Taking pictures to chronicle your life and adventures is a great way to create cherished memories. Capturing these moments helps to remember the feelings they evoke. In the digital age we live in, it has become increasingly easy to take pictures and videos and share them with our family, friends and followers. However, this convenience also has come at a cost—we often forget to take into consideration simple forms of respect and actually experiencing the moment! Try these tips next time you’re thinking of taking a picture and sharing it to social media.
Savor the moment and document it in your memory first, before snapping a picture or sharing on social media.
Click with care—don’t take a picture or a video of someone who doesn’t know they’re being photographed, especially if the person is a stranger, or a family member or friend who may be embarrassed by the photo.
Don’t pressure someone to participate in a photo or make them be part of a picture they aren’t comfortable with.
Post with respect. Always ask permission from others before you post pictures, stories, or videos, or tag them in social media posts.
Be careful of what you post on social media and when you post. For example, if you’re away from home on vacation, posting pictures can tip people off that your home is unoccupied and possibly leave you vulnerable to burglary.
Never take a pictures while driving, even if you’re stuck in traffic or stopped at a red light. It is a form of distracted driving that can easily result in an accident!
Practice common sense. Stay a safe distance from cliffs, roof tops and other high places you can easily fall from. Be aware of your surroundings—watch for vehicles, wild animals, weather, fast-moving water, etc. to ensure you and your subjects stay safe.
Above all, live in the moment. While taking pictures and videos of people, places and adventures is a great way to remember them forever, balance the desire to capture these memories and actually experience them firsthand, as they’re happening, rather than from behind a screen or lens.
