09/04/2026
The world is constantly evolving, and I think the way we think about sharing our children online is evolving with it.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the recent legal developments surrounding AI, child safety, and the use of children’s images online.
As a photographer, I’ve always believed in respecting parental permission. And I still do. I don’t think photographers who continue sharing images with parental consent are automatically doing something wrong, or that they care any less about the children they photograph.
But becoming a mom has made me look at these things differently.
I don’t share a ton of photos of my child online, but that decision wasn’t really about AI. It was more about recognizing that not everyone online needs access to every detail of our lives. I’m not super strict about it, either. I shared photos of him as a newborn, and I’ve had family and friends post photos that his face was showing. I don’t tell them to take the photos down.
Honestly, I’m still thinking through what all of this means for my business. I’ll continue asking clients for permission to share their images, while also being more thoughtful about what I choose to put online.
I also know AI is a much bigger conversation than just what photographers share. Ultimately, this topic has made me come back to “my why”. “Why” did I become a photographer.
I don’t capture these moments for myself. I capture them for you. For your family, your photo albums, your future, and for the generations who will one day look back at these moments. One of my most cherished memories with my grandma, who has since passed, was looking through photo albums together. Nearly every visit, we’d sit and look through photos, remembering the people, the moments, the stories. I loved hearing her stories. That’s what inspires me constantly.
There are thousands of beautiful photographs I’ve taken that have never made it to my social media feed. Sharing my work has never been the most important part of what I do.
For me, this isn’t about shaming other photographers or telling parents what they should do with their children’s images. It’s about being thoughtful about what feels right for me, my family, and the families I photograph.
I’m not sure exactly what changes I’ll make going forward, but I do know that the memories I capture for your family will always matter more to me than whether I get to share them. Your choice is what matters most.
I think there’s room for different perspectives in this conversation, and I’m still learning what this looks like for me.
Can I hear from you?
When it comes to your family’s photos being shared online, which do you relate to most?
A. I appreciate when my photographer asks before sharing, and I’m comfortable with my children’s faces being shared on social media.
B. I’m comfortable sharing photos of my children myself, but I’d prefer that my photographer not share photos showing their faces. (Back of their head or detail kind of photos are fine!)
C. I’d prefer that my family’s photos not be shared publicly at all.
No judgment either way. I’m genuinely curious how other parents feel about this and want to better understand the families I have the privilege of photographing.
