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Jess

Online safety, privacy, and photography

As more information comes out about cybersecurity and privacy, more and more people are becoming concerned with staying safe online.


I do not put my children online - no pictures or videos of their faces, I don't use their names, I don't tag our location, and I don't mention their school or teachers. Part of this is due to consent and my children not being old enough to fully grasp the ramifications of posting online. The other part is that I DO understand the risks and do not wish to put my children in danger.


There are a lot of moving parts involved in digital files and posting online. It is very easy to take a crumb of information and run with it. People are doxxed by malicious individuals for any and all reasons, putting them and their families at risk.


When you create a file (like a photo), the file has metadata assigned to it. Metadata can describe file type, time, date, copyright, and location information, to name a few. The image itself can provide clues to where it was taken, especially with reverse image search being so easily accessible.


The rise of AI is also cause for alarm. Stolen images are fed to the AI and used to generate derivative works. As AI gets better at generating photographs, it is getting more difficult to distinguish reality from AI. While there are some really neat AI-generated images out there, there are some that are harmful. Identity theft also becomes that much easier.


Posting names, birthdates, and other seemingly harmless tidbits of information can make it easier for people to pull public information about you and your loved ones. While it is public, it sometimes takes a little time and knowing how to find it. It feels incredibly violating. Ever get those texts from companies claiming to buy your homes for cash? They use tax information to get your address, name, and phone number. (I got sick of being contacted and asked them directly.)


If you have all your socials set to private, you're safe....right?


Not necessarily. Even if you lock your pages down, that doesn't mean your information is inaccessible. Websites can be hacked. Profiles can be stolen or spoofed. People can download or screenshot with the tap of their finger and repost it without you ever knowing. HR departments are notorious for rooting out information even from private or seemingly anonymous profiles. You can make it more difficult to get your information, but not impossible, with the exception of not posting to begin with.


Okay, you have pictures and information posted already. Can I take them down?


You sure can. However, once something is online, it can be exceedingly difficult (if not impossible) to remove even if you delete it. As soon as something is posted, it becomes a part of your digital footprint. Your digital footprint is likely more impactful than you probably realize.


I love going through beautiful Facebook albums or Instagram posts. I love viewing other photographers' works and seeing what moments they've captured with their clients. I definitely experience a bit of FOMO when I see these posts. I don't post my own clients outside of one or two pictures at a time. I tend not to tag them, either. I don't post children without first censoring the faces, and I never use their names. I follow the same safety protocols with my clients that I do for my own family. For other privacy-minded individuals, this is likely appealing. For those who love seeing their gorgeous families shared and celebrated with all, I understand it can be a bit of a turnoff. If clients decide to share their images on social media, that is 100% up to them.


I love y'all, and I'm proud of the portraits we've made together. But I cannot bring myself to post a bunch of images or sacrifice your privacy for the sake of my business.

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