What to do when staff don't want to be photographed at the company party
Some staff never want to be photographed at the company party, and they do not owe anyone a reason. The fix is simple: tell staff before the party that they can opt out, and make sure the photographer leaves them out and removes any photo they appear in.
Why it matters more than it used to
Party photos used to stay in a shared drive. Now they end up on the company's social channels, the careers page and LinkedIn. A photo someone did not want, posted publicly, is the one thing a party organiser cannot take back.
A three-step opt-out
- Tell staff in the invitation. One line is enough: “There will be a photographer. If you'd rather not be photographed, tell the photographer or reply to this email.”
- Give the photographer the names. The photographer leaves those people out, and steps back from any group they are in.
- See the gallery first. Nothing goes anywhere until the company has looked through it. Any photo with someone who opted out comes out.
What to ask your photographer
- Will you leave out anyone who asks, without a fuss?
- Do we see every photo before it is shared anywhere?
- Will you remove a photo if someone asks after the party?
At Le Café Studio the answer to all three is yes. Anyone can tell the photographer on the night, or the company can send names beforehand. They are left out, and any photo they appear in comes out of the gallery. The gallery comes to the company first, within one week.
By Dario Hudon, Le Café Studio Corporate, Calgary.