Picture responsible photography

By Josh Tuhipa-Turner

Capturing the joy of children’s activities through photography is a fantastic way to showcase your child-focused program, engage the community, and welcome newcomers to the group and congregation.

However, it’s crucial to snap responsibly. Before you click away, consider whether you have the green light from parents or guardians, and don’t forget to ask the little stars themselves.

It’s not just about getting a thumbs up for the camera roll but also where those pictures might land – it could be Facebook, could be the church bulletin board, who knows?

When this topic zooms into the conversation, let’s focus the lens on a few key points:

Are your consent forms picture-perfect, covering all the bases from capture to sharing?

Do they frame the issue of ongoing consent clearly?

Maybe consider getting one person to take all the photos for the group?

It’s time to develop a clear picture of when it’s photo-op o’clock and when it’s not.

And let’s not leave parents in the dark(room); keep them in the loop about where their children’s images might feature.

For those parents who prefer to keep their kids’ smiles offline, what’s your game plan?

If you’re feeling a bit out of focus, now’s the moment to zoom in on the details.

Why not start the conversation with your Church Council for some divine guidance? And for an extra snapshot of safety, take a quick peek at the Culture of Safety website for some picture-perfect resources.

Smile, and say “cheese” responsibly.

Guidelines for safe ministry using digital media can be found here

Image release forms can be found here