One thing I already figured out before I started taking pictures of people’s tattoos was that I needed to ask for their permission first. For one thing, it is a simple courtesy. The other reason is that tattoos can be a form of identity and an unknowing photo could jeopardize a person's safety.
I grew up in the days before the digital age, the days when a person actually had privacy or could make mistakes publically and not too many people knew about it. Back then, cameras were for people on holidays or who were serious about being photographers. Not like today, where everyone has a digital camera in their pocket and obsessively taking photos of whatever catches their eye. And yes, that is totally cool that people can catch the moment and share it with others. The problem is that the value of responsibility did not get inherited with the privileges of having this technology.
There are lots of reasons why people do not want to have strangers taking pictures of their tattoos. I’ve been told on numerous occasions that the person does not want to have their photo taken. I won’t even ask why, but just respect their boundaries out of respect. Some people find it too personal to share. For others, it is because of their spiritual reasons. Some people are forbidden to have them because of their culture and don’t want their family members seeing them, especially online. And having been involved with domestic violence survivors, I know there are a lot of people out there who do not want to be identified over the internet for safety reasons. I cannot tell you how many times I have had people thank me for asking for their permission. The great part is, there are many people who love to display their tattoos for a photo when asked for permission.
A great example of cause and effect of a tattoo photo going viral is in the story Tattoos lead Thai police to arrest Japanese Gang Member. It’s the story of a 74-year-old fugitive Japanese gang member who was hiding out in Thailand for ten years. He was discovered because someone took a picture of his beautiful bodysuit and it went viral on the internet. This may be a case of the guy’s karma catching up, I’m not here to judge. But I do think it is a great example of how people can be identified by their ink.
So as a gentle memo to those of you who have your personal reasons for not wanting to share your very cool looking tats, remember that when you are out in public, there are cameras everywhere and there are many people who are not going to ask for your permission. But on the flipside, there is lots of opportunity for having your tattoo appreciated by millions and that is pretty fantastic for those who are comfortable with this kind of exposure.
#tattoos #identity #viral
