When shooting in public or at events, adjust your technique to avoid singling people out:
- • Focus on the Context, Not the Person: When photographing a public space or event, focus your lens on the activity, the atmosphere, or general scenes.
- • Avoid isolating or zooming in on specific individuals unless you have already obtained their consent.
Stick to subjects that are not considered personal data under GDPR:
- • Objects & Scenery: Capture landscapes, buildings, and inanimate objects. Photos where no people are present or identifiable in the frame are always compliant.
- • True Crowd Shots: Shoot wide angles of public events or busy areas where the focus is on the scale, atmosphere, or context. The photo must feature a large group where no single individual is clearly discernible, isolated, or the main subject.
For any close-up or identifiable image intended for public use (projects, social media, exhibitions), always get permission:
- • Posed Photos with Consent: Ensure the subject (if an adult) has clearly and specifically agreed to the photo being taken and knows exactly how you will use it.
- • This permission should be documented with a written and signed consent form or a robust digital alternative.
If an otherwise great photo features an identifiable person without consent, make the necessary edit:
- • Anonymize Shots: Use editing software to blur, pixelate, or crop out any features that could identify a person in the background.
- • This includes faces, name badges, license number plates, or distinct house numbers, certain buildings prohibited to be photographed.
- • By removing the identity, the image is no longer considered personal data.
Consent is not permanent. If you upload a photo based on consent, be ready to comply with the individual's rights:
- • Respect the Right to Withdrawal: If an identifiable subject contacts you and asks for their photo to be removed, you must remove it immediately and confirm its complete removal.
For more information in detail on EU GDPR compliance, read Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy which are a strict must for using or posting over Photo(n).