatsoever. We shall not in any way be limited by our skin color. What a vile, despicable post. I condemn its author utterly.
- Joe
  
  Haha she didn’t tell you to do shit. She said those are things that she felt she must consider as a white photographer herself. But dont worry we know what you really mean, Den.
  - Black Power
    
    Joe is using a fake profile…
    Racist comment reported
  - den321
    
    Shit is what you don’t know. The author spoke as a white person, acting based on her race. There is an inherent recommendation to other white people, of which I am one. And no, I’m not worried.
Fred Ethelman

This article is racist.
Freelance cameraman China/HK

Since when my skin color should dictate my way of working?
This is dangerous post here.
Michael Bray

Being a Canadian photographer, I have to be honest, even if our province still wasn’t under state of emergency (which keeps getting extended constantly), I wouldn’t even go anywhere near any protests in support of this. Yes I have black friends, yes I see why the protests are going on, yes what the officers involved was extremely wrong, but for my own safety and the safety of my equipment, I would rather distance myself from any protest regardless.
- Matthias
  
  Maybe that’s just me, but if I am not photographing something because I am afraid for my equiment, maybe that equipment is not the right equipment after all? That’s one of the reasons for me not to buy the top end gear. I know I’d always be nervous to break it, drop it, lose it, and that would distract me from getting the images I like. Of course if I had more available income for my hobby, that pain limit would also go upwards ;)
- Al
  
  I feel the same way about any large gathering.
Black Power

So black skin color photographer are the only one able to make money on covering protest?
White people are not welcome?
What kind of garbage photographer wrote this?
ikillflesh

This is satire, right?
- Wedding Photo
  
  Unfortunately, no
  So sad to read this on this website.
Paul H

Grace Stillman is a wedding photographer and knows as much as I do about documenting history beyond where a woman wears a white dress. She should stay out of a situation where her bias is displayed to the whole world. Owning a camera does not make her a photo journalist and Pulitzer prize photographers are not good at wedding photography either.
Michael Gara

Virtue signalling at its best…..
Gayle Bevan

I find this strangely condescending to all colours.
Matthias

The french say “L’enfer es pavé de bonnes intentions” – Hell is paved with good intents. And I am afraid this is paving 101 at work here.
I assume “covering” implies you mean to do amateur journalism. As a wedding photographer you are used to create the images your clients want to see, and which represents them in the best possible light, which is absolutely legitimate. But if you want to do journalism and handle some of the subjects as clients, you are just doing propaganda, plain and simple. Of course you can chose to do that, and show only images that support the part of reality that’s in line with the point you’d like to make. It’s a free country. But then you will need to ask yourself whether you really want to promote a society in which white people get the white version of the news, and black people the black version of the news.
Reporting in a fair and balanced way is an immensely difficult task, but there is a simple truth: as long as black rights (or women right, gay rights… for what matters) issues are not considered as human rights issue that’s everyone’s concern, as long as colored people will see systematically see themselves as the victims of white police while white people will systematically see colored people as criminals, the situation can only spiral downwards.
Everyone seems to be willing to give up on objectivity these days. Sacrificing objectivity to make the promotion of human rights or environment protection more compelling is no less toxic than sacrificing it to get Donald reelected. In all cases, the end result is probably going to be the same: getting some kind of Donald elected. Nelson Mandela or Martin Luther king didn’t accomplish what they did by sacrificing objectivity. The accomplished thanks to their objectivity.
You are obviously doing this as a “hobby”, so you can afford not getting paid for it. Same here. But please, don’t imply it’s unethical for journalists who do that job for a living to be paid.
As for respecting your subject and critically examining your work to make sure it doesn’t distort reality, I obviously agree with you.
Dave Kee

White guilt. Laughable and pathetic at the same time.
Shanda

Not a photographer but I am Black. I appreciate the conscious effort. Feel free to sell maybe send donations to a black business or to thr BLM movement.
timothyf7

“As a white person” should have been written as possibly – “As a respectful photographer”. Racism will never be defeated until the separation by color, like in the above line, is removed. The very statement indicates a separation between races at the very start. It perpetuates a separation, not an equality.
ddddddddddddphotography

This is my oath as a ~~white~~ wedding photographer taking pics of Black Lives Matter protests as a hobby…

Black American here. Stepping out of your comfort zone of a wedding photographer is cool, but you should approach this differently. I take pictures in international countries during moments civil unrest for a living. I go into the theoretical “front lines” to take amazing pictures as my job. The money I receive from the pictures I sell, so that I can afford food, lodging, travel, equipment, and clothing. I see nothing wrong with white people doing the same damn thing.

I’m still trying to pay off student loans. I don’t have a wedding/portrait photography business to fall back on like you. If you want to do everything for free you’re more than welcome to, but I’m in absolutely no position to do that and neither are a lot of other people in this world. Taking pictures is a hobby for some and the next meal for others.