Should Photographers Interact with Their Subjects in Moments of Grief?

Recently, NPR broached a very interesting question regarding journalistic ethics: In times of grief, should photographers go out of their way and ask their subjects for permission for the photos they use?

The answer in a primitive, gut reaction sense seems obvious. If you're taking someone's picture, surely it's more sensible to ask for their permission as opposed to hiding in a bush, grabbing a picture and scurrying off into the night.

And yet, as I say that, I'm trying to think of myself in that situation, put on assignment at a scene where hours previously, parents had learned their children were dead. Would I be inclined to interrupt the grieving process? Probably not.

But is that because it's the easy thing or the right thing? Here's where it gets tricky. It can be both and is completely situational. There are scenarios where it might be best to ask for permission. The picture in Newtown, referenced by NPR, might actually be one of them. The woman was not a mother of the children and was not attending a private funeral, but rather grieving in a public space. It would not be a comfortable conversation but I don't think anyone enters journalism for its comforts.

Conversely, a situation where it might be best to avoid communication with the subject might be in the direct aftermath of a gunshot crime or a car wreck, where a victim lies down dead, whilst his or her loved one is standing over them grieving. This is an extreme setting but nonetheless one where it might be more respectful AND more ethical to simply stand in the shadows and capture the images, using discretion during the editing process about whether or not to distribute them to an audience.

This acts as just another reminder to be cognizant and respectful of one's subjects and to remember that, while journalism serves a very powerful purpose, it is a collaboration with subjects and many times, they should have a say in your work.