06/11/2026
I often get asked why I choose to photograph children in a way that protects their identities.
The answer is simple: children deserve privacy.
This decision is rooted in both my values as a photographer and a personal experience that changed the way I view online safety. An experience involving a family member opened my eyes to the realities of online child exploitation and the risks posed by AI technology.
What once felt like a distant issue suddenly became very real and personal for me.
Since 2023, reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material have exploded. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reported an increase from roughly 4,700 reports in 2023 to more than 400,000 in just the first half of 2025. (https://www.kcrg.com)
As a photographer, I believe children are people, not content.
A child cannot fully understand what it means to have their image shared publicly. They cannot consent to a digital footprint that may follow them for years to come.
Every family and photographer will make their own choices, and I respect that.
For me, choosing faceless imagery whenever possible is a way to honor a child’s right to privacy, dignity, and autonomy. It is my small way of helping protect the children I photograph until they are old enough to decide for themselves what parts of their story they want to share online.
